Re: [LS] Why Remain in the Anglican Communion?: The Bishop of Gombe (Nigeria) Responds

[Louie Crew <lcrew@ANDROMEDA.RUTGERS.EDU>]

On Jun 23 9:42pm ***************** wrote:

> Oh clever, Louie!  And I love you dearly, but honestly, your cleverness
> doesn't answer the question.
> 
> We in the west can afford to be clever and sarcastic, and
> self-aggrandizing; even, in ways as humble as our gifts at word play.  But
> Africa feels far more synister.  Time and again, authority figures from
> there behave like uncivilized, superstitious, retrobutionary thugs.  Dudes
> beyond reason or humor or irony as we in the anglo-west appreciate.  And I
> am painting over exceptions like Mandela with great regret as he is
> overshadowed by Mugabe, Akinola, et al.

One person's faith is always someone else's superstition.  Are we prepared
to tar as superstitious Michaelangelo and all great artists and musicians
who took hell seriously?

Abusive and retributive authoritarianism is, of course, a very real and
present danger.  Ask the victims of the USA's current retributory wars for
poignant clarity about that.  Even our "free" media are quite inhibited in
reporting how sensible people over most of the world view the USA's own
sinister leaders.  As for thugs, look no farther than Guantánamo Bay and
those at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue connected to it. You and I pay for all of
their DEVILment.

If we did not have the character of Satan ready made, these times call for
his invention to account for horrendous evil unleased upon the world.

Tarring all of Africa while sparing a few carefully chosen exceptions risks
dangerous systemic racism, and conveniently pretends to get us
Euro-caucasians off the hook.

Hold individuals responsible for their own behavior, regardless of race, but
with clarity and mind fully engaged resist glib ethnic ways of accounting
for it.

No race has a monopoly on the sinister.  From all that is evil, good Lord
deliver the entire human race.

Have lunch today with an African friend whom you would be embarrassed to
read your post.  If you don't yet have such a friend, enrich your life with
one.  Enjoy the meal(s)!

Louie