I am writing on January 7, 2015. A French satirical magazine has been terrorized by gunmen, twelve are dead, and the news commentators are using the phrase “increased radicalization” about militant Muslims in France.
I started thinking: it’s not just Muslims who are being radicalized. Right-wing Republicans tried to unseat their now Speaker. A very conservative Republican from Colorado state was accused of treason by House members who disagreed with him (yesterday, I believe). Right-wing Jews promote hatred in Israel. Right-wing Christians picket military funerals. Some members of the New York City Police force turn their backs on their mayor at funerals.
Conversation, attempts to reach a place of “agreeing to disagree” and other forms of civilized behavior are waning. Republicans want to reduce the definition of “full time work” to 27 hours per week because employers don’t want to pay benefits for 30 hour employees. One congresswoman noted that Texas schools hover over substitute teachers to ensure they don’t work more than 29 hours per week (a clear case of blaming the working stiff for their problems).
ISIS, the Taliban, the Islamist women-haters in Nigeria, Border Patrol staff who hate Mexicans, ranchers who go "hunting" Mexicans with rifles and dogs and 4-wheel drive vehicles, anti-abortion fanatics, people who fan racial hatred and fears account for just some of the radicalization of the world population. A few days ago a funeral was begun in a Christian building near Denver, and as it happened the person who died had a same-sex partner. The pastor of the church was not conducting the service but came in to see pictures of the couple. He halted the service and demanded they leave.
Radical. Stupid. Hate-filled.
And we ask, "Why doesn't God strike these people dead?"
Could it be that God has more compassion, and is less radical than these fear-filled radicals?
What do you think? leave a comment and let us know.
