God Bless You and Your Children

The whole world is watching, and tweeting as the people of the Arab world are rising up with relentless energy, courage, and strength. The revolution started in Tunisia on January 5th with the strike of 26 year old vegetable seller, Mohammed Bouazizi's match. May he rest in peace.
He went up in flames followed by the government in Tunisia, now in Egypt, and it looks like Yemen, Algeria and Jordan all have tons of kindling.

Our prayers of protection go out to all who risk their lives to bring change where change wants to come. Few know exactly what that will look like, but they are willing to find out. They are willing to let go of the familiar oppression. same old dictatorship and have that leap of faith. May God Bless and protect them. Or should I say Allah? It's all God right, God in a different language. Still in doing so we speak to a God who is beneficent not vengeful.

And while we constantly ask for God's protection. We see the hand of Man, especially the Man of the United States happily vending the arsenal to put down the people's revolution. Amy Goodman on Democracy Now today reported that the major weapons systems for the Egyptian regime from Tanks to tear gas are provided by the US. You knew that didn't you? You knew that the US is responsible for 30 percent of the worlds ammunitions. Our economy hinges on people killing people. As of this moment while the Egyptian people struggle to liberate themselves from 30 years of dictatorship they are being put down by chemical weapons made in the good old USA. (I remember those non-lethal weapons well from our uprising in Seattle back in 99. Especially the tear gas. It makes me cry just thinking about it. Many of you who have stood up to Big Timber and Big government are familiar with Pepper spray, rubber bullets, sonar weapons made right here at home.) Does God Bless this?
I think of the Presidents SOTU address and every speech that he makes for that matter because it always ends with God Bless America. Does that mean that God should make America stronger than other countries or does it mean safer than others. Does it mean that God should ignore the 194 others or curse them. Does it mean that God will give us the courage and strength to come to our senses and disarm? What is God blessing? The second amendment? Guns. Don't weapons interfere with God's job? Isn't it up to God when we die? Or is it up to General Petreus, Jarrod Loughner, Mark David Chapman or Dylan Klebold?

They say President Obama is about to address gun control in a speech. I look forward to it. Because everyday we see almost a hundred people killed by guns in this country. We see a new rash of police killings too. Michele Bachman may be pleased to know the people are armed and dangerous. Here and abroad. Yes, by this measure, We're number one and growing stronger every day. We need to stem the rising tide. Just a couple of days ago a mother shoots her two teenage kids in their heads because they were mouthy. So it is imperative that we follow the connection between anti-depressants and homicide. The combination of Pharmaceuticals and guns can lead to death. We're talking major side effects here.
Two weeks ago President Obama spoke at a memorial for the victims of the Tucson massacre. I was moved by his compassion and his call for civil discourse and the idea that our country to live up to the expectations and trust held by 9 year old Christina Taylor Green before she was gunned down. Even the first lady composed an open letter to express her feelings about the tragedy in Arizona. And yet neither of them went beyond our borders with their final blessing. How about extending that prayers to the children of the world who are killed on a daily basis? How can they be so empathetic toward one little girl in Tucson and not the thousands of children in Afghanistan, Iraq, Congo, Ivory Coast? How 'bout living up to their expectations and calling for an immediate moratorium on the manufacturing and sale of all weapons? While I do appreciate their prayers for the dead and wounded, actions speak louder than words. And If the President is going to invoke the Lord. Perhaps he could say instead of God Bless America. God bless you and your children. That way any one who is listening, Here or across the world, the sane or crazy, will be given a blessing.
Here's a few of my favorites

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10