A Revolution For The People

Readers,

I was watching “The Motorcycle Diaries” the other night…it’s an outstanding film…when my friend Steve commented that Mr. Guevara was certainly learning aspects of leading “a revolution for the people”.

After laughing at him for a while, I decided on his quote as the title of my letter from the editor. So…that’s the backstory.

There’s a revolutionary aspect to this issue, to be sure. We’re including an excerpt from Gregory A. Boyd’s The Myth of a Christian Nation. We’re reviewing the The Thermal’s latest album, a brutal diatribe against religious fascism. We’re advertising, on our banner ads, the free offering of Derek Webb’s album Mockingbird, a revolution in it’s own right, a break in pattern from the Christian mainstream, and an exceptional collection of songs.

Seriously, click here to get a free (FREE!) copy of the album. You will not regret it. Plus, did I mention it’s free?

In the vein of this revolutionary theme, I want you to read a quote from William Strauss, co-author of Millenials Rising, a book about the generation born in the 80’s and 90’s. The quote was part of an article about a church youth group in Seattle. (Many thanks to the City Business Church blog for the discovery.) You can read the whole article, but here’s the quote that bothered me:

“They are joiners,” said William Strauss, co-author of the book “Millennials Rising.”

“They are prepared to listen to leaders — whether from the pulpit or the White House — in ways that their parents, the boomers, did not, and that is a very new phenomenon. They believe in security rather than radicalism, political order rather than social emancipation, collective responsibility rather than personal expression.”

While there are good and bad associations with these concepts, these descriptors also smack horribly of the kind of people susceptible to handing away their freedoms, the kind of people easily manipulated by fear-mongering and media. In short, Mr. Strauss describes a generation afraid to think for itself.

I’m trying not to be alarmist, but this quote (and the article to a lesser degree) freaked me out.

In a strange segue, I like the fact that the article discusses a church on the University of Washington’s campus, and not at the University of Oregon. This Saturday, college football starts, and I’m looking forward to seeing Jonathan Stewart (pictured above) plow through defenders, all with the help of God. Go Ducks.

As for this issue, Fabienne Harford recalls her time spent in the Astrodome after Katrina. Adam Newton reviews “Little Miss Sunshine” and Glenn Kotche’s solo album. Jan Carson has two pieces for us: a review of Golden Smog’s Another Fine Day and discusses how she has forgiven Bono…you can decide if she actually has or not. Mike Wooten counters Jan by describing his rock and roll education.

And Chad Gibbs runs down, Papa Bear-style, seven things we should be absolutely terrified of. I agree with all of them except acid rain, which just sounds like a warm version of the rain we have here in the Northwest.

I hope you’re enjoying the last days of Summer, or the first days of school. Below is another email from Penny.

Jordan Green

P.S. A note to readers participating in our first BWC Fantasy Football team: I will work you this year. Your mothers will weep when they see what I have done to you. Be warned.

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Readers,

Several months ago we highlighted a crisis that has ravaged Northern Uganda for over 20 years - a war raging at the expense of children who have been exploited, brutalized, and forced to fight against their own people, their own families. And yet - incredibly - even in dark places like these, hope springs forth anew. Thank God for his faithfulness to our prayers, for the people who have worked so diligently to make this a reality, and most of all, that this peace would be lasting, and complete.

Dispatches from Northern Uganda

Ceasefire Begins in Uganda

Sincerely,
Penny Carothers