Sad, Bad, Mad.

I haven't posted in a while. I'm trying to refrain from writing when I feel like I might spill over into the political fray and cause more division than good. Even though this post might only skirt the political issues, it jumps into the religious crap with both high-booted feet!

I commented to my boss the other day that it makes me sad to think how often we have our flag at half staff these days. I mean it's good that we honor those that have given their lives serving our country; it's just sad that so many are making that sacrifice.

The latest violence against the USA seems to be much more organized that originally thought. Whether this is from riots over an offensive movie or from organized terrorist groups, it's definitely a bad deal for Americans in the Middle East. The outrage over the events of the past week seems to be misplaced and directed at the entire Muslim world. I've heard numerous sources (from members of Congress to individual citizens) that want to immediately flex our economic muscles and stop sending all aid to the Middle East countries.

I do have issues with the amount of money the US gives in the way of foreign aid. I sometimes want to bring all of our troops home until I realize that the oppressed of the world are counting on us. I know that the protesters and terrorists are a small minority of the populations of the Arab countries. I know that the ignorance of the freedoms that we enjoy is great in the nations that have never enjoyed these freedoms the way we have. I know that there are many citizens of those countries that have been very grateful to the US for the aid in helping the success of the Arab Spring movements.

I want to say that I'm a little mad over the religious hatred that I've heard from many that are Christians and are often toting the religious freedom banner. Truthfully, it doesn't surprise me and it makes me more sad than mad. If we abandon the people of the Middle East that are in desperate need of the Jesus that we profess, can we really claim to be His followers? Or is that Christianity thing just for Sunday mornings?

Do we want to base our perceptions of all Muslims on the actions of a few? Do we want to decide that they can all go to hell, and we're not going to have anything to do with them--including building a relationship that will allow us to talk about the differences in our beliefs and share Jesus with them?

Okay.
That's it.
Short vent.
Today.

John <><