Thursday, July 16, 2009

Tidbit of Tutu on capitalism

Archbishop Tutu explains:

Western capitalism has created a great deal of wealth and prosperity, but have we computed the costs? ...We have tended to treat the weak, the poor, the unemployed, the failures with disdain because success and power have become the gods at whose altars we have burned incense and bowed the knee. ...[W]e are told capitalism cannot easily tolerate compassion and caring. ...

A great hardship that occurs from capitalism's endless desire to make hierarchies of worth and human value is that it inevitably generates self-hatred. ...One of the most blasphemous consequences of injustice and prejudice is that it can make a child of God doubt that he or she is a child of God. But no one is a stepchild of God. No one.

God Has a Dream

This is a wonderful book. The Bishop read it for an audio version and it is very special experienced that way. Highly recommended.
***

Until July 18, I'll be working my butt off at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, trying to move us closer to full inclusion of all baptized people, including LGBT people, in all the life of the Church. This time is what we political junkies call "campaign mode" -- the crazy, exhausting 18 hour days of frenetic activity that sometimes win changes we seek and sometimes lead only to deep disappointment. I'm hopeful about how this project will work out. If you are curious about how we're doing, you can follow all the General Convention news at the LGBT advocacy group Integrity's GC portal. I don't expect to blog during this time except perhaps a few photos, but I've got at least a rudimentary post set up for every day, many of them more reflective than the time-sensitive political commentary I often write here. Enjoy.

No comments: