Things that make you go hmmm. . .

Go figure.

Last week, Texas Governor Rick Perry told us that he thinks anyone who is licensed to carry a gun in Texas should be able to carry it anywhere, including to church, in a bar or a courthouse.

Perry was speaking to the tragedy that beset the Virginia Tech campus. If you are authorized to possess and tote a gun, you ought to be able to pack it anywhere you go, according to my governor.

You gotta admit, such a policy change would sure make Sunday School more interesting.

Sort of reminds me of Archie Bunkers' strategy to end airline high jacking in the 1970s: "When passengers board, just pass out the 45s and no one will have a problem."
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The National Rifle Association filed a formal objection to President Bush for supporting a bill that would prohibit the sale of guns to suspected terrorists. The NRA feels as if this would be a threat to the Second Amendment rights of Americans to keep and bear arms, even if they are suspected of terrorist activities.

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During recent discussions by the Farmers Branch, Texas City Council regarding undocumented immigrants, one of the chief concerns expressed in support of that city's proposed anti-immigrant ordinances had to do with national security and the threat of terrorists. Serious discussions were had at City Council regarding the danger of terrorists from Mexico. I'm checking the watch lists now for terrorists with Hispanic surnames. I'll get back to you when I find one ("Scenes from the Class Struggle in Farmers Branch," D Magazine, May 2007, pages 60ff).

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The percentage of Americans living in severe poverty hit a 32-year high in 2005 (Affordable Housing Finance, April 2007, page 10). This according to McClatchy Newspapers' analysis of the 2005 census data. Almost 16 million Americans live in deep poverty.

What is "deep" or "severe" poverty? For a family of four it is an annual income of less than $9,903. For an individual, the severely poor earn less than $5,080.

The number of Americans mired in this deep, wretched poverty grew by 26 percent between 2000 and 2005. One of three severely poor Americans are younger than 17-years-old.

Seems to me that something beyond charity might be in order here.
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Yesterday's edition of The New York Times carried a front page article on Liberation Theology's lingering influence in Latin America and Pope Benedict XVI's history with and response to the issues involved.

Fascinating read.

Got me to thinking how it is I can use religion and theology in service to my own cherished way of life to the detriment of others. At the same time, we often react with offense to differing theological perspectives from this same platform of self-justification. Across the years I've spent a good bit of time reading liberationist thinkers.

I remain amazed at the outrage of those who object in view of the needs of the people. For well over sixty years the issues of deep poverty, land reform, food crops vs. cash crops, clean water, economic development and housing have gone largely unaddressed and unresolved for the poor of Latin America.

I'm wondering how small Bible study groups aimed at finding answers to these pressing social dilemmas could be seen as a threat to the church.

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Hmmmmm.