Davison's Doodle

Understanding “Tea Party” Participants

This is the best article I have read to date from someone wanting to engage and understand those that participate in the “Tea Party” political movement.  It is interesting reading.  I mentioned in a post that I was frustrated by the term “Muslim American”.  This author picks up this mode as some Tea Party participants identified themselves as “Christian Americans”.  This is division rather than diversity and how the fear profiteers will continue to as “lord of the manor.”

“Me” the People: A Day with the Tea Party
by Alex MCNeill | Religion Dispatches | August 30, 2010

Individually, most Tea Partiers probably are nice people, trying to do what’s right, motivated by good intentions that extend from their faith in God and in their understanding of what this nation stands for. And individualism is exactly what the rhetoric of the rally was all about. From the Web site: “throughout history America has seen many great leaders and noteworthy citizens change her course. It is through their personal virtues and by their example that we are able to live as a free people. Our freedom is possible only if we remain virtuous.” Mirroring their Christology, salvation for themselves and for the country is an individual act.

God’s politics by Jim Wallis

American Muslims Are Not Responsible for 9/11
by Jim Wallis | Aug 23, 2010

For the sake of resting my soul, while I was on vacation with my wife and boys, I was sure not to watch any cable news.  We chose beaching, biking, reading, baseball, clamming, crabbing, (and watching the Little League World Series Tournament) instead. So, this Sunday morning was a jarring return to the media realities of the religious and political wars.  I got home from vacation late on Friday night and was soon asked to join in the fracas around the planned Cordoba House two blocks from Ground Zero. In less than 36 hours after getting back to Washington, I was walking into the Fox News studio on Sunday morning. Welcome home.

They asked about a letter that I had just signed supporting religious freedom for Muslims. I said we should ask three simple questions:

1. Should we as Americans be able to worship and pray when and where we choose? Haven’t we fought for that?
2. Are American Muslims … Americans?
3. And, for those of us who are Christians (and I am an Evangelical Christian), are we obeying the commands of Jesus to love our neighbors? Aren’t Muslims our neighbors? So what might Jesus say to this controversy?