Guantanamo Bay Detainees

Plans are now in place to transfer a significant amount of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the Thomson Correctional Center here in Illinois. There is fear that this may pose a security threat to the United States by making it a possible target for more terrorism. As we are living in post 9/11 times - the threat and fear of terrorism is significantly heightened. But this reality seems not to be considered over capitalistic motives of the government. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin is in grand support of this move. He is quoted by saying, "The prison would house fewer than 100 Guantanamo detainees and would have a "significant positive impact on the local economy" by generating more than 3,000 jobs." But what's more important, money or security?

As we are clearly living in times of economic hardships - many are going to drastic measures to generate more money. Thomason Correctional Center has been desolate for several years now, and with the housing of the Guantanamo Bay detainees it would be in full effect again. I can empathize with the reality of creating more jobs, but we must keep in mind that as we are trying to identify those within our borders that pose a significant threat to our National Security, we are adding more to that list of security threats. Since ownership of Thomson Correctional Center will be in the hands of the federal government - it’s imperative that the federal government makes sure that they give us the total security as they would give any other federal building that was a target for suspected terrorist activity.

Creche at the White House

As we are fully engaged into the holiday season, many faith traditions are engaging in their religious traditions across the nation. With these traditions come a diverse community of icons, artifacts, signs, and symbols. At the White House there are Christian Christmas symbols that are on display that include the display of the crèche. The display of the crèche at the White House has been a tradition since 1967, but with religious pluralism being a realization - its display "only" is being debated. The display of the crèche should be allowed as long as there is a respect and honor for other religious traditions within the White House as well.

As an employee of Corporate America I see many Christian Christmas decorations, trees, and lights on display across downtown and in many buildings. In my place of employment we have two 30+ ft. trees and three wreaths that have been added to the décor of our main lobby. To my surprise in one of our windows we also have the Jewish menorah in honor of Hanukkah, and the African kinara in honor of Kwanzaa. The display of all three of these holiday traditions in my place of employment gave me a sense of joy that the diversity that our corporate policy entails is not only being shown through the demographics of our employees, but also in honor of the faith traditions that are within the walls of our corporation as well.

This same type of diversity should be employed at the White House. The White House is looked upon as being the pedestal of America since the president of these United States resides there. As being the pedestal it should be sending a message of love, community, and acceptance. Since we do not just have Christians who celebrate religious traditions during this holiday season, there ought to be the display of a plethora of religious traditional symbols in the White House to acknowledge this. If Corporate America can do it…so must the White House.

Why Is Muslim Humanity Not Honored in Switzerland?

Switzerland voters have crossed over into dangerous territory by their hurtful decision to ban further construction of Muslim minarets. Minarets are apart of the mosques that Muslims are called to prayer to everyday, but now in their near future they will have to go without their sacramental architecture in the construction of further erected mosques. This places Muslims in a place of the "otherness". Muslims have been singled out and their faith is now being criticized and demeaned by the actions of right-winged Switzerland groups such as Swiss People's Party, and the Federal Democratic Union. The ban passed because the Switzerland constitution allows for a group of people to gather 100,000 signatures to promote an initiative, and once this is done a vote can be taken for or against it. This is not right.

We live in a pluralistic world that encapsulates many different religions and practices. Everyone has their own right to worship in their own way. To ban these Muslim minarets - is stripping the Muslim world of their full humanity. In order to realize the full humanity of a person you must accept their decisions in totality - religion included. We do not live in a world that has a universalized global religion. This Earth is one big melting pot of religious views. I am quite sure that the Muslims feel a bit of uneasiness now to be a resident of a society that bans the totality of their religious freedom. To the Switz's minarets are just architecture, to Muslims it’s an important religious monument. In fact it’s been said that Muslims believe that minarets are the "gate from heaven and earth". The erection of this in addition to their mosques is important and pivotal to their faith. This should be taken into consideration.

Muslims account for the lowest percentage of practiced religions in Switzerland, with Catholicism and Protestantism being the head leaders. The Muslims are already a minority in Switzerland, but now they are the majority in being marginalized. What if other world leaders sent out a petition to ban the construction of crucifixes in cathedrals or altars in the sanctuaries of the Catholics and Protestants? The people of Switzerland must not be so conservative when it comes to religious freedom. There must be a call for love and a realization and acceptance of diversity. There is a beauty in diversity, because it allows for us to appreciate and to experience the totality and the beauty of our Creator. Within this beauty lie the lives of Muslims, not only their lives, but the beauty and sanctity of their minarets.

Remembering Not Only Our Own This Holiday Season!

The Holiday season is well under way. Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas is on the Horizon. What most did you give thanks for? Thanksgiving can truly be a time of good reflection and joyous times, but some people may feel like they have nothing to be thankful for. Someone may not have a family to share with. Someone may not even have a home to eat a warm cooked meal in. While we are giving thanks and breaking bread - lets not forget about those that are less fortunate. Lets not forget about those who may not be as blessed to share with a family.

Even though Thanksgiving is not truly a religious holiday, and has been adopted by the Christian church - we can still attach our loving Christian values so that the peace and love of God people can be spread among the masses. As we are out shopping this season - why not pick up an extra sweater to give to someone in a shelter? While we are baking cookies and making pies - why not make an extra one to share with someone other than our own? Let's not only remember our own this holiday season, but let's have the attitude of Christ and seek the less fortunate so that they too can fell happy and joyous - even in the midst of any sorrow that they may be encountering. Its more to the Holiday than just making our own happy, but our love should expand so that it can leak into the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters as well.

Violence and Suffering: Why must we encounter them?

Amid the ever rising violence that plagues our cities and states, and the ever growing suffering that has always had a place in our societies...questions comes to my mind. If we serve an all powerful and loving God - why does He allow for us to encounter such strife in our lives if we are truly his beloved children? What parent wants to see their child suffering? What parent will not intervene when they see there child suffering and being a victim of violence?

I feel that there is no one concrete answer to these questions. There are no reasons that can speak to a child that is suffering in poverty. There are no reasons that can speak to the senseless killings that have raided the youth of the city of Chicago. You can't just tell a mother that has lost her six year old child to a drunk driver - "that it was just in God's will". But there are a few thoughts that I have that can speak to these situations and help us to keep a faith in God in the midst of our encounters.

Paul asked of God in II Corinthians 12 that the He would remove the infliction that was over his body three times. The Lord said no, but He didn't leave him there. He said, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Paul's response was, "most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." In our times of affliction God is the only one that we can lean on. If we don't put our trust in God...than putting our trust in man will fail us every time. I feel that sometimes we may have to suffer for a positive purpose. In order for one to learn and to get stronger and sharper...sometimes we'll just have to sweat and tear. Its like lifting weights. In order for your muscles to get bigger and stronger they have to go through rigorous trauma. Sometimes we suffer in order for us to attain higher heights and higher knowledges through our experiences. Also, I think one of the maybe most convincing reasons why we suffer is because its just an effect of natural order. We live in an imperfect world...so in an imperfect world that is full of free will...suffering happens.

Whatever the reasons are for ones suffering - we must not let go of our faith in God. Even though He is all powerful - I don't feel he intentionally inflicts violence and suffering all of the time. Its just a part of the free willed imperfect world that we live in. Whatever the infliction is - lets trust God. Violence and suffering is a big deal in society, but God is even bigger. Why not trust and depend on Him? For He is the only one that has the liberating power to assist us in our negative encounters with life.

Health Care Reform

Health care reform in the United States is a concern for both those that are inside and outside of the U.S. government. One group of individuals who feel strongly about voicing their opinion and wanting to have an influence in the shaping of health care reform for the nation are the U.S. Catholic bishops - rightly so. Any religious group, including the Catholic bishops of America, should be given the opportunity to voice opinions to congress about health care reform. I feel that the church has a duty to raise morale concerns and to be the "religious aggressors" that push for the wellness and well being of those subjected to health care.

To me it seems that sometimes the ultimate goal of health care in the United States is to make money. We live in a highly capitalistic society - so making money is always a deciding factor. Let's think about it. If there were no sick people in the world than the pharmaceutical companies wouldn't be in business. Certain epidemics such as cancer, AIDS, influenza, diabetes, and hypertension keep monies rolling in year after year into pharmaceutical "banks". There’s a push to make sure that medicines and care options are at the forefront and available for those that can push money into electing these care options. But what about servicing those that are in poverty, and are poor, and can't afford these medicines and health care options? This is where the church should have an influence. As religious leaders getting involved in the policy making - we should not be pushing "religions" - but rather we should be just practicing the love and care for humanity that our faith so duly charges us with doing through our deliberations.

In the end the government is going to decide what it’s going to decide, but sometimes it takes that little voice far off in the distant to help move one to look at things from a different perspective. As our nation is set up - it’s not the governments’ duty to show love and compassion from a religious perspective. They make and set laws for the land. It's the church's duty to be the religious foundation for the world and to help bring certain cares and concerns through a loving perspective. The church does not have the final say in the government, but it ought to have an influential effect on those that make decisions that effect personal lives on a day to day basis.

Ft. Hood: Religion, Terror, and Education

Within the United States we are infused with many races, creeds, and religious practices. One of the most diverse things about this melting pot - is that against the whole world - we have our very own complex pluralistic society that enables everyone to be able to have the freedom to choose what religion they want to practice. In wake of the most recent shootings at Ft. Hood, I feel that there must be an awakening and a realization that just because we accept one's freedom to choose their religion, we must also be aware of any pending dangers that may come along with it. Since we live in the "land of the free" - we can not simply place a discriminating limitation on ones entrance to the military due to their religious practices, but we've got to be a bit more educated and proactive in staying abreast to the "ins and outs" that one's beliefs may consist of.

Since at this point we do not have 100% assurance that the shooter is connected to any religious extremist group - we can not associate him with any particular group. In wake of September 11th, everyone wants to associate his actions to that of homage to Allah in the name of martyrdom. All individuals who practice in the name of Allah are not religious extremist. But since we do allow for Muslims to join the army - we must stay on top of any dangerous theological perspectives that one may have that may advocate martyrdom. Muslims are not the only religious practice that propagates dangers to society, but Christians and Jews as well. One may not practice them, but their "canons" do suggest it.

Where does America go from here? If this act was truly an act of religious extremism - than terrorism has his American soil again. What makes it worse is that it not only hit American soil, but it’s penetrated into our military services as well. This places a great deal of fear in the hearts of Americans, because if our military can be hit - than our line of defense is weakened. We need to take a situation such as the Ft. Hood shooting as a wake up call. In light of our love and compassion for ones thoughts, beliefs, and decisions, we must still stay aware and educated to any pending dangers that we may be up against. If we do this - than we may be able to prophetically name a danger and offer an alternative outcome before the lives of others are placed in danger. We must stay educated and take the necessary precautions when necessary.