Tuesday, July 25, 2006
American Communism?
I hope this article is more intriguing than it will be cynical. But here are some thoughts that have been on my mind lately. Have you ever been aware at the amount of nationalism and patriotism that goes on in our great country of the
Take for instance the American flag… it is everywhere: Perkins, car dealerships, baseball fields, schools and even churches. When I was in the
Patriotism is one thing, but I have also observed of how this patriotism has led to culture ignorance of the outside world. Many Americans think our country is so good they don’t bother to engage with the world outside. This too is a common characteristic of Communist countries: The government gets the people to believe that their situation is the best on earth and force the desire never to leave the country. The amount of passports issued to Americans is astonishing low, I think like around 20% or so; which means that 80 percent of Americans have yet to really engage themselves in the world around them. I mean, I was astonished how many people asked if there was ever snow in the
Lastly, it has been especially interesting to me of how the church, primarily the evangelical church, has engaged itself in such patriotism. Certainly the privileges in our country have allowed the church to grow and be the church, but it is astonishing how now the church is playing a role politically. I could go on but I think this is enough for now. Once again please remember I am not being too cynical, I am NOT anti-America, I am an American, but these are just some interesting thoughts that could raise some good responses.
What particularily bothers me is what you mentioned at the end of your post....The political adgenda of the Church. Our national pride has krept so far into our church that we have flags raised, sing patriotic songs, and hold prayer time for our country all the while neglecting the rest of the world. I know this is an extreme exageration, but it is somewhat true. Anyways, I am done for now.
http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/disowning-conservative-politics-is/20060729195809990004
A couple of years ago, for our Easter church service at Olivet Baptist, a lady leading the service thought that it might be ok for that one week to take down the American flag in front of the church on stage. She wanted to decorated the stage with Easter things. After the service a man yelled at her (in a way that scared her) about her disrespect for our troops and our country.
I thought patriotism is in the heart, not in the flag. By taking the flag down, she never meant to say she didn't have respect for those fighting on behalf of the USA. She merely was wanting the focus of the church service to be on Jesus.
I personally am not very patriotic, though I do think our country is nice and all. A flag in front of church to me is odd. I understand that it's there only out of respect, but, not having it there does not mean we have no respect. I mean, we're supposed to have respect for our elders, but we don't put an old person on display to show our respect. We're supposed to respect authority, but we don't have a cop or an official police flag (if there is such a thing) on display in church. Our respect for these things are personal feelings.
I have also spoken to foreigners who find it odd that our flag is everywhere. It almost seems too prideful to me. We even have our flag on the moon! Why was our country in such a race to be the first on the moon? I know it's cool and all, but it seems the U.S. always has to be the first and the best and the most loved.
I remember reading some of Barth's writings on this and he spoke about what happens when the church finds its identity in Christ it is fine, but once it finds its ID in "Christ, and..." bad things happen. His example was the German church's compliance with Hitler Germany in accepting the ideology that praised the greatness of the German people. This eventually evolved into extreme nationalism and then genocide. The church that had accepted the symbols and beliefs of the nation found itself compliant with a genocide of immense proportions.
Lastly, it is also interesting to see what has been considered subversive in recent years. This administration has convinced us not only to put flags on everything but also that joining a group of people and protesting is a display of anti-american sentiment.
Anyways, I should stop now, because I will keep on ranting forever.
: 3:30 PM, August 20, 2006 By the way, as a final thought, you should check out Ayn Rand sometime if you haven't already. She was from communist Russia and fled to the US in the early part of last century. Her work (The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged, We the Living, Anthem, etc.) is quite interesting and vehemently opposes (almost to the degree of propoganda) any type of communism or state oppressiveness.
Frank, I never have read Ayn Rand, but I know some of her stuff is out there. Actually what really made me aware of political propaganda was George Orwell's 1984. Its a pretty good book and I was surprised at how much our democratic government mirrored the actions of Big Brother!
Kurbis, you don't like egotistical, arrogant, bitchy, authoritarian women with sick sexual fantasies? I wonder why. You are right, though, she's wrote some amazing stuff.
I do actually think that the effect of her books was profound in America. Our generations didnt grow up with it, but even my mom's generation was expected to read Atlas Shrugged when in the university. It was classic textbook reading material in America up through the 70s. I really think the damage was done by it!
Yeah, about those rants, I totally didnt make it through the loooong one in Atlas shrugged. I got sick of it.
Yeah, the sexual stuff was totally disturbing. I find it an interesting continuation of the ego driven-pro market mentality that sexuality should be just like capitalism...when I want and how I want and ONLY according to MY desire..."you dont matter in this sex act."
Food for thought.
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