A parable of relief vs. advocacy
“Relief” refers to providing for needy people’s immediate survival needs — food, shelter and clothing, direct material gifts. “Advocacy” refers to political activism, meant to change policies and laws. People and organizations who presume to serve the poor, face choices as to which one to emphasize.
The parable of the babies in the river addresses that choice. Activists love it. Desmond Tutu and others have endorsed it.
Neither side knows what it’s talking about.
The problem isn’t that the system’s white.
The problem is that it’s a system at all.
I first meant to title this, “Choosing disorder,” but settled on using a word that’s a bit more edgy, and consistent with my past vocabulary.
There are interesting relationships among some words. Continue reading Choosing chaos
Late in the composition of last week’s post, I came across an unexamined feature of Trump’s sway over the nation’s soul.
Emotions come first.
Ideas come later.
I may no longer believe a word they say, but I can take great comfort in the hymns I learned in childhood.
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
No merit of my own I claim,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On what is my hope built?
Friday, September 2, 2016
On the one hand, I am strongly tempted to include this one in my list of “biased headlines.”
On the other hand, whether or not I agree with him — At this writing, I’ve read most of the article but not all, and have not yet been able to determine whether or not I do. — German Lopez presents here a very thorough and balanced analysis. This piece is to be regarded as a tremendous resource for any future discussions.
Notice how I avoid the question.
The Homeless Blogger 