We need a prophet

Last night, I watched the State of the Union Address. Once again, I was left indignant about the leadership of our state. I watched THAT MAN started verbally attacking yet another country, in preparation for yet another unjust war, in this case Iran. I heard the sweet-as-molasses-and-just-as-sappy stories he told about those involved in Iraq, which sickened me. He is trying to justify our culture of violence by speaking about the Iraqi elections and their rise of democracy - but true democracy cannot come when we batter people into supporting our causes. He's following the same pattern his predecessors (Reagan, etc.) established in Nicaragua and the rest of Central America. How many countries can we subjugate before we ourselves collapse? We're building something instable - both abroad and at home - because these elections are coming out of weariness, not any belief that the system can work. It's the same reason the Sandinistas in Nicaragua were kicked out of power, though they truly were a people's government - the Iraqis think that maybe if they simply play the game, they'll finally be able to be rid of the violence WE are perpetrating against them. THIS is a crime against humanity.

The Democrats make me just as angry. I listened to them, as they refused to stand up against THAT MAN'S totalitarian tendencies. They spoke about the need to come to the center, and work together to rebuild social security, etc, without actually speaking out against anything except for some privatization scheme that no one really cares about. How I long for a national leader who has the guts to stand up and call this dictator what he is, to stand in the prophetic tradition of Nathan, Hosea, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Daniel Berrigan. One thing we have learned from this election (horror that it is) is that waffling doesn't get you votes. Speak the truth! Get out there and say exactly what is wrong with our situation - that we are oppressors, and our cultural, structural and physical violence needs to stop to ensure our own survival. No one stays on top forever - we need to build a more equitable society, for our own benefit, because when we're toppled, we'll be treated in the same manner that we treated those below us.

The worst part about it is this talk of faith. The Conservatives co-opt it as if Christianity belongs to them. However, they have forgotten phrases like "Blessed are the peacemakers," and "He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble." It is not following Christ to kill and subjugate others for your own gain; there is no such thing as a "holy war." This is a violation of our biblical mandate to love our neighbor and work for the peaceable kingdom.

The true state of our union is in transgression. I can only hope that we see the light, and work to repair and restore our relationship with our neighbors after such destructive behavior.