Tilting at Windmills
National Arboretum, Ottawa. September 2019
I admit it. I’m a bit of a news junkie. It may date back to my father sitting in his rocking chair in front of the 8:00 o’clock news in the evenings, falling asleep after a few minutes, waking up when the newscast was done and asking, in Low German, “So what did they say?”
I’m so in touch with the news
from south of the 49th parallel right now, checking every morning to
see what the outgoing president has been doing overnight. This obsessive
attention may have resulted from my love for comic opera, or from the misguided
courage of Don Quixote in courting the lovely but uninterested Dulcinea, and his
“tilting at windmills” in the delusion that he’s a chivalrous knight defending
the realm. If Cervantes were still alive—or Rogers and Hammerstein—the casting
of the 45th president as central character in a major work could
hardly be resisted.
But latterly, I’ve begun to see
more than the buffoon in the president; something pitiful in him that having lost
the election may have triggered. Personality-wise, he doesn’t, for
instance, fit the mold of the most notorious dictators—Stalin, Hitler,
Mussolini, Bolsonaro, Caesar—except possibly for the narcissistic streak that
says, “I am the biggest and the best,” and that not as a passing fancy but as a
character trait set in stone, as it were. The man is missing something, and its
absence seems no less final than lost legs are to a double amputee. What he
does have in abundance is the chutzpah to “kick ass,” a trait that resonates
with so many in the world today that it can turn democracies into something far
less palatable. It can win elections. It even brings out the “kick ass” in the so-called
Christian Church; a large number of the followers of the Prince of Peace have put
on their marching boots, and in all probability, it feels good.
But their chosen champion, we remember,
is an amputee who doesn’t know that he has no legs. Parts he’s so obviously
missing include empathy, responsibility, mercy, humility and kindness, at least
when he’s been functioning as president. These traits are repeatedly
emphasized in the gospels and the prophets and reiterated in the wisdom
literature of the Old Testament. The willingness and ability to “kick ass” is absent
in the teaching of Christ, certainly in Paul’s letters. The end for a person
and a people choosing to live without empathy, responsibility, mercy, humility
and kindness is bitter. The gospels are clear on this as well. And that is
where the peace churches, and indeed, all Christ’s followers, should allow
themselves deep sorrow as they would for sailors lost at sea.
Imagine this: a demonstration by
“kick ass” supporters is scheduled for a city and it’s clear that the “anti
kick ass” people are going to be there in large numbers as well. A bloody
confrontation is feared by authorities. From up to 100 miles away, the Mennonites,
the liberal Baptists, the Amish, the Quakers, the peace branch of the Catholic
Church and others have heard the call and descend on the city in their
hundreds. They all wear a white shirt or jacket and as the demonstrations form,
they congregate between, and mingle among, the demonstrators on both sides,
engaging those near them in “getting to know you” conversations. It’s like an
enormous Christian Peacemaker Team at work. Their presence diffuses the
raging emotions of the demonstrators, antagonists full of fervour begin to lose
their enthusiasm and a reality, a normality gradually asserts itself.
Such an act could be risky
because there are guns and volatile emotions present. The fewer the number of
“peacemakers,” the greater the risk. Police have proven themselves effective at
peacemaking in some cases, not so much in others where they have been attacked
and have retaliated with force. The CPT team I’m imagining poses no personal
threat to anyone and in large numbers and with a conciliatory demeanour are
likely to have the effect of reminding protestors that they live in a real
world with young and old people whose objectives don’t include violence.
Why are the peace churches such
small players in the broader culture? I have to wonder. Three possibilities
occur: 1. The bonds that ought to tie peace churches together are weak. We meet
as member churches of our own denomination or sub-denomination. It’s hard to
know where the conversation leading to peace church cooperation in actually
modeling and encouraging peace would happen. 2. We underestimate the power of
the gospel expressed in action. “What’s the point? Our little action won’t make
a difference,” has become a predominant sentiment. Exactly right. That’s why
the conversation we’re not having across congregations and denominations must
happen; to have influence, numbers are almost everything. 3. Political
loyalties cloud our objectivity on individual issues and policies. It’s hard to
motivate a congregation with divided, strong political-party loyalties to any
action with political overtones. In such circumstances, fear of dividing often seems
reason enough to do nothing.
I gave an example that probably
feels really radical to you, as it does to me. But if I’ve heard it once, I’ve
heard it a hundred times: “I want to contribute to the better world, but I
don’t know where to grab hold.”
If change begins at home, then I’d
suggest that we as Christians re-examine our loyalties, keeping in mind that following
Christ constitutes our primary “political party.” Further, I’d love to see us
reverse the individualism we’ve borrowed from the broader culture and begin to
think of our congregation as one body, our denomination as one family and from
there outward, work together with other Christians at witnessing for peace and
reconciliation. Additionally, we need to teach ourselves to be less
self-protecting and more daring, more risk-taking.
It is, after all, our great
commission: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through
Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” (II Corinthians 5:8) Saving the “kick ass” people from
their delusions is surely a worthy objective for reconciliation. “Defeating”
them is futile and pointless.
Don Quixote dies a miserable, lonely death, victim of his own delusions.
We don’t wish that on anyone.
Thank you for this reflection and challenge.
ReplyDeleteTrying to be informed via mainstream media is like trying to be nourished by eating junk-food, LOL. We're continually grossly disinformed by it, IMO, and this is slow to change. Some conspiracies turn out to be true. I think massive election fraud did happen, this will come out, yet, and Biden is unlikely to be Prez. Let's see what happens in the next 25 days.
ReplyDeleteRe peace churches, Mennos are pretty good at daily peaceful living and basic helpfulness to others, but have almost nothing to offer to larger political, peace and security issues. They've chosen to make themselves mostly irrelevant and to remain "small players in the broader culture". For one thing, life requires that ideals compromise with pragmatism a great deal. Idealist Mennos do actually live with many necessary compromises, like everyone else, but don't admit it much. They are obsessed with certain idealistic rhetoric.
For example, Idealist Mennos like, want, need, rely on and appreciate good policing, but don't say it. They call for cops with guns about as quick as anyone, if need be, and love the 24/7/365 stability policing gives to society. Also, they like and benefit from international peacekeeping and reasonable national defenses. That's all fine, but they should admit it and talk about such things openly and honestly. Have you ever heard an official Menno statement supporting good policing or reasonable national defense? Or official encouragement for Mennos seeking careers in these much-needed professions? By doing such things, they could more fully join broader society and contribute, instead of having almost zero credibility in peace and security issues. Currently, they're justifiably ignored.
Next example. 75 years later, Idealist Mennos still have no answers for Naziism, except run, hide and let others do the dirty work. And on top of this, overtly or implicitly condemn them for it. The Menno "ideal" of nonresistance, of simply letting tyranny and horrors have their way with everyone isn't actually what they want, but they love a delusion of purity and are obsessed with ideas which neither they or anyone else can actually live. So, they blather on about peace, even as they run from conflicts. I left religious Mennonitism long ago for such reasons. Jesus is much happier with brave, honest realists than with idiotic hypocrites, IMO.
Next example. In Russia, Mennos lived under Crown stability (via force and deterrence) for 150 years or so. When it fell apart, they floundered, got slaughtered and many survivors were homeless, impoverished refugees. PTSD was prevalent for decades and still is, as it is passed on to children quite a bit. Mennos should admit they never were and never will be total pacifists, as this is virtually impossible, and join real political, peace and security conversations and actions in realistic ways. This is much preferable to pretense and advocating non-solutions.
Not exactly Christmas morning topics, LOL, but I think clarity, realism and honesty do as much or more for peace and goodwill as idealism. Excessive idealism shall destroy many, we might say.
May we each reach the heights of extreme personal peace and love, but also admit we live in a world where we must live and act non-ideally, daily. Infinite inner peace is very possible. Greater peace in the world is also possible, but also faces many limitations. I'm waiting for more Mennos to admit this. Then I can take them more seriously. Currently, they're not so much "fools for Christ", as they are just fools and fooling themselves, LOL.
I love Mennos, my people, but they're 99.9% about traditional ideas, for better or worse, and only .1% progress. They're very slow to evolve.
You begin by vilifying "mainstream media" as if it were a single monolith with the object of deluding people. "Mainstream media" is a myth; an invention of conspiracy theorists. Here's some news for you; the " alternate media" depend on the "mainstream media" to provide them with a straw man against which they can bounce their revisionist view of reality. To say that mainstream media is fake employs the same false logic as saying that "Mennonites are slow to evolve." Some are, some are not. Some news stories contain errors, others are accurate.
ReplyDeleteMennonites are not a monolith either, as you suggest. Christian Peacemaker Teams, Canadian Food Grains Bank, Mennonite Central Committee were all given birth in the Mennonite community. Could more be done? Of course. That was a key point in my post.
Lastly, your statement that some conspiracy theories turn out to come true, I agree with. But for a conspiracy to exist, a number of parties must be in agreement to make something happen, must agree to secrecy and must all pull in the same direction. Assumed is that what is agreed to affects the moral judgement of all parties equally. Research has found that when the number of persons or parties involved rises to more than four or so, the confederacy, the conspiracy breaks down. For the Covid 19 pandemic to remain an intact conspiracy is simply ludicrous given the number who would have to abide by the rules.
Thanks for weighing in, an a Happy New Year to you and yours.
Nothing is a complete monolith, but one must of course often generalize quite a bit for the sake of brevity when talking about larger issues. It should be safe to assume that people understand that, IMO.
ReplyDeleteMSM beat to death a narrative of Trump-Russia collusion for over 2 years and there was an impeachment attempt. Only problem, no real evidence. Conversely, massive evidence emerged this fall for Biden corruption in Ukraine, Russia, China and elsewhere, and continues to unfold. MSM said and continues to say, in essence, "Ah it's nothing". So, as just one indication (there are many many others and they arrive daily) of what we're up against with MSM, generally, could it be more clear? However, MSM caters to many narratives and paradigms we wish were true, so it succeeds for that reason, to a large degree. Who is the real scoundrel? Biden, the guy who is protected by MSM, or Trump, the guy they attack and lie about daily? Everything is a theory until more credibly evidence emerges. But in this twisted world, many are skilled at concocting evidence or hiding it.
I gave some general Menno failures. You spoke to none of them. To attack form and not substance is an old trick, but one which I hoped you were beyond. Let Mennos address their own severe contradictions for a change, thereby gaining credibility. I'd consider that progress. I'd consider that positive development or evolution.
That said, I reiterate the goodness of Mennonites in general, both religious and cultural ones. Idealist-Mennos express some good thoughts, too, but are at the same time problematic. They're often extreme. People have to be able to live the ideals they claim they can, or acknowledge them as ideals which we blend with pragmatism. They already live that way, like everyone else, but can't admit it or talk sensibly about reasonable compromises.
Take a look a look at Article 22 of the Confession Of Faith used by Mennonite Church Canada. See any room for positive adjustments based on stark realities and the ways in which we actually live? No one lives much by nonresistance or wants to, but according to Art 22 that's all we do. Yet, try and have a conversation about it with any members, pastors or leaders of MC Canada - good luck. I've gotten nowhere for years, despite many respectful, polite attempts, made with integrity. Accuracy has it's place. The COF is lying to the world and nothing is done about it. Clarification could happen there and in other writings, but never does, IME. So, if we wonder why people avoid or leave us, there's one reason.
As we fix our own boats, we become more useful to the broader world. Mennonite thought must progress, even as we as individuals must continually improve our wisdom.
I don't know you so I want to be careful not to generalize about those who express similar convictions to yours. I would appeal rather to the catalogue of false logic where generalization is prominently listed. To generalize is to do injustice to those who reside in the group about whom the general statement is but don't fit the--in this case--judgement of the speaker.
DeleteI don't know the raw facts of Biden's or Trump's hidden activities. I rely on second-hand sources as does nearly everyone else. Even less do I know their hearts, their motives. We choose the narrative that fits our disposition, denigrate the one that doesn't.
BUT through the media, we are brought pictures and sounds of them speaking, and those impressions are probably the better indication of who the person is.
The narrative of MSM pampering Biden and vilifying Trump by design is odd. It leaves out the fact that Trump has vilified reporters, humiliated them publically at every opportunity. Again, the falsehood that generalization is by it's very nature. His turning on Fox News and the reasons he gives for that reveal more about the man than what the press has revealed or misrepresented.
I have to say something about the Confession of Faith. First, it is an internal document of the ideals that are understood at the time of writing, and that are consistent with the teaching of Scripture. It's not a public document; if it falls short of what it purports, it speaks to adherents that some discernment is badly needed. Also, a COF is a moving document; as times change they need to be re-examined and possibly reworded. Take Article 9, for instance.