Category: Social Justice

The Criminal Fallibility of the Death Penalty

Posted in Bodies, Death Penalty, Ethics, Laws, Racism, Social Issues, Social Justice, SufferingLeave a comment

Where do you stand on the death penalty? Many people have very strong opinions about it, and it can be a controversial topic of conversation. I am a long-time opponent of the death penalty, for theological reasons; and, while many people do still support the death penalty, in the United States, opposition is growing. I’m…… Continue reading The Criminal Fallibility of the Death Penalty

Periods, Poverty & Pollution

Posted in Bodies, Feminist, Laws, Life and Living, Politics, Religion, Sexism, Social Issues, Social JusticeLeave a comment

Thanks to our Global Advocacy Committee & the Sustainability Taskforce here at Wartburg Seminary, I had the opportunity to watch a great documentary last night that I want to share. It’s short, less than 30 minutes, and it’s called “The Bloody Truth about Period Poverty in America” [watch it for free here: https://youtu.be/gPWriykB0xY%5D Mostly, I…… Continue reading Periods, Poverty & Pollution

Lament, Caste, and Racism

Posted in Books, Forgiveness, Holocaust, Lent, Life and Living, Racism, Social Issues, Social Justice, SufferingLeave a comment

The faculty at Wartburg Seminary is reading Caste: the Origins of our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson. It is a very interesting book in which she uses the concept of caste, as well as several vivid metaphors, very creatively as a way to invite people into thinking about racism with new categories and fresh eyes. (The…… Continue reading Lament, Caste, and Racism

Mitch McConnell and the Importance of Timing

Posted in Ethics, Life and Living, Politics, Social Issues, Social Justice, ViolenceLeave a comment

Today, Mitch McConnell learned the importance of timing. As shocking, horrific images of insurrection in the Capitol building fill the news, my thoughts keep turning to Mitch McConnell, and I wonder if he regrets his actions in the weeks following the election–actions, which, I believe, have contributed to the rioting that took place in Washington…… Continue reading Mitch McConnell and the Importance of Timing

The Cost of Demonization

Posted in Ethics, History, Life and Living, News, Politics, Social JusticeLeave a comment

Perhaps you are familiar with one of Shakespeare’s more famous sonnets, “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun.” In that sonnet, he repeatedly violates our expectations of love poetry by rejecting traditional–and exaggerated–claims of loveliness in describing his beloved: “If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; if hairs be wires, black…… Continue reading The Cost of Demonization

A Prayer for our Leaders, A Prayer for Ourselves

Posted in Hope, Life and Living, News, Politics, Social Justice2 Comments

Today is an election day like no other, and I think many of us are feeling lots of different emotions today: exhaustion, hope, anxiety, apprehension–and that’s just for starters. In this fraught moment, I could say lots of things, but I think all I want to offer is this prayer from To Bless the Space…… Continue reading A Prayer for our Leaders, A Prayer for Ourselves

“Stranger Fruit”

Posted in Art, Bodies, Ethics, Grief, Imagination, Jesus, Life and Living, Mary, Racism, Social Issues, Social Justice1 Comment

If you get National Geographic, you saw this compelling article, which came out in the October 2020 issue. It highlighted a new art installation called “Stranger Fruit,” in which “black mothers pose with the sons they fear losing to violence.” Here are the opening sentences of the article: “There is a demand put upon you…… Continue reading “Stranger Fruit”