Perspectives on Social Issues
(March 2006)

Conscientious Objection: A Call to Discipleship
"Jesus' call to embrace the nonviolent cross is also the call to give up one's life. It is also considered the ultimate form of discipleship. Churches who fail to denounce the anti-gospel are guilty of promoting it. We must follow the early church who knew their alternative lifestyle was an expression of freedom -- even when it resulted in prison, physical and emotional suffering, a loss of ‘rights,’ yes, even death.

A non-violent conscience cannot be formed overnight. Individuals are better served when connected to a community whose identity is shaped by their commitments. Clement of Alexandria once wrote, ‘In peace, not in war, we are trained. Various peoples incite the passions of war by martial music; Christians employ only the Word of God, the instrument of peace.’ As it was in the early church, conscientious objection today is a call to discipleship. Let us make our witness to peace -- not as an afterthought, but as a way or life."

“Conscientious Objection Is Discipleship” by Eric Garbison, Hospitality, Open Door Community, Nov/Dec 2005. HOPE IN HELL — PART TWO: "When the World Forgets, Who Comes to Help” by  Edward Girardet, National Geographic Magazine, Dec 2005.

Compelling Rankings of Countries
"Rank of Norway on the United Nations Human Development Index (2003): 1. Rank of United States: 10. Rank of Cuba: 52.

Rank of Japan in life expectancy at birth in 2003 (82.0 years): 1. Rank of United States (77.4 years): 29. Rank of Cuba (77.3 years): 30.

Rank of Bahrain in share of one-year-olds immunized against measles in 2003 (100 percent): 1. Rank of Cuba (and 23 other countries) (99 percent): 2. Rank of United States (93 percent): 70.

Rank of United States in per-capita spending on health care in 2002 ($5,274/person): 1. Rank of Switzerland ($3,446/person): 2. Rank of Cuba ($236/person): 97.

Rank of Cuba in spending on public education as share of GDP in 2000-02 (18.7 percent): 1. Rank of United States (5.7 percent): 30.

Rank of Russian Federation in value of arms exports, 2004 ($6.2 billion): 1. Rank of United States ($5.5 billion): 2."

“Matters of Scale,” WorldWatch, Nov/Dec 2005.

Neoliberalism and the Solidarity Movement
"Neoliberalism, in short, spread a philosophical understanding of human freedom that directly conflicts with the ethic of the Solidarity movement. The Solidarity movement believed freedom is realized by participating in the construction of a just society that promotes the participation of all. To act in this way is to act in solidarity with others, because solidarity promotes the freedom and participation of others. For neoliberalism, freedom amounts to freedom from constraints, particularly in the economic sphere. In the practical realm, this rejection of freedom, understood as freedom realized in solidarity with others, led to a ‘sink or swim’ attitude in socioeconomic policy.

This notion of ‘freedom from’ contributed to the widespread indifference to the poor after 1989. Particularly vulnerable groups, such as farmers and children of large families, suffered greatly as little was done to aid them during the transition to a market economy. Social dialogue also broke down, because most people were concerned with personal gain. Interestingly, the new Polish Constitution of 1997 insists that Poland's economy is based on the social market economy model, which ‘values freedom and solidarity equally.’ Nonetheless, under the influence of neoliberalism, politicians have often created laws that fall short of embodying the general principles found in the Constitution."

“What Ever Became of Solidarity” by Gerald J. Beyer, America, Jan 16-23, 2006.

Love Casts Out Fear
"The love Jesus spoke of casts out fear and oppression. Violent extremists, tyrants, and fearmongers will find no comfort in this love and have no power over it. This is the kind of love that inspired Ghandhi, Parks, King, and many others to speak truth to power, resist injustice, and nonviolently transform their nations with strength and determination.

Imagine. What would our nation's foreign policies look like if this kind of love and respect for basic human dignity were the guiding principle instead of fear? What would this love have us do to reduce violent extremism, to help the Iraqis find peace and security, or to prevent a future war with China?"

"The Power of Love Over the Power of Fear," FCNL Washington Newsletter, Nov/Dec 2005..

Negative Impact of Computers on Environment
"A friend who retired from the Environmental Protection Agency recently said to me: 'The earth's life support systems will probably survive the automobile but probably not personal computers.' She based her opinion on a United Nations University study released last year, which revealed a new understanding of the impact these necessary tools of the 21st century have on our environment. According to this report, making the average computer requires 10 times the weight of the product in chemicals and fossil fuels. What's more, many of the chemicals are toxic, while the use of fossil fuels in making computer components contributes to global climate change. The short life of today's electronic equipment leads to Himalayas of waste, the report says. That waste is then dumped into landfills or recycled, too often in poorly managed facilities in developing countries, leading to significant health risks.

...The manufacture of a kilogram personal computer with a Pentium ll processor and a 17-inch monitor needs at least 240 kilograms of fossil fuels to provide the energy, and 22 kilograms of chemicals. Add 1.5 tons of water, and your desktop has used up the weight of a SUV in materials before it even leaves the factory….

Eric Williams, the U.N. report's co-author, said, ‘Every computer user has a role to play. Users should think carefully about whether they really need to buy a new computer, if upgrading the existing machine could serve the same purpose. Promptly selling old machines to the used-product market is also important.’"

"Will Earth Survive the Computer?” by Rich Heffern, National Catholic Reporter, Jan 27, 2006.