Saturday afternoon, I got a call from a friend. He knew that I had been planning to go with some students from Gettysburg College over to the Rec Park to watch the fireworks, and he was concerned. Did I know that there were dozens of armed, uniformed men walking around town? I confessed I did…… Continue reading Take Your Guns and Go Home
Category: Racism
How to Be An Antiracist
So, I just finished a book that everyone has been talking about: How to be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi. And, after finishing it, I totally feel like it lives up to the hype. It is, as you might expect, illuminating and educational, as well as being really well-written. I love how he uses…… Continue reading How to Be An Antiracist
The End of White Christian America
Like most of you, I am still reeling from the murder of George Floyd and the tragic aftermath. Unlike many of you, I have not been able to find the words to respond very well; I find that I am rendered speechless and despondent that we find ourselves here again, facing the murder of yet…… Continue reading The End of White Christian America
Dig into Black History Month
You probably know that February is Black History Month; have you ever thought about why we do that—you know, declare a month to be about something? The reality is, of course, that every month should be Black History Month—if that means learning something about and caring about black history. But, the fact is that in…… Continue reading Dig into Black History Month
Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. and his Calling
Today in the United States we are honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., commemorating his extraordinary life and way he changed US society for the better. We have by no means realized the “dream” for which King is so famous, nor have we realized the beautiful community he envisioned, but because of the lingering power of…… Continue reading Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. and his Calling
Reflections on “Just Mercy”
The first year students at Gettysburg College are all reading Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, by Bryan Stevenson. Stevenson is a lawyer who founded the Equal Justice Initiative, an organization that works to defend those most in need of an advocate, especially those wrongfully convicted–including those on death row. It is a powerful…… Continue reading Reflections on “Just Mercy”
Emmett Till, in 2018
There’s a new podcast that I have started listening to called “This Day in History Class.” It’s from one of the hosts of “Stuff You Missed in History Class,” one of my favorite podcasts, and it has become kind of a stand-in for “The Writer’s Almanac”–that podcast was hosted by Garrison Keillor, and it was…… Continue reading Emmett Till, in 2018
James Cone: In Memoriam
James H. Cone passed away on Saturday, April 28th, at the age of 79. [Read a tribute here: James H. Cone dies]. Today, then, it is both a privilege and a pleasure to share some reflections in tribute. It is no exaggeration to say that Cone was one of the most significant theological voices of the…… Continue reading James Cone: In Memoriam
Shitholes, the Cross and the Flag
One of the things that anyone who is fortunate enough to have a sabbatical experiences [and believe me, I know how fortunate I am to have a sabbatical] is the pleasure of digging into “the stack.” You know what I mean–that tall stack of reading material that you have been putting off until ‘sometime’–Christmas break,…… Continue reading Shitholes, the Cross and the Flag
The “Wrong” Kind of Christian
Last week, one of my students brought to my attention a really interesting article from the Washington Post, titled “Colin Kaepernick vs. Tim Tebow: A tale of two Christians on their knees.” [Find it here: Tebow and Kaepernick]. It was written in light of the current practice of NFL players taking a knee during the…… Continue reading The “Wrong” Kind of Christian
Happy Lutheran 