The TSA Has Gone Too Far, But ...

One idea that I have periodically addressed is the idea of templates—often called world views. Such templates are needed for normal everyday life, but we all need to understand that they have limitations. Often the various templates we use are in tension with each other. A good example where my templates are in conflict is the TSA. 

I really have no desire for a guard to examine my genital area. Nor do I want to be irradiated by a machine that may cause health issues later. If this type of machines does not have issues, then why do the dental technicians leave the room when they x-ray your teeth? I have little concern personally for the machine that examines me as I seldom travel. I do wonder about the safety of frequent flyers and for the TSA guards themselves. 

My three templates that come into focus on this issue are the personal freedom issue, the safety issue, and there is even a Biblical issue.

I am not comfortable with the lack of respect shown to personal liberties and the constitutional right to avoid unnecessary searches. This is a widespread problem in our society. An example is even when the police have a proper warrant for searching, they do not announce themselves—shouting “THIS IS THE POLICE.” Instead they whisper—”This is the police.”  It seems that we frequently hear of the police trashing someone’s house, without any respect for the individual or their possessions. 

However, I think most of us will acknowledge that the police function needs to be utilized. Even most anarchists want a police function. They just prefer it to be private. 

I became acquainted with a Moslem professor because we frequented the same coffee shop/bookstore, and we had each married Russian women. His take on being searched and profiled was interesting. “I want to be searched and profiled because I am a Moslem.” He explained that someone with his background was more likely to be a problem on a flight. He wanted to be safe too! 

Finally, we need to think about what Jesus said on the issue in Matthew 5. 

³⁸ ”You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ ³⁹ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

The Roman government could require that one bear a burden for about one mile. (The Roman mile being slightly less than our modern mile.) Jesus is suggesting that if you are in such a situation to go two miles. This is where the phrase “going the extra mile” has its origin. So if the TSA asks you to remove your shirt, remove your pants also-er, well maybe not. But certainly we can react with politeness to what they are doing. So even if we think the average TSA person is evil; even if we think our rights are being abused—we can go the extra mile. 

"Babylon" Will Fail

Today I decided to send you to the New York Times. They have an interesting chart well worth a little study. Be sure to hover your mouse over each country to give you the details of the various loans.

The Corporatist economic system of today has all the big banks and countries linked together. A relatively minor problem in one country could quickly impact a lot of other countries in a unstoppable cascade. 

The main thing I want you to take away from the chart is the large amount that the US Government owes. 

The irony is that formerly communistic countries like Russia and China are net creditors on the international scene. 

Habakkuk 2 has an interesting passage about "Babylon":

⁶ “Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying,

   “‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods 
   and makes himself wealthy by extortion! 
   How long must this go on?’ 
⁷ Will not your creditors suddenly arise? 
   Will they not wake up and make you tremble? 
   Then you will become their prey. 
⁸ Because you have plundered many nations, 
   the peoples who are left will plunder you. 
For you have shed human blood; 
   you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

 ⁹ “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, 
   setting his nest on high 
   to escape the clutches of ruin! 
¹⁰ You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, 
   shaming your own house and forfeiting your life. 
¹¹ The stones of the wall will cry out, 
   and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

¹² “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed 
   and establishes a town by injustice! 
¹³ Has not the LORD Almighty determined 
   that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, 
   that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing? 
¹⁴ For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD 
   as the waters cover the sea.

 ¹⁵ “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,
   pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk,
   so that he can gaze on their naked bodies! 
¹⁶ You will be filled with shame instead of glory. 
   Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed! 
The cup from the LORD’s right hand is coming around to you, 
   and disgrace will cover your glory. 
¹⁷ The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, 
   and your destruction of animals will terrify you.
For you have shed human blood; 
   you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

The whole system is corrupt, and it is destined to fail. 

A Debt Jubilee?

This proposal is something that occurred to me as well as a form of a modified debt Jubilee. 

I have been wanting for some time to talk about Lev 25 and the Year of the Jubilee. Here is  sample from Lev 25:

³⁹ “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. ⁴⁰ They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. ⁴¹ Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors. ⁴² Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. ⁴³ Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.

The broad picture is clear, one who is successful is not to exploit the poor. This is not the American Way. 

Poor Old Kaw-Liga

Do we as a culture have too much stuff? As many of us do our last minute shopping, can we ask ourselves: "Do I need that?" "Does my son need that doll house?" (Hey I got a doll house for my 4th Christmas. Yes, that might explain a lot. Or it might be explained by the fact my father sold houses and I wantd to be like him. ) I thought about this as my daughter and wife packed up her doll house for storage. We have downsized in California and have no place for it. Did Stacy ever really "need" it? No doubt it will join her kitchen at the Grandkids at some point. 

Do I really "need" the things I have? 

I could argue that I need my 1,000 books. (This is already downsized from the height of my book mania at 1,300.) But I have gotten along quite well without them while I was in California. Probably 200 of them I have not read and will never read. Why do I have them? I am reluctant to give them up. 

I inherited some interesting things from my father that I really have no need for—but once again I am reluctant to part with. They include a cigar store Indian—poor Old Kaw-Liga. The Indian reminds me strongly of my father. I am reminded of the Hank Williams song.

Kaw-Liga was a wooden Indian standing by the door He fell in love with an Indian maid over in the antique store. Kaw-Liga just stood there and never let it show So she could never answer yes or no. 

He always wore his Sunday feathers and held a tomahawk. The maiden wore her beads and braids and hoped someday he'd talk. Kaw-Liga, too stubborn to ever show a sign

Because his heart was made of knotty pine 

This also reminds me of my father's love for country music. Alas, Poor Old Kaw-Liga had to go. He did go recently when I received an offer for him. I will miss him.  

Babylon the Great is characterized by the wealth of her possessions. Revelation 18 says this about her: 

¹¹ “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore— ¹² cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; ¹³ cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.

 ¹⁴ “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ ¹⁵ The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn ¹⁶ and cry out:

   “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, 
   dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, 
   and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! 
¹⁷ In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’

   “Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. ¹⁸ When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ ¹⁹ They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:

   “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, 
   where all who had ships on the sea 
   became rich through her wealth! 
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’

Do we really need the stuff we will get tomorrow? Will we be returning it on Monday? Are we measured by the toys we have? Do we really embody the bumper sticker I have seen on occasion:

The One Who Dies With the Most Toys Wins

I have referenced this song before. If the life we are supposed to chose is the one in this video, I will pass. 

If this is your life, I suggest a different life. To echo Martin Luther King, it is not the number of our possessions but the strength of our character that really matters. 

Did I need Kaw-Liga? Maybe, if I had room. What then do I do with the giant camel, the giant giraffe, and the giant rooster with a saddle? 

Well, they are also for sale, no reasonable offer refused. 

Pray For Our Troops?

I realize that this will not be well recieved. 

"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle — be Thou near them! With them, in spirit, we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it — for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen."

-- From Mark Twain's War Prayer.

This was written during the propaganda mania surrounding the Spanish American War. I have prayed for our troops, but not this prayer. Jesus in the Bible passage I will quote next is not advocating pacifism; there is such a thing as a just war. It is just difficult to reconcile the Bible with the modern American War Machine. At the very least, Jesus is here advocating avoiding conflict. Can we listen to what He is saying? As the book of Revelation tells us: "Do we have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church?" 

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ ³⁹ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

    ⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[i] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.