Category: Politics

Finding Bonhoeffer in the face of American Fascism

I just started reading The Cost of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I knew the bare outlines of his life and death, but the edition I have had a great foreword documenting Bonhoeffer’s life and beliefs. Obviously, there was much about his principled and faith-filled stand against Hitler, the Nazis, and consequently, his own country.

This knowledge coincided this week with the visit of Donald Trump here to Tulsa, appearing at Oral Roberts University with Sarah Palin in tow yesterday. To me, Trump’s candidacy and the following he has inspired over the last year is positively fascist in its outlook, rhetoric, and goals.

Now, I don’t mean to say this for reasons of provocation, nor do I mean to intimate that I believe Trump supporters are fascists or Nazis. Far from it. I think the infatuation with Trump, and more specifically, with the message he is spreading, is appealing to a demographic that is feeling threatened and frustrated with the trajectory of America in the Obama era. Trump supporters are no more responsible for his hate and bigotry than average Germans were responsible for the actions of the Nazi Party seventy years ago.

I also know the perils of comparing anybody to Hitler or Nazis, and as former political operative and ongoing politics and history junkie, I fully understand the weight of such an allusion. But it is one I fully intend to make.

One of the actions that inspired this line of thinking from me was Trump’s new ploy of calling out and tossing protestors from his appearances, and specifically, tossing visible Muslims. Especially striking was the taunting and hate directed several weeks ago against a hijabi who was silently standing in protest against Trump.

This video, this whole thing, makes my very soul ache. I have seen few sadder things. I can’t even express the deep level of genuine anguish and sadness this makes me feel as I just think about it, without even having to watch the video again. I can’t watch it again.

Is this where we are America? Is this what animates us, what gets us excited and into the political arena? Pure, unadulterated hate towards a group of peaceful people, towards our fellow human beings?

Over the past months, as a result of the hate emanating from swathes of America, I have had the beautiful opportunity to get to know the Muslim community in Tulsa. I have made good friends, and send beautiful acts of love and tolerance towards people of different beliefs. Some of my friends look strikingly like this woman who Trump targeted. It makes me so sad to picture my friends in that place. It makes me so sad to think about what they must be feeling, as they go about their normal American lives, at the grocery store or the mall or the gas station or in their place of worship or at their child’s school, in constant fear that they will the target of hateful words, or possibly even worse.

In a few weeks, I have the opportunity to sit on a panel at the Muslim Day at the Oklahoma Capital. I greatly look forward to the whole event, and to interacting with amazing people. But I dread the hate and bigotry I will be witness to from my fellow Oklahomans. I fear for the safety of my friends, their physical safety and their psychological safety. I don’t want to see them hurt, but I know I will see it, because people can’t control their hate and their fear.

And I hold Donald Trump responsible right now. I hold his campaign, and the whole twisted premise of it responsible. He is not the first to act this way; he is certainly part of a political party full of power-hungry individuals who view the degradation of Muslim men and women, and the fear they stir up, as effective electoral strategies. It is sickening that an entire party has seized on such a tactic. But Donald Trump is in effect the standard bearer of the Republican Party in 2016, and certainly the standard bearer for right wing hate, and so he is responsible for this moment in American life.

Trump is appealing to people because of their feelings of alienation and disempowerment. His supporters are chiefly white, middle class, and with lower levels of education. This demographic feels like the America they are living in is one they no longer recognize. They feel that the growing diversity and calls for inclusive spaces and speech are aimed at them. They feel that the benefits of being American no longer are reserved chiefly for them, but are instead being bestowed upon minority groups. And by and large, they are right about these things. America is increasingly less white and less Christian. The edifice of white supremacy is being torn down bit by bit, and like a cornered animal, it is fighting back harder than ever. It is almost assuredly a losing fight, but it won’t be conquered quietly. So, just like the mass of German citizens who felt their nation was being humiliated and marginalized, and this turned to a leader who promised to “make Germany great again,” so this class of Americans are turning to a man who scratches an itch for them.

12376373_10153175862422680_2282138454409409886_nThe fact that Donald Trump almost assuredly doesn’t believe the things he says, deep down, makes it that much worse, and that much scarier. Trump has a 30+ year public record, and this tone and attitude has just come out in the last couple of years. If he is nothing else, Trump has an amazing ability to discern what it is the America public wants to hear, and to give it to them. That’s what makes this whole thing so crazy: it’s not that Trump has burst onto the scene with a previously formed worldview, that he is now dressing up in patriotism to win supporters; instead, he is tapping into the sentiment of public discontent, and telling the people what they, deep down, want to say themselves. A deeply committed fascist is bad enough; an opportunistic, pandering barometer of public sentiment who has seized upon fascism because it fits the national mood is a whole other, terrifying animal.

I started this talking about Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his opposition to Nazism in Germany, and I want to circle back to that. I have no idea what is was like to live in that time or place. I don’t want to insinuate that we are on the brink of anything as earth-shatteringly awful as the Holocaust. But I imagine that the climate we see towards Muslims as a result of Trump is very similar to what Jews experienced in Germany in the ‘30s and ‘40s. This is the chief reason why I attribute the title “fascist” to the Trump campaign. Fascism is primarily distinguished by nationalism, a militant/masculine tone, social conservatism, and the scapegoating of political, religious and ethnic minorities. Who can deny that those are key features of the Trump movement?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a hero and martyr because he stood strong in his convictions, even in the face of horrendous death. Not only that, but he did it in opposition to his nation and heritage. Bonhoeffer was a proud German, and the fact that he, in effect, took the position of advocating for his own nation’s defeat in a world war, for the sake of the human race, is an amazing testimony.

The prevailing Christian attitude in America is a weird amalgam of two seemingly opposing worldviews, one that embraces a religious nationalism that has equated America with Christianity, and one that tries to show how “non-worldly” it is, that revels in the idea of being “not of this world,” and that constantly laments the sinfulness of American society. We are a people who complain about the commercialization of American society while we walk through megamalls loading up on all the stuff we can.

Bonhoeffer showed us a different a way. He was a man who was proud of the nation and people he came from, who despite it’s shortcomings, loved Germany and took pride in his identification as a German. And at the same time, understood that, as a Christian, he had a higher allegiance, not just to God, but to humanity as a whole, to the entire Earth. Thus, when his nation became a menace to that very humanity, he didn’t public lament it’s descent into madness while failing to back up his ideas with his actions. He stood against his nation, it’s leaders and his fellow citizens in the name of love and justice and grace. He recognized that demonizing others isn’t the way to restore a nation. He was the quintessential Christian of the 20th century, and amazing example for all those who strive to exist in modern society while practicing the loving, others-oriented Way of Jesus.

It is for these very reasons that I wrote months ago that one cannot be both an honest Christian and a Trump supporter. I got a lot of pushback for that statement, but I stand by it as much now as I did then, if not more. The actions of Donald Trump and his supporters towards our Muslim brothers and sisters are despicable and heartbreaking. They reveal a deep-seeded, extreme nationalist, bigoted streak of pseudo-fascism that has long existed deep in the American psyche, and is bursting forth like never before. We have a Christian obligation to stand against this attitude, to stand with our brothers and sisters, even if they have a different religion or ethnicity or skin color. We have a duty to be an army of Dietrich Bonhoeffers in the face of ugly fascism, acting with humility and love and a steadfast regard for the oppressed and beaten down. That is what the cost of discipleship looks like. That is what it means to be a follower of the Way of Christ today.

Justice Denied for #TamirRice

Justice went unserved again yesterday, this time in Cleveland.

Tamir-RiceA grand jury declined to bring charges against the two officers who killed 12-year old Tamir Rice last year. Rice, an African-American, was playing with a toy gun in a public park near his home when the officers pulled up and opened fire on him less than 2 seconds after emerging from the squad car. No warning was given, and Rice was never instructed to lay down his gun or put up his hands. Officers simply saw a young black man and opened fire.

Just like so many other times.

And, like so many of those other cases, no one will be held responsible for the murder of a young black man. Tamir Rice’s death will be elicit the mouthing of sympathy from the city of Cleveland, from the police union, from politicians and officials across Ohio and America. But none of them will demand justice. None of them will defend Tamir Rice against those create excuses for why he had to die.

This is why we say Black Lives Matter. This is why we assert racism to be alive and well in the power structures of 21st century America. This is why we stand with those who have to fear for their lives everyday because our society has very little regard for them. As one person put it on Twitter today, “Racism doesn’t usually look like someone shouting slurs, it looks like people eagerly looking for reasons why a black kid had to die.”

Back in August, I wrote:

There is a legitimate problem centered around black men and women being gunned down by police officers prior to any opportunity for due process and the judicial system to do its work, and then those police officers walking away with no consequences. Read that last sentence again; it is the crux of what people are upset about. Far too many times have we seen stories about a black human being who may or may not have broken a law being killed by the officer they come in contact with, and then no consequences being handed down. Far too often, the death penalty has been meted out at the whim of a single, white police officer, for alleged “crimes” that in a court of law would merit a fine.

This is a real problem in a country that purports to believe in the principle of the presumption of innocence, and trial by jury. When we dispense with real justice, when we defend those who take it into their own hands to do the work of the courts and dispense “justice” without due process, we inevitably say that the victimized person was undeserving of the rights guaranteed to us in the America. That person just didn’t matter enough.

This is what is meant by the phrase “Black Lives Matter.” Too often, black lives don’t seem to matter. Black lives seem expendable, like they are merely the normal leftovers of creating a society that is supposedly “just” and “free” and “safe.” Every time a black man or woman is gunned down by a state actor, and no one is held responsible, it sends the message that Black Lives Don’t Matter.

BLM works to make this simple idea a reality: the lives of black people do matter.

Those words are as true today as they were back then. But in this case, there was no grey area of motive. Tamir Rice broke no law, violated no norm, did nothing wrong. But because his life was valued less because of the color of his skin, because he was viewed through the prism of a society that has reduced all young black men to the simple caricature of a “thug”, his life was forfeit that day.

And yesterday, when the prosecutor walked out of the courthouse and announced to the world that Tamir Rice’s life didn’t matter enough to pursue justice in a court of law, he announced that, once again, in the eyes of the white power structure, black lives still really don’t matter.

There is still much work to be done. We’ve made much progress this year, but yet it is still much too little. God give us the strength and the resolve and the righteous anger to keep fighting for a better world.

#IStandForPeace

FB_20151208_07_22_42_Saved_PicturePeace seems to be a rare commodity these days.

In the midst of polarizing election cycle, with almost daily reports of mass shootings and terrorist attacks, and extremists terrorizing the most ancient and sacred lands on earth, it’s hard to discern the presence of peace in our world.

This last couple of weeks really epitomizes where our world is. It began with terror in the streets of Beirut, followed by more in Paris. Then a shooting targeting innocent women looking to get health care in Colorado, and then more against those celebrating the holidays with their co-workers in California. And all the while, irresponsible, opportunistic politicians and religious leaders and talking heads have overwhelmed our televisions and newsfeeds and inboxes with messages of hate and intolerance and fear and calls for war.

The worst of all is that so much of this rhetoric comes from those who claim to follow the One we know as the Prince of Peace. It is disgusting to me, as a Christian, to see that those who are representing our faith to the world are those who can spew forth the most hate and fear and violence to the world.

When a businessman-turned-politician rallies a sizable chunk of this nation by demonzing an innocent group of people, by stoking fears and playing on people’s worst inclinations, then the Way of Jesus, the way of peace has been abandoned.

When the president of the nation’s largest Christian college implores his students to buy death-dealing weapons of war, and talks of “ending” a group of people, the Way of Jesus has been abandoned.

When we find more peace in guns than we do in fellowship with one another, the Way of Jesus has been abandoned.

When we are so scared that we are willing to turn fleeing women and children away and back towards those who they are fleeing from, the Way of Jesus has been abandoned.

When we exercise our “pro-life” bonafides by praising the man who murders innocent women at a health clinic, the Way of Jesus has been abandoned.

When we see the only answer to violence and war as more violence and war, the Way of Jesus has been abandoned

Jesus called us to transform the world, not by the sword, not through the wielding of power, not through fear or by circling the wagons. Jesus called us to transform this world by love, by turning the other cheek, by casting out fear, by opening our arms and our hearts and our borders to those in need. He showed us a way of life that accepts and respects our brothers and sisters, no matter the color of their skin or the religion they adhere or the nation they call home.

Jesus stood for peace. Above all else, he envisioned a world of peace brought about by love and mercy and assurance.

I stand for peace because more violence is not the answer to stopping violence.

I stand for peace because Muslims are my brothers and sisters too.

I stand for peace because I welcome the stranger, the immigrant, and the refugee to our shores.

I stand for peace because love cannot be expressed through exclusion and intolerance.

I stand for peace because safety cannot be found through the barrel of a gun.

I stand for peace because closed walls and closed borders and closed minds only bring death.

I stand for peace because diversity and differences make us stronger.

I stand for peace because all people should have the right to worship how and who they want without fear of hate or violence.

I stand for peace because love drives out all fear, and we are told to “fear not.”

I stand for peace because the Way of Jesus goes no other way.

The Peace Project was started here in Tulsa by members of our great Islamic Society of Tulsa. The goal is to show that those that stand from peace are diverse, and come from all backgrounds and all walks of life. You can become part of the movement by taking a picture telling us who you are and including the hashtag #IStandForPeace.