|
| |
|
A letter to President Bush:
"Please, not 'infinite'" |
Barbara Kellam-Scott, a writer and a member of the
executive committee of the Witherspoon Society, sent the following
e-mail note to President George W. Bush on Thursday, Sept. 20. It
expresses a concern shared by many.
[9-24-01]
Date: 9/20/01
From: bkswrites@earthlink.net
To: president@whitehouse.gov
Mr. President,
I understood from news reports last night that the
selection of the code name "Infinite Justice" for the
worldwide antiterrorism campaign was still tentative. Hoping that may be
the case, I write to beg you to find another name. While I appreciate
that we have a protracted campaign ahead of us, I do not believe any of
us is prepared to be "at war" forever.
In addition, it frankly smacks of self-deification,
and to this Christian (I am an elder in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
and will send my pastor in Franklin Lakes NJ a copy of this note) that
is blasphemous, particularly as a euphemism for war. I follow the Prince
of Peace, as I believe you do, and I pray that you will find the courage
to lead our great nation as the world leader of peace. But only God's
justice is infinite.
Please, Mr. President, words are crucial at this
moment of crisis for the world. Please do not speak again of a
"crusade." Please try to learn what Muslims really mean by
"jihad." And please do not use the word "retaliate"
at all. That's a concept that is truly infinite, as we've learned to our
longstanding sorrow in Israel/Palestine, in Northern Ireland, in every
place it has ever been used.
"Retaliate" is not a word that I believe
belongs in any moral person's -- or moral country's -- vocabulary. It is
not a concept that Jesus taught. It is not grounded in democracy and
respect for each other. It is not what makes us better than the
hijackers.
You are in my prayers every minute.
Barbara Kellam-Scott |
| |
|
Some blogs worth visiting |
| |
|
PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
| |
|
Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
| |
|
John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
| |
|
John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
| |
|
Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
| |
|
Plan now for our 2010 Ghost Ranch
Seminar!
GHOST RANCH SEMINAR
July 26-August 1, 2010
WE’RE ALL IN
THIS TOGETHER
CONFRONTING THE STRUCTURES OF INJUSTICE |
| |
|
If you like what you find
here,
we hope you'll help us keep this website going ... and growing!
Please consider making a special
contribution -- large or small -- to help us continue and improve
this service.
Click here to send a
gift online, using your credit card, through PayPal.
Or send your check, made
out to "Witherspoon Society" and marked "web site," to our
Witherspoon Bookkeeper:
Susan Robertson
9650 Clover Circle
Eden Prairie, MN 55347 |
| |
|
