Responsible Consumers

Rachael & I have had recent discussions on how to make socially-responsible purchases. Many, if not most, giant corporations are completely unaccountable to their consumers, possibly employing children in sweatshops, or adults with disproportionately low pay and no benefits. IMHO, the argument, "Well, it's better than nothing. At least they're paying them a few dollars a day, which is better than casting them out into the streets" is not valid. I am not talking about paying pennies on the dollar because it's better than the alternative. I am talking about providing a pay scale that is fair and commensurate with a quality of life and dignity that all human beings deserve. Just because a company CAN pay a seamstress in Thailand 10 cents to construct a widget, all the while making astronomical profits, does not mean they SHOULD.

I found a great Website that will help us make responsible and educated purchases based on socially-sound principles. Please check it out and give me your thoughts - http://www.knowmore.org/. As Christ-followers, we need to consider which is more important - the value of the all-mighty dollar, or the value of a life. Just because we CAN buy a cheap product at the expense of its laborers, doesn't mean we SHOULD.

A Christian Endorsement

Have we learned anything?

I had an e-mail exchange with someone recently that said it was pointless to discuss why we should or should not have gone to war with Iraq, because we're already there and there's no turning back. But I disagree - I believe we can look back at that war and learn from our mistakes.

According to UN Charter and international law, a country can only go to war in two cases:

1. self-defense
2. it has been attacked

Neither one of these applied in the case of Iraq. Iraq did not attack the U.S. - it was never proved that Iraq had any hand in the attacks of 9/11. There was nothing against which to defend ourselves. I believe the administration deceived Congress into believing we had reason to go to war with Iraq, and they bought into it, along with the American public. I fell prey to the manipulation of the facts along with everyone else. The Weapons of Mass Destruction argument failed miserably, and yet it's business as usual while the killing continues. And it continues without the support of the international community.

And here we are today, faced with another potential conflict, this time in Iran. Secretary of State Rice is already using words of war - threats do not work! We need serious diplomacy, not "reckless saber-rattling" as they put it on moveon.org. We cannot afford another war, neither in terms of money nor human life. We cannot sit blindly on the sidelines while our president leads us into more bloodshed. Please let your voice be heard this time - sign a petition against the war at http://pol.moveon.org/diplomacyiran/?rc=homepage. Let's learn from the mistakes of our past and move on to a future of peace.

Back at it

I haven't blogged in a few days. I offended some people with the language I used in a recent blog on the war in Iraq. Somebody said I sounded like a know-it-all. The last thing I want to do is offend anyone, and that certainly was not my intention. To be honest with you, it took the wind out of my sails just a bit. I haven't really felt like writing much. But it has made me take a step back and think about the way I present myself. If I am coming across as an obdurate old man, then I need to change some things. I am deeply sorry for offending anyone and troubled by the fact that I hurt some people's feelings. I am going to work very hard to communicate, not with judgmental attitude, but with love and grace, knowing full well that I do not have all the answers, and that I am not right on every front.

But I will continue to speak out against injustice in hopes that I get it right at least some of the time. I am in no way changing my stance on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am as much against them now as I ever have been. In my opinion, the US government is spending way too much money on its defense systems. Martin Luther King said that a country that spends more money on its military budget than it does on projects of social uplift is headed for spiritual death. Jesus said those who live by the sword will die by the sword.

The disciples were all confused when their leader, the one man they thought would lead them to victory against their oppressors, hung from a cross and died. But Jesus knew what he was doing. He turned the system on its heels - nonviolently. This was the beginning of nonviolent resistance according to Jesus. He said to love our enemies. I don't think he could have spelled it out any clearer.

So it is my prayer that my words and actions will honor Christ, promote peace, and encourage others to extend a hand to the poor and broken of our world. If my language is offensive, please let me know - this needs to be a two-sided dialog, not just me standing on my soapbox.