Before I begin this discussion, I want to put it out there that I have very little knowledge on this subject compared to the highly informed leaders who make these issues their career. I have limited experiences and a small bubble of people that I am exposed to, so I cannot speak definitively or offer too much to this discussion, but I am attempting to step into these subjects and hopefully learn much more in the years to come. I am only twenty-one, I have only taken a few government classes, and I have had little exposure to politics, but I am searching and I would like to invite you to join in the conversation with me...
I've really been struggling with American systems of government recently. We often discuss the political systems, policies, and roles that characterize the United States in class, and it has caused me to gain a bit of perspective about my nation's position in the world.
We are strong. We are powerful. We are controlling. We are invasive. We are violent.
We are proud.
So often I am asked if I have a gun when people find out I am from America. It breaks my heart that we are known for our violence, and worse that we are known for being so proud of our gun rights. It feels like patriotism has shifted in recent years to become something juvenile and arrogant. We laugh when we say, "I love 'merica" and watch the Red Solo Cup music video, but is it really a joke to us or is it the reality we live in? What makes us so proud?
Take one look at our foreign policy and you will see that America has a big brother complex that has gotten us entangled in all sorts of issues that were not originally ours to bear. However, we like to make sure we are powerful and influential enough to be the top world leader, and we do everything we can to stay that way. I admit, it is a good thing to get involved in the affairs of struggling nations and bring justice upon those who are oppressive and immoral, but is it a good thing that we use violence as our means of getting these things done? Is it okay that our main method for achieving reconciliation is the military? Are we right when we send troops into weaker countries in the hopes that democracy will take root and make them more American, and thus solve all their problems?
Violence in not a virtue. It is a heart breaking, dehumanizing, and devastating system that causes so much more damage than it could ever cause good. How blind are we when we move into a nation and declare that we will "fix them" by bringing American systems of democracy and western traditions of religion? Are we so superior that we don't need to listen to other nation's ideas or even take notice of their cultural customs and values? It is painful to think that so much cultural beauty is dismissed in the process of forcing others to become more like us.
Even within our borders we impose traditional, anglo-saxon values on people who are different than us. Yes, we are a melting pot and yes there is a lot of diversity in the United States, but is this reflected in our political practices? How often do people critique health care because they think those in need of it are just lazy and shouldn't be our responsibility to help? How often to we talk about immigrants with derogative labels and develop policies that end up describing them in less than human terms? Why is it that people of different traditions than us are seen as problems that need to be taken care of? Why do we continue to tell people to become more like us on the grounds that our lifestyle is superior to their unrefined ways?
Perhaps these questions are exaggerated or over-generalized, but at least take a minute to think about them. Take a few silent moments to contemplate the attitudes and systems that could even lead me to ask them. Reflect on how you view other cultures and how people of different traditions make you feel. Do the words "socialism" and "antichrist" go hand in hand for you? Does health care make you frustrated? Do you view immigrants as people equal to you or instead as people of a separate, perhaps lower class than you?
Be honest with yourself.
I've tried being honest with myself, and although I have not figured it all out, this is what I have come to believe. Socialism is more reflective of the biblical principles of provision and generosity than capitalism is. The variety of cultures is what gives life a richness and a fullness that would not be possible if everyone were "American." Health care demonstrates justice and compassion and it gives people better opportunities for successful, fulfilling lives. Immigrants are cherished by God and have beautiful stories to share with the world. We shouldn't be trying so hard to keep these people out or turn them into model Americans. We shouldn't be forcing our ways of life without contemplating the benefits of other cultures. We shouldn't be so obsessed with power and control.
Again, these are general reactions to the topics I have been discussing in class. I am still processing American values and systems and I will continue to wrestle with these issues until I come to a better understanding of them. Even then, I will persist in learning more and expanding my world views. However, this I have come to know for certain: violence is not a virtue. I am heart broken by its prevalence in American culture and values and I am coming very close to adopting pacifism in place of my traditional republican views. There are still many issues I need to struggle through before I can declare my beliefs on all these topics, but as of now I am in the process of evaluating the underlying values that have shaped my identity as an American. More so than that, I seek to honestly confront my practices and conclusions with biblical principles so that I can be defined by Kingdom culture, rather than any culture that belongs to this world.
I've really been struggling with American systems of government recently. We often discuss the political systems, policies, and roles that characterize the United States in class, and it has caused me to gain a bit of perspective about my nation's position in the world.
We are strong. We are powerful. We are controlling. We are invasive. We are violent.
We are proud.
So often I am asked if I have a gun when people find out I am from America. It breaks my heart that we are known for our violence, and worse that we are known for being so proud of our gun rights. It feels like patriotism has shifted in recent years to become something juvenile and arrogant. We laugh when we say, "I love 'merica" and watch the Red Solo Cup music video, but is it really a joke to us or is it the reality we live in? What makes us so proud?
Take one look at our foreign policy and you will see that America has a big brother complex that has gotten us entangled in all sorts of issues that were not originally ours to bear. However, we like to make sure we are powerful and influential enough to be the top world leader, and we do everything we can to stay that way. I admit, it is a good thing to get involved in the affairs of struggling nations and bring justice upon those who are oppressive and immoral, but is it a good thing that we use violence as our means of getting these things done? Is it okay that our main method for achieving reconciliation is the military? Are we right when we send troops into weaker countries in the hopes that democracy will take root and make them more American, and thus solve all their problems?
Violence in not a virtue. It is a heart breaking, dehumanizing, and devastating system that causes so much more damage than it could ever cause good. How blind are we when we move into a nation and declare that we will "fix them" by bringing American systems of democracy and western traditions of religion? Are we so superior that we don't need to listen to other nation's ideas or even take notice of their cultural customs and values? It is painful to think that so much cultural beauty is dismissed in the process of forcing others to become more like us.
Even within our borders we impose traditional, anglo-saxon values on people who are different than us. Yes, we are a melting pot and yes there is a lot of diversity in the United States, but is this reflected in our political practices? How often do people critique health care because they think those in need of it are just lazy and shouldn't be our responsibility to help? How often to we talk about immigrants with derogative labels and develop policies that end up describing them in less than human terms? Why is it that people of different traditions than us are seen as problems that need to be taken care of? Why do we continue to tell people to become more like us on the grounds that our lifestyle is superior to their unrefined ways?
Perhaps these questions are exaggerated or over-generalized, but at least take a minute to think about them. Take a few silent moments to contemplate the attitudes and systems that could even lead me to ask them. Reflect on how you view other cultures and how people of different traditions make you feel. Do the words "socialism" and "antichrist" go hand in hand for you? Does health care make you frustrated? Do you view immigrants as people equal to you or instead as people of a separate, perhaps lower class than you?
Be honest with yourself.
I've tried being honest with myself, and although I have not figured it all out, this is what I have come to believe. Socialism is more reflective of the biblical principles of provision and generosity than capitalism is. The variety of cultures is what gives life a richness and a fullness that would not be possible if everyone were "American." Health care demonstrates justice and compassion and it gives people better opportunities for successful, fulfilling lives. Immigrants are cherished by God and have beautiful stories to share with the world. We shouldn't be trying so hard to keep these people out or turn them into model Americans. We shouldn't be forcing our ways of life without contemplating the benefits of other cultures. We shouldn't be so obsessed with power and control.
Again, these are general reactions to the topics I have been discussing in class. I am still processing American values and systems and I will continue to wrestle with these issues until I come to a better understanding of them. Even then, I will persist in learning more and expanding my world views. However, this I have come to know for certain: violence is not a virtue. I am heart broken by its prevalence in American culture and values and I am coming very close to adopting pacifism in place of my traditional republican views. There are still many issues I need to struggle through before I can declare my beliefs on all these topics, but as of now I am in the process of evaluating the underlying values that have shaped my identity as an American. More so than that, I seek to honestly confront my practices and conclusions with biblical principles so that I can be defined by Kingdom culture, rather than any culture that belongs to this world.
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