Are We Really Nazis--Seriously?

photo by BrotherM/ flickr

Ted Kopple has written an article that I think helps clarify the current situation in our country. He takes on those people that say we are like Nazi Germany. Does that mean everything is dandy today? No. But newscaster Kopple is a cautious optimist. He believes in America and the values that are bed rock in our country. Read his article and ponder what he has written.

In John Meachum's book, The Soul of America: The Battle for our Better Angels he reminds us that we have had a lot of dark pages in our history. Those that have lived very long can footnote these. But he also says that finally, even though in the process many get hurt or broken, we come to our senses and remember the values that made the country great for everyone.

If we are people of faith we do not lose heart. We really do believe that goodness wins out in the end. We keep working and fighting for what we feel is right. We don't watch the TV continually but we do turn it on long enough too know what is going on around us. Flannery O'Connor, the writer once said, "You shall know the truth and it shall make you odd." Maybe what we need are more and more odd balls.

In another dark time Reinhold Niebuhr wrote:

"Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime, 
therefore we must be saved by hope. 
Nothing which is true, beautiful or good makes complete sense int any immediate context off history, thererfore we must be saved by faith. 
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone, 
therefore we must be saved by love. 
No virtuous act  from the standpoint of our friend or foe as it is from our standpoint. 
Therefore we must be saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness."

William Sloane Coffin in another hard time said, "There never was a night or a problem that could defeat a sunrise or hope."

photo by Guiseppe Calsamiglia / flickr

--Roger Lovette / rogerlovette.blogspot.com