God's Politics: Is God a Republican or a Democrat?

As we know, God is not a registered Republican or a Democrat. (Or even an American citizen. Is he an illegal alien?)

Jim Wallis of Sojourners wrote a best-selling book in 2005 expanding on that point; the subtitle of "God's Politics" is "Why the right gets it wrong and the left doesn't get it."

A note: I am not registered with either party; I have voted for candidates on both sides and would probably do so in the future. But here I wanted to share a few of Wallis's insights that resound with me, at least those in the first 50 pages. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

"Religious wisdom suggests that the more overwhelming the military might, the more dangerous its capacity for self- and public deception. If evil in this world is deeply human and very real, and religious people believe it is, it just doesn't make spiritual sense to suggest that the evil all lies "out there" with our adversaries and enemies, and none of it is "in here" with us -- embedded in our own attitudes, behaviors, and policies."

"Someday, a smart Democrat will figure out how both pro-choice and pro-life people could join together in concrete measures to dramatically reduce the abortion rate by focusing on teen pregnancy, adoption reform, and real support for low-income women." AMEN!

"Many people of faith have grown weary of the religious Right's attempts to narrow the moral litmus test to abortion and gay marriage."

"A personal God demands public justice as an act of worship."

"We must never be satisfied with mere protest or complaint about the things we believe are wrong. Rather we must do the harder, more creative, and ultimately more prophetic work of finding and offering alternatives."

becoming jane

So, there's this movie.

I was skeptical about "Becoming Jane." But it's beautifully bittersweet. But here's why I was skeptical:

1) It stars Anne Hathaway, who, though gorgeous, stars in movies not always much deeper than cheesy -- though still entertaining;
2) It is supposed to be a biographical film of Jane Austen's life;
3) To my knowledge, Jane Austen never married. Happy-ending potential was slim. And why see a Jane Austen movie without one?

Basically, (spoiler) it's the story of Jane and the love that fell apart. And though it doesn't end with the expected cheerful peace of Jane's novels, I left the the theater with more peace than I expected I would.

Though it doesn't end as I would like, as the audience would like, as the characters would have liked, it's perfect because it's true. (As in perfectly realistic.) Perfectly bittersweet. Is it "better to have loved and lost"? I don't know, the film doesn't try to tell me, but I think it's a great commentary on the topic. And at very least, it gives historical background for all of Jane's stories.

amendment: I did know someone

Our newsroom got an e-mail Thursday afternoon that the former editor of our sister paper in the next city was on the bridge when it collapsed.

We were told that they did not expect him to make it at that time. But then yesterday I read that his doctors expected that, barring unforeseen complications, he would make a full recovery.

In any case, he's about 32 and just got engaged last weekend, so that's kind of sad. His is one of the red cars you see floating in the water.

I think I only met him once, and no one in our newsroom really knew him well, but it's still a bit jarring.

update from Mpls metro

I've had a few messages, so I thought I'd write briefly about the bridge collapse. Authorities are asking the metro to not use their cell phones if they don't have to tonight.

Obviously, no, I wasn't on the bridge. I live a good 40 minutes from that area. I was afraid at first that my sister and brother-in-law were on 35W going to Minneapolis! But apparently they weren't in that area. I had to wait a little bit to find that out, though! :)

The bridge collapsed at about 6:05 p.m. -- rush hour. I first heard about it at 7 p.m. as I was eavesdropping on my fellow Target customers (inadvertently). A woman mentioned a bridge collapsed on 35W. I immediately called the news editor in the next town to find out more about what was going on -- 35W is sometimes wrongly used to refer to just plain 35, and 35 goes right by here. She told me a little more and then I started worrying about Megan and Nate.

Pretty much I've been glued to every local news source -- with preference for KARE 11 and the Strib (reluctantly) -- ever since. I'm not sure if I'm the only one. And in the car -- I didn't even know what radio station I was listening to. It was just whatever you got to first that was a newscaster. People are worrying about anyone they know but trying to refrain from using their phones. I don't know anyone who knows anyone, so far, though for our paper this will mean trying to localize it for our weekend issue.

A few brief reflections:

* As a paranoid person, I don't ever want to drive on a bridge again. I already didn't trust them.

* Some of the big stories are yet to come -- how this affects life. This is a major four-lane bridge over a major river. I think I heard one person speculate it would be two years at the quickest before they could have a new one.

* I want to give blood, but I don't think they'll have a local (as in at my city) drive.

* It is comforting to know that HCMC (the only Level 1 trauma center) has an emergency plan, that other government entities have emergency plans. It sounds like they're working.

* The first thing you think of is where all your family is. You take tabs. That would be very difficult if you knew you weren't supposed to use your phones. That's one reason family emergency plans are so important -- how will you know how to find your family if telecommunications are not a possibility? MAKE A PLAN. It isn't silly or paranoid. Do it today.

* Prayers. Lots of them. Without ceasing.

* Basically, this has impact on my life only because I'm in the news biz. But it is still unsettling at the very least because it's such a commonly used bridge. If I were going to Minneapolis, I'd use it. No questions.

moving! really! probably!

Megan and Nate and I have put a deposit down on a really fun house in a prime location. Pending our application approval, we move in Aug. 1!

It still seems too good to be true. It's newly-remodeled home built in the 1890s; two bedrooms and an office; two-car garage; porch; big yard; wood floors; two bathrooms; great kitchen. And then the prime location again.

The downside of moving: Packing. And/or the cleaning that precedes and follows. I really should start now, but it's easier to push it off some more.

I'm so excited to move, particularly to move in. Right now I'm looking at area rugs online because my room has wood floors. Rugs are so pricy! Anyone know of a great cheap rug place?

It seems like I just moved here, yet I've lived in this apartment longer than I've lived anywhere since high school. But I won't miss it terribly. It has no endearing qualities.

There's some strange Office-like show on PBS, except I think it's called "Newsroom."

as it should be

One thing about series on the BBC -- things have a higher likelihood not to go the way you planned. People die tragically more often. I've stayed up 'til 2 in the morning to see the finale of a series I loved where all you watch for is to see a particular man and woman admit they love each other. They finally do, and then that night she's accidentally electrocuted. Odd, but somehow fitting.

There's a time for everything. Today that thing was a wedding, a somewhat eccentric ceremony that was also one of the best I've attended. The couple married outside an abandoned country church beneath a massive old oak. There was a fiddler, and at least one groomsman wore Birkenstocks. The groom kissed the bride, then he hugged her, then he picked her up and twirled her around, he was so happy.

The old country church was a lovely setting, though unusual -- the yard was surrounded not only by rolling hillsides but cemetery. But it seemed appropriate -- another life moment, another milestone.

We have these milestones, but they are a handful of moments among a lifetime of moments.

It seems like life shouldn't be this complicated, yet I look at this TV show -- the realistic complication was what I appreciated.

But then, I also appreciate simplicity. :)

It's 2 a.m. That's why this makes no sense.

How cultured am I?

I caught the tail end of the AFI's 100 greatest movies of all time. I wondered -- how many have I seen? (I think this is last year's list.)

Answer: 21 -- more than I expected

1. Citizen Kane (1941)
2. Casablanca (1942)
6. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
9. Schindler's List (1993)
10. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
11. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
15. Star Wars (1977)
18. Psycho (1960)
25. E.T.—The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
33. High Noon (1952)
34. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
38. Double Indemnity (1944)
42. Rear Window (1954)
45. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
49. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
54. All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
55. The Sound of Music (1965)
61. Vertigo (1958)
68. An American in Paris (1951)
69. Shane (1953)
71. Forrest Gump (1994)