A defeated nation

2011-01-24T11:34:00.000-08:00

A Defeated Nation
By Luis G. Collazo

The recent result of the midterm election really unmasks a nation under panic. The tea party demonstration does not show the religious right political power but a naïve, infant understanding of reality. Christianity does not work from despair, but it’s a faith’s project based on hope and courage. Any wise society, in the context of the contemporary situation, easily can see that it’s impossible to transform an economical catastrophe in two years. No leader can achieve that, independently of his or her outstanding intelligence.

This election demonstrates the victory of fear and religious dysfunction. What is really urgent in the U.S. is the creation of a new culture of pro-active hope. The challenge that faces U.S. is not an economic crisis, but one’s of faith and Will. The proactive hope requires that people advocate for a political process that could overcome a traditional naïve dualism: republican vs. democrats. That implies that society, the voters, must analyze the political situation above the two traditional political proposals. The actual reality must be seen as one where solutions are not achieved in a short period of time.

If people do not embrace this path, they are showing a syndrome of political wisdom deficit. The religious right political advocacy, may be represented by the Tea party, shows the presence of an anachronism political orthodoxy in inevitable pluralistic society and interdependent World. The future of hope belongs to those who can open their social-political space to a multicultural approach. That is not a defeat of cultural identity of any human group but a way to enrich the links among human communities.

The actual society pretends that the political process offers a warranty to them an instant exit to prosperity and economic power. That is neither real nor viable. In today’s world we need to review what is really prosperity and economic power. We must need to see prosperity and economic power in a more holistic perspective. The poverty of a nation or group can mean the lack of prosperity of others. Economic power is not only an issue of money, but also an issue of love and solidarity. It is fundamental to work for the common good as a main goal of social progress.

The victory of the Republican Party is not the defeat of the Democrat Party, but it means a bankruptcy of the true social progress. In a theological perspective, the concept of the kingdom of God incarnates the values that must be planted in the U.S. Today. The values of economic justice, of restorative justice, of a share freedom, of personal – structural compassion and holistic peace, among others. From these values the people of U.S. of N. A. can celebrate the epiphany of true social progress.

To avoid the challenge of patience implies an immense disfunctionality in the historical analysis. Institutionalize that position will represent a very high price for ignoring the necessity to recognize that every historical moment require a specific political-social approach. The result of the recent elections sent a confused message of intolerance within the passé of history. The historical moment is indicating that what is appropriate is giving history an opportunity.

The “instantaneous” model will not work in today’s world situation. I am aware that in politics the “show” of force and image projection plays an important factor. But its prevalecence of that can turn the U.S. to the “implosion” of the social agenda for the present and for the future. The “warranty” for a better future requires a great political responsibility in the present.

In the context of religion in the U.S. no one can ignore the existence of a link between “traditional” religion, “civil” religion and politics. In the “traditional religion” included the historical protestant church, the Catholics and others religious traditions. It is also important to recognize that among them coexist many theological and ecclesiastical divergences. The connection of every one of them with the basics cultural fundament is there. The big issue is if the political process can have enough space to operate in a fair cybernetic relationship with religious bodies. That possibility implies a real change in the political paradigm of the U.S. What I suggest is not total separation of the mutual influence but a new way of fair relationship between them.

If the people of U.S. want a “future” they must defeat the prophets of social-racial polarization, economic imperialism, fear, supremacy and hemispheric alienation. History needs that resurrection of hope in justice, peace, reconciliation, conviventiality, mutuality, restorative-economic justice and personal-international solidarity.

Urgency

2008-06-08T16:34:00.001-07:00

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2008-05-14T11:39:00.000-07:00

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A defeated nation

Urgency

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