Reprint and follow-up of my January 15, 2013 post

This was a more or less technical post from January, 2013, as a follow-up to my post right after the Sandy Hook murders (warning – if you remain traumatized by that event, you might want to skip that one).  I find that my 2015 research and follow up comments aren’t too good.

I'll be brief today....I know, I'm never brief....don't worry though, I'm posting a link to a 22 page report from Mayors Against Illegal Guns titled "Access Denied".  Please read it, as I will be referring to its contents in the near future, hopefully.  http://libcloud.s3.amazonaws.com/9/c1/6/1017/3/access_denied.pdf

Please pay close attention to the summary recommendations:

·                     Remove "policy riders" on federal appropriations bills that limit firearms research at the CDC and NIH and provide appropriate funding to study the role of firearms on public health.

2015 update:  The day after the original post, President Obama issued an executive order to direct the CDC (and by extension the NIH) to fund this research; see http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-01-22/pdf/FR-2013-01-22.pdf.  Go to page 10 (it’s a BIG document).  The CDC reacted slowly, presumably because congressional pressure had then “gun shy”.  Rest assured the NRA has done all it can to impede research.

·                     Fully fund the National Violent Death Reporting System and expand it to all 50 states to improve our understanding of the role firearms play in fatalities.

2015 update:  Nope…nothing…despite the fact that gun violence has now surpassed auto accidents as the leading cause of death in young people.

·                     Reconstitute the research program on gun trafficking at the National Institute of Justice to update and expand our understanding of the market for illegal guns.

2015 update:  Hopeful – NIJ is proposing to issue grants of up to $1.5M to “Research and Evaluation on Firearms Violence Reduction”. See https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/sl001153.pdf The deadline for applying for grants is 4 days from this post.  It will be interesting to see what happens with this small amount, but it is forward momentum.

·                     Resume the publication of Justice Department reports on illegal gun markets and trafficking patterns.

2015 update – Nothing.  Really?  This is a disturbing lack of progress.  Here is a good example of recent research…unfortunately, the City of Chicago had to issue it, because they couldn’t wait for the Justice Dept. to do their job http://www.cityofchicago.org/dam/city/depts/mayor/Press%20Room/Press%20Releases/2014/May/05.27.14TracingGuns.pdf

·                     Rescind the Tiahrt Amendments 1

2015 update – nothing!

2015 summary:  The report from Mayors against illegal guns 5 summary proposals have been largely ignored by congress.  President Obama’s Executive order was a win, but it always faces threats.  You can bet that it will be rescinded if the president elected next year is a friend of the NRA.  The NIJ has provided some funding for research…we can award a half-win.  This movie gets one and a half stars…barely worth seeing!

1"Access Denied" by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, January, 2013.

OK.  As I promised I'm staying brief today.  But here's a good couple of hours worth or studying for my peacemaker friends.  You'll probably get nostalgic for my explanations of St. Augustine and Immanuel Kant when you've finished (seriously, it's a good read...but then, so was my philosophy blogging).

Peace to you all.  I'l talk soon.  Feel free to comment/write.

Democracy, and why it’s important

A little over one hundred years ago, just a mile away from where I write, thousands of immigrant workers had their wages cut.  They thought they were powerless, but reached a breaking point, and refused to work.  The powerful mill owners threatened them, and called their actions illegal.  The strike became violent, even deadly, and the mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts stayed shut.  The poor laborers tried to send their children out of town to friends’ homes, because Lawrence was dangerous, and food had been cut off.  At the railroad station, desperate parents were arrested for trying to send their children away.  After many bitter, violent, mostly winter months, the strike ended without a satisfactory conclusion.  Still, the eyes of the world were on the defiant immigrant laborers, and the plight of people with no voice was finally heard, and when they found they could speak to the world, they profoundly declared that they wanted a way not only to live, but to have hope, when they said, “We want bread and roses.”

Today, tens of millions of undocumented people live among us.  Most people turn their backs; they’re powerless. They live in fear of being seized.  A large number of them could reasonably be called refugees, from Central American countries where human rights are ignored.  We are bound by international treaty to receive and care for refugees, but it’s inconvenient to do so.  Instead, we have taken to calling them ‘illegals’, which I find offensive to the point of obscenity.  They have no voice, but you know they all want bread and roses.

Today, the poor, largely colored people in America suffer through an injustice system, lack of basic rights, predatory capitalism, and a long list of indignities.  They want bread and roses.

How do all of these people get bread and roses?  Does it matter to you and me?

It matters a lot to you and me.  The line between middle class and poor is getting blurred, and many of us are in the blurry area.  It doesn’t take much to fall out of Experian nirvana (and aren’t mysterious credit scores just another indignity?).  Even if you manage to stay on the path to suburban bliss, can’t you see the heavy hand reaching for more and more of us?

Eventually people without bread will demand bread.  They deserve bread and roses.  If they are not given a voice they will still make themselves heard.  The voice we all need is our own share of the American government:  Democracy.

I have heard that the US has the worst rate of participation in voting among developed nations.  I don’t know if this is true, but I instinctually know it’s at least close.  I’m pretty sure that it’s because the people have become increasingly disenfranchised.  Elections seem to be decided by the rich, who have access to obscene amounts of cash, the ability to manipulate a byzantine legal and electoral landscape, and the ability to push dissenting opinions to the margins.

We need to get our democracy back!  I can think of no other way than to educate as many people as possible in civics, and aggressively promote voting.  Marginalized people don’t need to live in a country dominated by three credit score companies, mega-rich players, and a rigged justice system.  The peaceful path to giving voice is a robust democratic system.  We all need our daily bread.  We need our roses, too.

Morning Prayer                       February 15, 2015

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness 
of your rising.    Isaiah 60:3

I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may 
reach to the end of the earth.    Isaiah 49:6b

From the rising of the sun to its setting my Name shall be great 
among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered 
to my Name, and a pure offering: for my Name shall be great 
among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.    Malachi 1:11 

Confession of Sin
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. 
Silence may be kept.

Most merciful God, 
we confess that we have sinned against you 
in thought, word, and deed, 
by what we have done, 
and by what we have left undone. 
We have not loved you with our whole heart; 
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. 
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. 
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, 
have mercy on us and forgive us; 
that we may delight in your will, 
and walk in your ways, 
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

(meditational reflection)

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins 
through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all 
goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in 
eternal life. Amen.

The Invitatory and Psalter
   Lord, open our lips. 

     And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as 
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Alleluia.

Venite    Psalm 95:1-7
Come, let us sing to the Lord; * 
   let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. 
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * 
   and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God, * 
   and a great King above all gods. 
In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * 
   and the heights of the hills are his also. 
The sea is his, for he made it, * 
   and his hands have molded the dry land.
Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * 
   and kneel before the Lord our Maker. 
For he is our God, 
and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. * 
   Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.
The Lessons

2 Kings 2:1-12

Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent."

Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be silent."

Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

 Here ends the Lesson

Please enjoy this beautiful rendition of Psalm 50

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Here ends the Lesson

Mark 9:2-9 

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

              The Word of the Lord. 

     Thanks be to God

Meditations on the readings by Bill McKenna

I think it’s too presumptuous for me to call this a sermon, so I’ll refer to it as meditations.  I’m sure later today, or tomorrow you’ll get a much more insightful sermon from Father Paul on his blog page (click this link).

The common theme today was the revelation of glory, but we get a different perspective in all three readings.  I think when you think of put together you get a feel for what a glimpse of the glory of God can look like.  We have the death of Elijah, with poor Elisha trying to witness glory, while his senses are overwhelmed by fiery chariots, a whirlwind.  Then we have Paul telling the Corinthians, that as followers of Christ, we have the gift of witnessing glory, where others merely see temporal existence.  Finally in Mark’s Gospel, we have Peter, James and John at the mountaintop, where Jesus reveals his glory, and Moses and Elijah appear beside him.

The Old Testament reading is about Elisha’s witness.  Elisha the student follows his mentor Elijah, even after Elijah asks him to remain behind twice.  As I see it, Elisha is doing two things:  First he is being a loving friend, wanting to be sure that Elijah doesn’t die alone, even to the point of disobedience.  Second, he is clinging, fearing that he cannot take up the mantle (i.e. responsibilities) of the great prophet.  That’s a fear that we’ve all encountered, perhaps on the first day of a new job, or at a new school.  Elisha, when he asks for a double share of Elijah’s spirit, he seems to be saying, “I can’t do this!  Please don’t go!”  Then the moment arrives in a whirlwind (do you suppose it was like getting a fourth blizzard?), and Elisha desperately watched his well-loved friend go to heaven in glory.  Most interpretations of the story subsequently say that Elisha successfully witnessed the final moment  and received his ‘double share.’  In my alternative ending, it may have been impossible to know how long he had to witness the glorification of Elijah to receive his gift.  Later, when Elisha needed the confidence to take over as the great prophet, he relied on his ‘gift’, which may simply have been a gift of kindness from the teacher, a simple ‘You can do it!’  I guess that‘s the greatest thing a teacher can impart to a student.

In the Gospel, Jesus changes the manifestation of glory.  If you’ve ever climbed a high mountain, you know that after several hours of step climbing you are tired, sore, and perhaps you have some torn clothes, and a cut or two.  It sounds like shoveling my driveway!  You’re also sweaty, and probably hoping that the wind isn’t blowing towards your friends.  Remember, too, these four hikers climbed in sandals.  Keeping in mind that Jesus flesh and blood, he was no different.  Yet, at the summit, as they were rubbing their cuts and blisters, eating granola and raisins, Jesus stood up, and transformed, in glory, to a stunning white that was hard to look at, and Moses and Elijah were there too.  I hope they saved a seat for Elijah!  The revelation of  Jesus as the son of God to Peter, James and John was different than the glory presented to Elisha though.  Elijah’s ascension and concurrent glory were the result of his death.  On the mountaintop, however, Jesus simply taps into the glory.  It is another clue that Jesus came to us to conquer death, and that glory would soon be accessible to all.  Of course at the time, the access to glory was to be kept as a secret.  I wonder, though.  Jesus was well aware of the faults of his good friends, as we see later at Gethsemane.  Do you really think when they returned from their hike, and were asked by the others, “How was the hike?” they all said, “Pretty nice, you see the Mediterranean from the top.”  I’m guessing here, but I think the secret may have been a little leaky.

Finally, in the Epistle, we have what appears to be a letdown.  The Corinthians are told, “Yes, we can all see the glory, because we know Christ.”  There are no chariots on fire; Elijah and Moses don’t show up. Clouds and rivers don’t part.  All they get is a quiet confidence from faith.  It’s almost as if the people at the church of Corinth are having dinner together, and one of them says to a younger member, “Can you check the mail, and see if there’s any new glory in the mailbox?”  It’s pretty anticlimactic.

In fact, it isn’t a letdown at all.  It’s the same glory revealed to Elisha, and to Peter, James and John.   Jesus kept his promise and revealed it to all of us who care to look for it.  It’s as amazing as it always was.  I think the truth in today’s Good News is that glory wasn’t fire, chariots and whirlwinds; it was the quiet confidence bestowed on Elisha.  It wasn’t the miraculous transformation of Jesus, and the appearance of the great prophets. It was the secret promise Jesus made to give eternal life (and glory) to anyone who believes.  Maybe real glory isn’t quite so showy.  Glory may not be bestowed in war so much as in the quiet conversations had to resolve issues that lead to war.  It’s not the Super Bowl so much as the work and dedication that allows a team to get there.  Well that’s what I think glory is.  If anyone reads this far, I hope you’ll share.

Peace and Love,

Bill

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, 
    creator of heaven and earth; 
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 
    He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit 
        and born of the Virgin Mary. 
    He suffered under Pontius Pilate, 
        was crucified, died, and was buried. 
    He descended to the dead. 
    On the third day he rose again. 
    He ascended into heaven, 
        and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 
    He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 
I believe in the Holy Spirit, 
    the holy catholic Church, 
    the communion of saints, 
    the forgiveness of sins
    the resurrection of the body, 
    and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers

Let us pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy Name, 
    thy kingdom come, 
    thy will be done, 
        on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our trespasses, 
    as we forgive those 
        who trespass against us. 
And lead us not into temptation, 
    but deliver us from evil. 
For thine is the kingdom, 
    and the power, and the glory, 
    for ever and ever. Amen.

V.    Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance; 
R.    Govern them and uphold them, now and always. 
V.    Day by day we bless you; 
R.    We praise your name for ever. 
V.    Lord, keep us from all sin today; 
R.    Have mercy upon us, Lord, have mercy. 
V.    Lord, show us your love and mercy; 
R.    For we put our trust in you. 
V.    In you, Lord, is our hope; 
R.    And we shall never hope in vain.

A Collect for Sundays
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of 
the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this 
day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week 
to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know 
you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend 
us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that 
we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of 
any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen.
A Collect for Guidance
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our 
being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by 
your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our 
life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are 
ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole 
body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: 
Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before 
you for all members of your holy Church, that in their 
vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; 
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The General Thanksgiving

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one 
accord to make our common supplication to you; and you 
have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two 
or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the 
midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions 
as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of 
your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

Please pray for:

My daughter, Molly in Texas, volunteering in the VISTA program

Everyone on the St. Paul’s prayer list.  I’ll especially call out April DiDomenico, because my friend Ray Shaw says awesome things about her.

My wife, Laura, who had to go to work, despite the snowstorm.

My daughter, Rose, who is almost over a pretty nasty case of the flu.

The Rev. Sarah Kelb, who is surely unhappy to miss services this morning.

The Syrian people

Bob Simon, who died this week, leaving a legacy of truly great witness of world events.

St. John’s Church, Charlestown (Boston)

St. Christopher’s Church, Chatham

All Saints’ Church, Chelmsford

St. Luke’s Church/Iglesia de San Lucas, Chelsea

Congregations: Secretaries and Administrators, especially St. Paul’s admin, Lynsey

Let us bless the Lord. 
Thanks be to God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and 
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. 
Amen.    2 Corinthians 13:14

A really nice closing song, sung by Sarah MacLachlan

Why Justice Matters

Before I begin, allow me to say that I had thought I was done with my blog.  A couple of years ago I became disengaged, both frustrated by ineffectual efforts, and difficulties not related to my writing.  I will continue to avoid writing about myself in my blogs, but after a long hiatus, I think I should have continued my efforts.  T has been hard to get back into writing about peace, but it’s time to bring back the blog.  Those wind mills look a lot like giants from here Rocinante.

I’m going to start with the concept of justice.  Justice can be a troubling concept for me, I think because what I see as justice is not altogether what many people conceive.  The idea of balancing a ledger of fairness by punishment is not justice; it might better be thought of as revenge.  To be fair, incarceration of dangerous people found guilty of felonies is both prudent and just, and a component of that incarceration may be punishment.  Incarceration also provides a measure of public safety, and should be a good opportunity for rehabilitation.

Real justice occurs when everyone is given opportunity, and policing is uneven, even heavy-handed, across society.  I hear a lot about racism in the discourse of uneven justice in Missouri and Staten Island.  I have no doubt that racism is an ugly, often hidden cause for injustice in America today.  It is not unique to police; police officers are out front, protecting everyone with a thin blue line almost always.  Subliminal racism has permeated American society however, and when it extends to police it corrodes the high level of professionalism usually found in police forces.  When there is a breakdown, the results are horrific.

I recommend The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander for a compelling case of how the legal system systematically oppresses blacks.  I have some issues with her construct, but she really points to gaping holes in American justice, which threaten domestic peace to an alarming degree.  The issue I have with her thesis is that I believe racial oppression is not the central issue, although it is certainly a big, ugly part of it.  I could make a case for the oppression being driven not by race, but by class.  Minimum mandatory sentencing as an offshoot of the war on drugs has created a permanent underclass.  That underclass is disproportionately represented by black and colored people, but we are quickly becoming an oligarchic, socially layered society, and we desperately need to get our democracy back.

There is one way to get our democracy back.  Engagement in civic life is the key, and non-violent activism is the methodology.  Stay tuned…I have more to say on this subject.  Comments welcome.  If you're new, please take a look at my 'ancient' posts to get an idea of where I'm coming from.  Comments are always encouraged.

Peace,

Bill