Category Archives: Religion

Planting a tree proverb

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While attending a Sierra Club meeting years ago which included a panel of religious leaders – a Rabbi, a Priest and an Imam – the theme was religious text about protecting the environment. One I remember today is a prominent Jewish proverb on planting a tree. Per an AI search summary “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” This highlights altruism and long-term responsibility for future generations.

The point is profound. We must plant trees that will offer beauty and shade to future generations. Even though, we won’t greatly benefit, this action is truly a pay-it-forward gesture. The greater message is we must be good stewards of the environment.

The Christian bible has several environmental references. Here is one from Numbers 35:33. “You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.”

The Quran also has several environmental references. Here is one on not being wasteful. “…And do not waste, for indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils.” (Quran 7:31).

With the recent celebration of Earth Day, we should be reminded that our religious texts advise us to take care of our planet. There is no Planet B. Only a few of us may get a chance to go to Mars.

Don’t Laugh at Me – an important Easter repeat story

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Peter Yarrow, Noel (Paul) Stookey and Mary Travers made famous a song written by Steve Seskin and Allan Shamblin called “Don’t Laugh at Me.” Mark Wills, another artist has also recorded a variation along with Seskin, but it is the context and words that are embodied in Peter, Paul and Mary that makes the song resonate. When you live your lives speaking out for the disenfranchised, this song takes on far greater meaning than with any other artist, even the writers. Here is the entire song, courtesy of Peter, Paul and Mary with due thanks to Steve Seskin and Allan Shamblin. You can give it a listen after the lyrics.

I’m a little boy with glasses, the one they call the geek. A little girl who never smiles ‘Cause I have got braces on my teeth. And I know how it feels to cry myself to sleep.

I’m that kid on every playground who’s always chosen last. A single teenage mother tryin’ to overcome my past. You don’t have to be my friend but is it too much to ask?

Don’t laugh at me, don’t call me names. Don’t get your pleasure from my pain. In God’s eyes we’re all the same. Someday we’ll all have perfect wings, don’t laugh at me.

I’m the beggar on the corner you’ve passed me on the street. And I wouldn’t be out here beggin’ if I had enough to eat. And don’t think I don’t notice that our eyes never meet.

Don’t laugh at me, don’t call me names. Don’t get your pleasure from my pain. In God’s eyes we’re all the same. Someday we’ll all have perfect wings, don’t laugh at me.

I’m fat, I’m thin I’m short, I’m tall I’m deaf, I’m blind Hey, aren’t we all?

Don’t laugh at me, don’t call me names. Don’t get your pleasure from my pain. In God’s eyes we’re all the same. Someday we’ll all have perfect wings, don’t laugh at me.

Well I’m fat, I’m thin I’m short, I’m tall I’m deaf, I’m blind. In a way we’re all.

I’m black, I’m white. And I am brown. I’m Jewish. I’m Christian. And I’m a Muslim.

I’m gay. I’m lesbian. I’m American Indian. I’m very, very young. I’m quite aged.

I’m quite well fed. I’m very, very poor.

Don’t laugh at me, don’t call me names. Don’t get your pleasure from my pain. In God’s eyes we’re all the same Someday we’ll all have perfect wings, don’t laugh at me.

My country ’tis of thee. oh, sweet land of liberty. It is of thee I that I sing.

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/DON’T-LAUGH-AT-ME-lyrics-Peter-Paul-Mary/3A0B58077C50623648256A22002CB23E

We need to stop the bullying of others whether it be physical or mental torment. Whether it is in person or online as cyberbullying. Whether it is in the legislature or in the pulpit. But, especially the latter. One of my greatest pet peeves is bigotry from the pulpit and when bigotry is espoused by a spiritual advisor it is just like bullying. And, per Dan Savage who advises teenagers who are bullied because they are gay or lesbian, it does get better. Yet, it could be better still, as we have too many adults and hate groups (which is the extreme version) who try to divide, exclude and torment. Please heed these words and advocate by voice and example to treat all as we want to be treated.

Don’t laugh at me, don’t call me names. Don’t get your pleasure from my pain. In God’s eyes we’re all the same Someday we’ll all have perfect wings, don’t laugh at me

Pope Leo responds

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Between a Secretary of Defense who is praying for God to show no mercy to enemies and his minister who is praying for the death of a Democrat Senatorial candidate, we desperately needed a large dose of humanity, morality and piety. Being a Sunday, it was nice for the Pope to bring us back to WWJD.

Per The Guardian, “Pope Leo has said God ignores the prayers of leaders who wage war and have ‘hands full of blood,’ in an apparent rebuke to the Trump administration.

The pontiff made the comments on Sunday as thousands of US troops arrived in the Middle East and days after the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, prayed for violence against enemies who deserved ‘no mercy.’”

There is really not much more to add. Even non-Christians understand what the Golden Rule means.

Which one is the minister?

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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is praying to God to give him the might to crush his enemies. Mr, Hegseth learned well at the mentoring of his minister. Per The Guardian yesterday:


“James Talarico, the Texas Democratic state representative and Presbyterian seminarian, has said he forgives Pete Hegseth’s pastor for praying for his death. On Tuesday, Texas’s popular Democratic nominee for a US Senate seat pushed back against comments from Brooks Potteiger, the defense secretary’s closest spiritual adviser, who said: ‘We want him crucified with Christ.’

Talarico said on X: ‘Jesus loves. Christian Nationalism kills. You may pray for my death, Pastor, but I still love you. I love you more than you could ever hate me.’”

Now I ask a simple question, which one is the minister? Note, one of my pet peeves is bigotry from the pulpit. To me, it is a breach of faith and trust.

Four Presidents comment on Reverend Jesse Jackson

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An American icon and a first hand link to the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr. – Reverend Jesse Jackson – has passed. Per The Guardian, “Three Democratic former presidents led a wealth of tributes to Jesse Jackson, a ‘titan’ of the civil rights movement and ‘one of America’s greatest patriots’ who has died at the age of 84.

Joe Biden said history would remember Jackson as ‘a man of God and of the people’, calling him in a social media post: ‘Determined and tenacious. Unafraid of the work to redeem the soul of our Nation.’

Biden added: ‘I’ve seen how Reverend Jackson has helped lead our Nation forward through tumult and triumph. He’s done it with optimism, and a relentless insistence on what is right and just.’….

Barack Obama called Jackson ‘a true giant’ in a statement posted on Instagram.

‘For more than 60 years, Reverend Jackson helped lead some of the most significant movements for change in human history. From organizing boycotts and sit-ins, to registering millions of voters, to advocating for freedom and democracy around the world, he was relentless in his belief that we are all children of God, deserving of dignity and respect,’ he said….

‘Michelle and I will always be grateful for Jesse’s lifetime of service, and the friendship our families share. We stood on his shoulders. We send our deepest condolences to the Jackson family and everyone in Chicago and beyond who knew and loved him,’ he said….

Bill Clinton said he and former first lady Hillary Clinton were friends with Jackson for more than five decades, and were ‘deeply saddened’ by his passing.

‘Reverend Jackson championed human dignity and helped create opportunities for countless people to live better lives,’ he said in a statementon Instagram.

‘[He] never stopped working for a better America with brighter tomorrows, including his historic campaigns for the presidency in 1984 and 1988 in which he championed the concerns of Black, Latino, Asian, and lower income white Americans.’….

Donald Trump, in a post on his Truth Social social media platform, called Jackson ‘a good man’ and a ‘friend’, also noting he had provided office space in New York for Jackson’s Rainbow Push Coalition.

Trump’s post, as is often the case, quickly turned political, and about himself. The president attacked the ‘scoundrels and Lunatics on the Radical Left’ who, he said, ‘falsely and consistently’ called him a racist, and sought recognition for ‘funding Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which Jesse loved’.“

It should be noted that Trump gave a Presidential Freedom medal to a famous radio broadcaster who routinely mocked Jesse Jackson on his show. Why this divisive broadcaster was so honored is another story. Many have come out with plaudits for the life of service for Jackson. Unlike the incumbent president, these commentators did not denigrate others in so doing. I include his message because he did say a couple of kind words for Jackson before he segued.

Jackson stood up for people. We should never forget that key. To some critics, his oratory deflected from his messaging, but at his heart he was a preacher, so speaking poetically should not be frowned upon, in my view. May he RIP.

300 “ICE Out of Everywhere” protests

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In an article in The Guardian yesterday by Fabiola Cineas, there is a growing movement protesting ICE’s heavy handedness and lack of due process that has led to more than a several deaths.

“More than 300 demonstrations are expected to take place across all 50 states and Washington DC, today, in what organizers are calling “ICE Out of Everywhere”.

Organizers, led by the national grassroots organization 50501, say today’s protests are a response to a series of recent deaths involving federal immigration agents, including the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this month, the homicide of Geraldo Campos in an immigration detention facility in Texas and the shooting of Keith Porter Jr by an off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Los Angeles.

Activists said the killings reflect what they see as a broader pattern of excessive force, detention abuses and the militarization of immigration enforcement.”

I have not seen nationwide articles yet, but did see there were protests in California and Oregon. My guess is the frigid weather had a hand in turnout. More to come. I did read a piece that the White House lies about Alex Pretti’s shooting and ICE in general are being refuted with regularity. At some point, people have to become fully aware that the incumbent is not one to expect truth from.

Ministers stand up for people – of course, they got arrested

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Per The Guardian today:

“One hundred clergy members arrested at Minneapolis airport as anti-ICE protests continue.

We’re getting an update that 100 clergy members were arrested while protesting federal immigration enforcement outside Minneapolis-St Paul international airport today. They were arrested by members of the airport staff and local law enforcement, according to organizers.

They added that the faith leaders ‘prayed together, sang songs and hymns, and shared stories of those who have been abducted by ICE while at work or commuting to and from the airport’ in an effort to call on airlines companies – particularly Delta and Signature Aviation – to ‘stand with Minnesotans in calling for ICE to immediately end its surge in the state.’”

Stand ready for the current regime to tell these ministers to stay out of it or these ministers are being un-American or they are as bad as terrorists. It should be noted the new Pope has been none to kind to this regime since appointed over their heavy handed ICE activities which lack due process, humanity and common sense.

The Boss is dead on accurate

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An article in The Guardian by Eric Berger called “‘Gestapo tactics’: Bruce Springsteen condemns Trump team’s ICE crackdown” is dead on accurate in my view. Here are a couple of paragraphs:

“Bruce Springsteen used a Saturday concert to decry what he called the “Gestapo tactics” of the Trump administration’s surge of immigration officers and said the country’s founding values “have never been as endangered as they are right now”.

While performing in his home state of New Jersey, Springsteen dedicated his 1978 song The Promised Land to Renee Good, the 37-year-old woman who was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minnesota.”

A few months ago when Springsteen voiced well-thought-out criticism of Trump’s action, the incumbent president called The Boss a no-talented has been. I have listened to Springsteen advocate on a number of topics. He is well-read and often offers well-worded opinions. To be frank, I would be hard pressed to use the preceding sentence to define the incumbent president.

Monks walk for peace

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An article in The Guardian by Adam Gabbatt called “Buddhist monks pass halfway mark on 2,300-mile Walk for Peace through US,” matches up with a local TV report in North Carolina. Here are three paragraphs that tell much of the story.

“A group of Buddhist monks has passed the halfway mark on a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace, as they seek to raise awareness of ‘peace, loving kindness and compassion’ in the US and the world.

The 18 monks, two of whom are following a Buddhist practice of never lying down during the three-month journey, were in North Carolinaon Saturday, their 83rd day on the road. Led by the Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, who is conducting the walk barefoot, they have already overcome a serious injury to one member of the group as they head towards Washington DC.

The monks set off on 26 October from a Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Fort Worth, Texas, before passing through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The monks stop at the capitol of each state they pass through, frequently drawing crowds of thousands of people, while their social media has attracted more than a million followers. When they arrive in Washington DC they will ask Congress to recognize Vesak, the Buddha’s day of birth and enlightenment, as a federal holiday.”

This long trek for peace is a much needed breath of fresh air. It is a terrific counterpoint to the negative news around attacks, shootings, extortion, et al that are instigated by he-who-shall-not-be-named. I think I read something in an important document about “blessed are the peace makers.” Walk on and may peace be with you.

Pope reiterates condemnation of Trump’s mass deportations

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An article out of Rome by Angele Giuffrida in The Guardian called “Pope Leo criticises ‘disrespectful’ treatment of immigrants in US” speaks volumes. The subtitle reads “Pontiff backs statement by US bishops condemning raids and mass deportations under Trump administration” so the Pope is not alone in his concerns. Here are a few paragraphs:

“‘Pope Leo has reiterated his disapproval of Donald Trump’s immigration policies, saying foreigners in the US are being treated in an “extremely disrespectful way’.

Leo, the first US pontiff in the history of the Catholic church, made the remarks in response to questions about a statement adopted last week during a special assembly of US bishops that criticised the Trump administration’s mass deportations and lamented the fear and anxiety caused by immigration raids.”

Other religious leaders are sharing their concerns. Illegal immigrants are so engrained in many industries that deporting them without a transition plan or due process is unwise and mean-spirited. It becomes worse when Trump’s equivalent of Brown Shirts go to a city without being invited or without coordinating with local authorities. It becomes worse when Trump’s people are less than truthful.

Another article in The Guardian speaks to the latter point: “More than 97% of immigrants detained in the Trump administration’s ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ in Chicago had no criminal conviction, according to federal court records.

The data, released on Friday and first reported by the Chicago Tribune, sharply contradicts the Trump administration’s portrayal of the immigration sweeps as an effort to fight crime and, as Trump himself has described it, targeting the ‘worst of the worst’.”

Similar comments have been made about his Brown Shirts-like sweep of Charlotte. This is an attempt by Trump to justify his mean-spirited and illicit round up. Due process is important, but having a transition plan is critical. Too many people, companies and customers are impacted.