Faithful Philly Forum

One of the bright lights of social science in the past half century is also one of the most criticized. Phil Zimbardo conducted the Stanford Prison Experiment, where mentally and physically healthy college student were randomized to be guards or prisoners. Its common material in the ‘research ethics’ unit for Psych 101 or masters level research methods courses. I think he is a bright light because he has learned from his most notorious work what the rest of us need to learn–that we are inextricably shaped by our surroundings, and that while we are accountable for our individual behavior, that leaders are also to be held accountable for the environment in which individuals make behavior choices. Continue Reading »

West Philadelphia careens out of control this week with the violent behavior of some students wanting attention or wanting to express disrespect or rage at the organization. Yet, I sit here on an Ivy League campus and can’t find anyone who knows if anyone is teaching our college students conflict mediation and negotiation skills. (I think I might have found one professor. I am following up on that.) And when I ask “Who in the city is teaching children about how to address bullying and teaching peacemaking skills?” I can’t find anyone who knows of a curriculum or a program! I have located an incredible principal, Dr. Bob Lewis, who has taken one of the worst middle schools in the city, Shoemaker, and turned it around in one year. (It was highlighted by the Inquirer on Monday.) It would appear however that he has done it with his personality, enforcement of rules, support of good teachers, consistent discipline, and lots of praise. So I guess the next question is “Is anyone teaching other principals to do this?” And are there denominations or churches who are teaching peacemaking to the children? And, if not, why not??!!

Bev

The BBC morning radio program (or should I say programme?) has been covering Iraq soldier bloggings lately. To hear the more immediate reactions of soldiers and others in that quagmire is fascinating and humbling. This morning, one blogger provided a reminder of the constant vigilance against both suicide bombers and the risk of reacting too quickly at the cost of innocent life. When we talk about living in the present we are talking about getting out of a head space of constantly focusing on deadlines, achievement, worries about the future. These bloggers seem about as present focused as one can get, but to a different end. Their blogs provide a chance to reflect and put those reflections out for the rest of us to see, a greater kind of time space than the immediate present to provide perspective. Reference was made in the program(me) to a saying about journalism being the first draft of history, and how might one would characterize blogging. Perhaps first reflection? First impulse? In this forum, we are trying to pull together a lot of things at once. Sprituality, social justice, day to day in the present and a vision of reign of God all at once. Why wait for the second draft of all that? Might take a while. 

This week we very quickly mobilized about 50 people on Penn’s campus to say “No” to additional troops in Iraq. We took our photo on the lawn by the mock tombstones and then went to eat our lunch. It is now on the website and we feel we have done our part by joining 1000 other groups who did the same thing. But what about the gun violence in our own streets? I think gathering for a photo is hardly going to address the problem of gangs, reduce the impact of the drug culture on crime, or save the babies who are simply in the way of the bullets of the assault weapons! I think that the former is a way we tell our congress to do what we want. But in the matter of violence, no one can really do that for us. It is our city. These are our streets how shall we take them back? How can we make this city safe for everyone? Where do we start? Or is the issue that we simply do something and it doesn’t matter what? Last sunday in worship we prayed a lot about those whose lives have been touched by violence. But what good is praying if we don’t do something to back it up ourselves? And just what would that be? The churches in the poorer neighborhoods are busy holding the hands of those who are suffering. They are the first line of defense in their caring for the victims’ families. What about the rest of us? We clearly are not doing our part because it shows no sign of stopping? Where would Jesus be? What to do? What to do?

Keith Olbermann has been providing powerful commentary during many of his nightly broadcasts (8PM edt) on MSNBC. His focus has been on the anti-democratic tendencies of the Bush Administration and its general incompetence.

These commentaries are striking. First, it is a complete sea change that these pointed attacks are allowed at all. You may remember that Donohue was cancelled in late 2002 because he dared to air anti-Iraq war opinions on his show.

It is also interesting that Olbermann on MSNBC (and Cafferty on CNN) are now able to find the anti-Bush voice. Today roughly 65% of Americans disapprove of Bush and 51% want him impeached according to Newsweek. So is this just piling on?

If we are to be a free society in which the empire (see Walter Bruggemann) can be challenged it is important to be able to allow anti-empire voices to be heard even when it is unpopular.

It is good that Olbermann is speaking up. It is remarkable in fact and I fear for his job should the R’s claim victory on November 7.

Perhaps those of us in the peace/justice camp need be more assertive when our views are in the minority. When we are attacked again there will no doubt be another effort to intimidate/mute our voices. Hopefully we will remember Olbermann?

“I go into the Muslim mosque and the Jewish synagogue and the Christian church and I see one altar.”  Rumi, 1207-1273

Maybe I’m a little naïve.  I keep seeing signs of hope. Hope that humankind will not ultimately self-destruct; that peace, reason, compassion, human goodness might prevail.  The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank.  The  microcredit movement has spread throughout the world changing lives and communities.  Yunus made an initial loan of $27 to 42 women.  Last year more than 100 million people received small loans from the many institutions that have followed his lead.

Among other hopeful signs,  I’ve noticed that recently positive representations of Islam are finally appearing in more abundance.  After 9/11 leaders were careful to call Islam a religion of peace, but after awhile there seemed to be nothing but a barrage of violent images – not just name-calling,  (“Islamist fascists”)  but serious articles on why Islam fosters violence.  In the meantime millions of Muslims live out their lives in peace; moderate scholars continue to offer flexibility and reason in the face of fundamentalism (as they do in Christianity); feminist Muslim women lift strong, creative voices; the world prepares to celebrate the year of Rumi.  Lately these more positive images have been getting press.

Perhaps it’s the prayers of Ramadan having their effect.  Muslims throughout the world called to fasting, prayer, charity.  I was honored to attend an Iftar dinner a week ago sponsored by the Philadelphia Dialog Forum.  After calls to prayer we listened to Christian, Jewish, and Muslim speakers.  At the table Muslim friends explained that during Ramadan it is  expected that they will include others in the breaking of the fast.  They are called to a particular concern for the poor, and the inclusion, in warm hospitality, of their neighbors.  This was such an experience.

We don’t need much reflection to remember that a Christian president invaded a Muslim country leading to the death of  thousands of innocents.   Perhaps in this last week of Ramadan we might join our Muslim sisters and brothers in prayer, repentance, a particular concern for the poor, and intentionally reach out to our neighbor.  Through our own attention to interfaith hospitality and dialogue we might as Jesus said, “be bold enough to hope.”

I went to see a preview showing of Flags of our Fathers tonight. It is a movie about the invasion of Iwo Jima during World War II and the men who were immortalized on film while raising an American flag on the highest point of the island. I sat through the screening with my stomach churning, fingers splayed in front of my eyes, trying to avoid seeing some of the worst moments.

My mind raced in an attempt to absorb the horror of the now-historic war that I was watching and I started thinking about the current war. I kept coming around to the absolute waste of human potential that it is. What harm it does to the people who survive it. I didn’t leave the movie with any answers or solutions, and the walk home didn’t deliver an epiphany. I was opposed to war before I walked into that theater tonight and I walked out shaken and silent, more convicted in my belief that this is not the way to solve things. I believe that that was probably part of Clint Eastwood intention in making this movie, and I hope that others see it the way I did, as an effective anti-war statement.

Some days it is best not to read the newspaper. How shall we be faithful in the context of a Congress who has voted that Habeas Corpus does not apply to some people? When we read of the Canadian citizen who was removed from LaGuardia, interrogated, assumed guilty by the US and sent to Jordan and Syria where he was subsequently tortured? When a lecturer at Penn tells us that 80% of the world’s infectious diseases comes from unsafe water and that the UN is not going to make its 2015 goal to reduce by 50% the number of people who don’t have access to safe water. Even a Penn professor in criminology is saying we need to be talking about the morality of the death penalty! Then a seriously disturbed father of three goes to a school and murders three little girls before commits suicide and we reel about trying to get our heads around that! Let’s not forget the fox in the chicken house who was supposed to be protecting exploited children who was himself  apparently sending illicit pornographic communication to young boys! And this just in, Condi did indeed get briefed by Tenet about an imminent attack and she dismissed it. And this is just the news today! How shall we be faithful today?? I think it might be best to say “One day at a time.” BD

Beverly Dale and the CA have been witness to the failed US policy in Iraq from the beginning.

Along comes Bob Woodward, former publicist for the Bush Administration, with the wonderful insight that all is not well in Iraq.

Hello! Smell the coffee Bob.

What is it that RevBev knew that the MSM failed to recognize?

Perhaps it is that foreign policy devised by those without justice-based values can only be destructive. Maybe Bev should send George some instructions on being faithful?

OSF 10/03/2007