Comments on ramblings: An American Genocide

@SallyWhen did you decide to take up the Indian ca...

2008-07-10T23:40:00.000-06:00

@Sally

When did you decide to take up the Indian cause?

@ Russ - Go watch the original Peter Pan (by Disne...

2008-07-10T20:47:00.000-06:00

@ Russ -

Go watch the original Peter Pan (by Disney) after you read Bury my Heart at Wounded Knew. Your perspective will be so different.

I'll add that to my growing stack of books waiting...

2008-07-10T06:40:00.000-06:00

I'll add that to my growing stack of books waiting to be read. On the Native American thing it's amazning to me how ignorant I was. When I was in youth ministry, we did two mission trips to the Navaho reservation in Tuba City, AZ. I wish I'd have read this book before going. It would have given me a lot more perspective and understanding. The poverty is still there, more than 100 years later, expect in Dave's noted example (see earlier comments)

@ Russ - I see that my brother is revealing my rea...

2008-07-09T21:38:00.000-06:00

@ Russ - I see that my brother is revealing my reading list to you. I picked up UnChristian about the same time as you (as well as Simple Church). Another good one is Lord, Save us from your Followers by Dan Merchant.

@ Russ - I am finally joining the discussion. Wat...

2008-07-09T21:32:00.000-06:00

@ Russ -

I am finally joining the discussion. Watch out - two McCarthys on board...

In my writing experience in racism, I have been blown away and humbled by the story of our Native Americans. Some would say it is an invisible race b/c we don't really recognize they are there (except those that live near reservations). When you look at how Native Americans are portrayed in our movies, it is difficult to imagine how they must feel when we use their religious symbols for comic relief. I certainly get upset when people make fun of the cross. It sounds like an interesting book. Too bad I only read non-fiction : )

@marcyI guess the Beatles had it right, "All you n...

2008-07-09T13:28:00.000-06:00

@marcy

I guess the Beatles had it right, "All you need is love."

I'd really like to read that book! I think you're ...

2008-07-09T12:37:00.000-06:00

I'd really like to read that book! I think you're right in saying that we often portray history from the wrong perspective and therefore we kinda have a warped idea of what really happened. Like the Roman government, I'm sure, would have a different take on the early followers of Christ,very different from the book of Acts; and the Muslims who fought in the Crusades would tell the story very differently that those who fought under the name of Christ. There are 2 sides to every story and both sides are convinced that they are right and justified in what they do.
What the early settlers did in the name of Christ was a horrible misrepresentation and all that followers of Christ today can do is simply apologize for what they did (like that awesome chapter in Blue like Jazz with the confession booth) and just be aware of how history is presented so that we don't accept everything we're told as perfect truth.
Also its up to us to change the worlds perception of Christians. because many folks still have this idea of Christians as imperialistic and violent people which couldn't be further than Christ's teachings. Its up to us to change that perception.

The people in my home town make reperations paymen...

2008-07-09T06:47:00.000-06:00

The people in my home town make reperations payments to the red man every day...........

http://www.milliondollarelm.com/Bartlesville/

I don't advocate reparations. Does that make me a...

2008-07-08T20:34:00.000-06:00

I don't advocate reparations. Does that make me a hypocrite? I just don't think that repentance always equals restitution. It does in some cases, but sometimes the pieces can't be put back together. Repentance in those cases means remorse for the past and a willingness/determination not to return to that past way of life. For example, I don't think we can ever repay the evils of slavery and prejudice, but we can work to insure that it doesn't happen again.

@the beaver bunchThat's what happened in the Garde...

2008-07-08T20:25:00.000-06:00

@the beaver bunch

That's what happened in the Garden of Eden. We made our world complex.

@Russ"The winners write history" - that's why it's...

2008-07-08T20:24:00.000-06:00

@Russ

"The winners write history" - that's why it's important to dissent against those who are wrong

"American Christianity has some sins for which we need to repent", "Giving voice to past injustices" - are you advocating reparations?

During my quiet time yesterday, it dawned on me th...

2008-07-08T19:51:00.000-06:00

During my quiet time yesterday, it dawned on me that Christianity is a faith of complex simplicity. What I mean that it is so incredibly simple to understand. You do not have to be a genius, be comparatively insightful or even be literate. However, I have found (in the limited brain capacity that God has blessed me with) that the deeper I dig into God's word and the more I look into His creations, the more and more complex it becomes. Moreover, it all points back to Him and His magnificence. I'm amazed that it can be both so complex and so simple and still be truth. God never ceases to amaze me.

I don't know...The winners write history.Giving vo...

2008-07-08T16:33:00.000-06:00

I don't know...

The winners write history.

Giving voice to past injustice.

People have done some evil things in the name of Christianity.

Christian missionaries have wrongly insisted that a certian culture be adopted in addition to Christ.

American Christianity has some sins for which we need to repent.

Those are a few that come to mind.

@RussAnd your point is?

2008-07-08T12:42:00.000-06:00

@Russ

And your point is?