I heard Rush Limbaugh the other day tell his audience what a "liberal"
was.
I did not recognize myself, or anyone I know, in his rantings.
What do YOU think a liberal thinks? Narrow it down -- a liberal
Christian.
I'll give you a start. Micah 6:8 is pretty important. Madison's "Memorial
and Remonstrance" is pretty important. The Bill of Rights, particularly
Amendment #1.
In no particular order:
Free speech
Religion free from government interference, either positive or negative.
Against any law that inserts a grim faced man in a blue suit with a large
gun into a doctor's office. In other words, pro-choice -- but NOT
pro-abortion.
Anti-racist in a wide meaning of that term. See all humanity as equal
before God.
People of color have equal standing
Women have equal standing
People with different sexual preferences have equal standing
See diversity as a "good thing."
Honor those of a different religious persuasion.
Honor those with no religious persuasion.
See Christianity as primarily a confessional, not a prescriptive
religion.
Subscribe, to a more or less extent, to Leonardo Boff's observation:
One of Boff's most powerful books is Way of the Cross -- Way of Justice
(Orbis, 1980) Written in blank verse, it is a series of meditations on
the stations of the cross, a traditional exercise of individualistic
Catholic piety that Boff transforms into a communal exercise as well. He
effects this transformation by offering meditations on each of the
"stations" of Jesus' original journey along the Via Dolorosa, all of
which are followed by second meditations reflecting on the meaning of the
station for Jesus followers in today's world. The practice exemplifies
Boff's conviction that theology must have "two eyes," one looking to the
past "where salvation broke in" and the other looking toward the present
"where salvation becomes a reality here and now." The "way of the cross"
focuses on the historical Jesus, but the "way of justice" focuses "on the
Christ of faith who continues his passion today in his brothers and
sisters who are being condemned, tortured and killed for the cause of
justice" (p. viii) The parallels between what Jesus suffered then and
what his followers suffer today are acute and heartrending. The book has
intense power, and will surely become one of the spiritual classics of
our time. Boff writes:
"The eternal destiny of human beings will be measured by how much or how
little solidarity we have displayed with the hungry, the thirsty, the
naked and the oppressed. In the end, we will be judged in terms of love."
This liberal has that motto taped to his PC monitor.
Finally, the following good news came to me today from a fellow liberal:
> Dallas City Council Approves Anti-Discrimination Ordinance
> The Associated Press, May 8, 2002
> DALLAS - The Dallas City Council on Wednesday adopted an ordinance
> that prohibits discrimination against gays and lesbians in employment,
> housing and in public places such as hotels and restaurants.
> The council voted 13-2 for the measure, which was pledged on the
> campaign trail by new Mayor Laura Miller. Violation of the ordinance
> will result in fines up to $500.
> "Let us walk out of the shadow of intolerance and bigotry and into the
> sunshine of human rights," Councilman John Loza said.
> The two councilmen who opposed the ordinance, Alan Walne and Mitchell
> Rasansky, said it would be too expensive for the city to enforce in an
> already tight budget year. Resansky also said the measure could be too
> expensive for small businesses.
> The ordinance exempts employers with less than 15 workers, and
> proponents said it would cost only $15,000 in money that's not already
> budgeted.
> American Airlines executive Donald J. Carty spoke in favor of the
> ordinance and said the Fort Worth-based carrier has adopted a similar
> policy for its workers.
> "The true strength of our city lies in our diversity," he said.
> The Rev. Flip Benham, director of the Dallas-based anti-abortion group
> Operation Save America, spoke against the measure.
> "It's a travesty that breaks my heart," he said. "The city hall has
> declared itself as God. It's a direct attack on the word of God."
>
This person sees no attack on the word of God. Except, perhaps, by Flip
Benham.
Your mileage may differ.
John Burgeson (Burgy)
http://www.burgy.50megs.com
(science/theology, quantum mechanics, baseball, ethics,
humor, cars, philosophy and much more)
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