Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Fair Trade

Letter to the Editor
Daily Press
Victorville, Ca. 92393

March 21, 2009

Globalization is fueled by the free trade idea which is unsustainable in our depressed economy. Jobs are the issue. It is politically and socially explosive to champion cheap labor or goods when so many American citizens are without even minimal employment. In spite of the liberal agenda it just won’t fly. Change will happen, planned or not.

This is a positive scenario. We are at last forced to talk honestly and openly about trade. Politicians can no longer distract us with “cutsey” conversation. Should the lingo of the anti-protectionist politico fuel our economic discourse? This question should be asked of the Orange County Register and Mr. Krauhthammer, who utilize free trade language in the Daily Press, Friday March 20. Is their concern for that of the whole economy, including the middle class, or primarily that of the invested class?

The insecurity of possible economic personal disaster makes every American frightened. Let’s talk about a fair and balanced trade agenda going forward within these recessionary times. We should not succumb to threats from our trading partners who are already making changes to protect their own people. Most of all, we should not be frightened into silence by those who wish to manipulate the people and the politics of Washington toward free trade.

The conversation should be about fair trade.

G.Goslaw
Victorville, Ca. 92395

Man Up America

Letter to the Editor
Daily Press
Victorville, CA

December 17, 2008

Man up America! The hens have been in control long enough. Their self involved decision making has for the last thirty years been about “minding” the nest no matter the cost to others. The politicians have proved that you don’t have to be a female to be a “hen”! However, what is required now is male aggressive out of the box action. We all have a list but please let me contribute a few.

# 1. Seek a national involvement in the affairs of state. Let’s reject the lame excuse and apathy voiced in the complaint, “ but what can I do?” History is replete with examples of how one ordinary person was the man or woman of the hour. We all have to assume this potential critical service by raising our own awareness. Let’s get involved in politics locally, on the state level and nationally. The lazy expectation that someone else will do it and protect our interests means that we are naïve and a part of the problem. Man up America!

# 2. Let us seek an understanding of the past. How did our country arrive at this point? There are many voices that would like to convince us that looking back has no purpose. Are they afraid of the possibilities? There is ample evidence to spread the blame throughout the country. The truth is that as we understand the dynamics of the past, we have a chance to avoid repeated mistakes in the future. We have lavished ourselves in decades of greed and now must pay the price. Man up America!

# 3. Seek a realistic posture into the future. The time for denial is gone, we must accept the reality that our economic system has changed, ready or not. The desperate attempt to recoup the national fortune of the past will fail. Throwing the tax revenue of our grandkids at these ever escalating boom and bust cycles is extremely shortsighted and surely immoral. We have sold off our manufacturing base, the deception of free trade has made us a third world country. The divide between economic possibilities is expanding daily. Man up America!

# 4. Seek a redefinition of national greatness. Shall we as a nation pride ourselves in collecting the most stuff, graduating from the best schools, living in the best neighborhoods, and building a life long family legacy? None of these priorities are evil but they must be balanced with at least as much concern for the “other guy”. If we fail to respect one another by building a sense of shared fortune instead of hateful barriers, the near term will be increasingly ugly. Man up America!

This list is only a beginning, the times require that we stand up in many ways. Your participation is requested in the effort to unite and empower a better America.

G.Goslaw
Victorville, Ca. 92395
(This letter was not published)

Saturday, June 27, 2009

The Henhouse of the Church

April 7, 2009

Every human organization denies it’s mission by adding self centered mandates. These priorities increasingly rule out the greater good which was originally targeted. The result is an ever growing henhouse affect with it’s nest building priority. The church of Jesus Christ is subject to this reality.

His band of followers were asked to be disciples, representatives and teachers of the coming new kingdom. How would this mission be accomplished? Were they to build great buildings, create and argue dogma, organize great gatherings and raise money? Surely this new effort would have clear lines of authority and responsibility. These are the mandates of men, just ordinary men.

Jesus said, go but take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece. (Luke 9:3) Was Jesus just in a hurry for their journey to begin? No, the representatives of God are to be totally vulnerable, defenseless, and unprepared proclaimers. Their faith vulnerability equation is fundamental to the new kingdom’s construction.

Jesus originated the mission of proclaimation because it was to bring lasting change. Who could believe that the death of a thirty three year old, ethnically obscure, uneducated, poor man in the outback of Palestine would make a world wide impression to last into three millennia? That fact boggles the mind of every aware, yet thinking modern man. Surely the conclusion that must be drawn is that our journey is not about an earthly legacy. Life is the opportunity to live toward the kingdom reality.

The church has long attempted to pass over this “weakness” of faith methodology. Within only a generation a spirit of arrogance brings additives to the mission that misdirect us to an earthly focus. This writer’s elemental reading of Church History reveals a two thousand year struggle at this point. Some would say even today the mission is more about regulation than proclaimation.

The most recent methodology is to go proclaiming hell. "If you were to die today, where would you go?" This is not the proclaimation that Jesus brought to earth. It smacks of a self glory that He would judge to be sinful.

The wonder of it all is that the proclaimation mission is still being voiced and is the fire in the belly of the church. Spirit’s of revival have regularly flared up amongst us, also for two thousand years, to revert the mission to being more about God’s agenda. He responds to faith and trust in His power not the power of men. Our human needs will be met as we channel His power to meet the needs of others. It’s simple but so difficult to live out. Are we kingdom proclaimers or doers of a religion?

The sad commentary is that every spirit of revival quickly reverts to orthodoxy. So it is, the dialogue between God and His humanity continues. Let us go,vulnerable as we are, to proclaim the invitation, the good news about citizenship in God's Kingdom. A Kingdom yet under construction.

G.Goslaw
Victorville, CA.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Balance

Letter to Editor
Religion Page
Daily Press
Victorville, Ca.

Letter in response to regular column of Dr. Kaplan. Column in qestion appeared in the February 14, 2009 issue of the Daily Press.

Contrary to the opinion of Dr. Kaplan, (Daily Press, February 14, 2009, p. B4) the Bible may not be that clear about the sin of homosexuality. His opinion as expressed gives lip service to a biblically balanced theology.

Some of us are familiar enough with the Word that we aren’t so sure God singles out this sin for any special condemnation amongst all of human frailties. The author deals in deception when he states, “ The Bible specifically calls homosexual behavior sin.” The question may be asked, where is the specificity? We can make the Bible say any number of contrary conclusions by piecing together just the right snippets as most pulpits are prone to do.

In totality the Bible does not single out this sin to a degree that pleases our homophobia. “ The sin ” is a very rare occurrence, not even being mentioned in the Ten Commandments. Biblical references are few and far between all the other stuff like faith, patience, hope and kindness. It must be comforting to sling arrows of condemnation at such a slow moving target ( only 10% of society) as homosexuality.

What about Sodom and Gomorrah? This ancient story from the life of Abraham seems to be the proof the author requires. Take the time to read the story, when God rained fire down on these towns it may have been for any number of reasons. Their inhabitants were living in a very selfish left ditch of excess, a violently selfish ditch. Is it “ the sin ” that upsets God or the selfishness of their society? Since the Ten Commandments have a great deal to say about selfishness, personally the condemnation belongs to a much greater degree in this area.

Let’s talk about God’s condemnation. It’s stark reality is raining down upon our good old American country. Our aberrant selfish economic and political systems are being condemned by God as we speak. Look around and you will see how He feels about the sin, “greed” ! The church shares in God’s condemnation for its emphasis on money, the corporate model of ministry and the prosperity gospel. Let’s all get out of the rain! Oh Lord, forgive us our trespasses.

The good news of the gospel is that with faith in His abiding presence,we can be lead out of the ditches of selfishness to a more balanced life. When Jesus appeared the religious hierarchy became very upset, attacking Him at every turn. Why? Because this ordinary looking man, this carpenter was in balance, to a degree that threatened their authority, it made them angry. The religionists lived out of balance in the right ditch of self righteousness. The only persons that Jesus ever rebuked were these religionists who ignored God’s Love priority.

Possibly that is why Jesus said, “ the way (road) is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” ( Matt. 7:14 ) A biblically balanced lifestyle in this selfish world is exceedingly narrow and difficult. When the road runs along the ridgeline, there is danger to be avoided on the selfish right and the selfish left. Let us all take inventory, how is our balance?

G.Goslaw
(This letter has not been acknowledged by the paper or Dr. Kaplan)

Monday, June 22, 2009

Religion Page

Mr. Don Holland
Editor
The Daily Press
Victorville, Ca. 92393

May 19, 2009

Dear Sir:

Please forgive me if this letter is somehow inappropriate but as a faithful reader of your newspaper, I wish to share a long held concern. The concern is the Religion page. This page is the focus of my Saturday AM start and potentially that of all your readers.

The Religion page has gotten progressively more anemic and uninteresting over the years. The wasted potential is difficult for this reader to comprehend so I felt it necessary to at least express my dissatisfaction. Please allow me to make the following positive statements.

A newspaper Religion page should be inclusive. A single constituency directive is a turnoff for wider readership. Such a limited scope is what the church world knows as “preaching to the choir”. Should a newspaper focus upon peddling such feel goodies? No, Sunday AM is the appropriate time for such communication.

A newspaper Religion page should be about sharing. The possibilities for this sharing about God are incalculable. Even the opinion that we are alone in the galaxies is to be respected. What does religion have to say to the current culture? All input should be solicited and valued, then the readers can make their own conclusions.

A newspaper Religion page should present a mix of perspectives. The wisdom of the professional theologian with assigned status and educational degrees is only one perspective. Let’s also listen to the elderly, quiet little lady in the second pew who has weathered a multiplicity of life experiences. What wisdom have you, young lady, received from God on your journey? Both perspectives should be encouraged to speak.

Your newspaper must have “other” priorities that allows management to settle for a lesser Religion page. Possibly, this page’s weakness is industry wide. Probably, I am the only reader dissatisfied. Certainly, I am not qualified to judge your efforts at the business of publishing.

From this layman’s perspective, the purpose of this letter is to be positive and I apologize if this unsolicited feedback seems super critical. Thank you for the Daily Press’s pivotal role in my life and the life of all your readers.

Sincerely Yours,
G.Goslaw
Victorville, Ca. ( This letter has engendered no response)

Globalization

Letter to the Editor
Daily Press

March 21, 2009

Globalization is fueled by the free trade idea which is unsustainable in our depressed economy. Jobs are the issue. It is politically and socially explosive to champion cheap labor or goods when so many American citizens are without even minimal employment. In spite of the liberal agenda, it just won’t fly. Change will happen, planned or not.

This is a positive scenario. We are at last forced to talk honestly and openly about trade. Politicians can no longer distract us with “cutsey” conversation. Or the lingo of the anti-protectionist politico that is fueled by who knows what? This question should be asked of the Orange County Register and Mr. Krauhthammer, who utilize this language in the Daily Press, Friday March 20. Is their concern for that of the whole economy, including the middle class, or primarily that of the invested class?

The insecurity of possible economic personal disaster makes every American frightened. Let’s talk about a fair and balanced trade agenda going forward within these recessionary circumstances. We should not succumb to threats from our trading partners who are already making changes to protect their own people. Most of all, we should not be frightened into silence by those who wish to manipulate the people and the politics of Washington.

G. Goslaw (submitted but not published)
Victorville, Ca.

P.S. Where are the politicians, Obama and Clinton, who felt the pain in Ohio and Pennsylvania? The silence speaks for itself.

Grandson

January 18, 2009

Dear Grandson,

Thank you for the telephone call this evening, those little things mean so much to this grandpa. I was somewhat surprised that you didn’t know what the inauguration was all about on Tuesday. I wish that when I was your age my parents would have insisted that I become aware of what is happening in the outside world, outside the family . It never happened because my parents were satisfied to raise a child so sheltered. Growing up is so much more than just having fun, although fun is fun!

The age of twelve is a very important moment in each of our lives. In the Jewish religion and community this age marks the age of accountability, when a boy or girl begins learning how to make decisions. The Christian faith is very similar. The accountability part has to do with the results of these decisions, good or not so good. At twelve your parents will not turn you loose to do whatever you wish but they will slowly allow you to experiment with freedom. This privilege will be a learning process, a testing process that should not be exploited beyond your parents wishes, of course you know that to be true.

Barack O’Bama is the 44th president of these United States beginning at noon on Tuesday when he repeats the oath of office. The black experience in America has been a significant part of your grandpa’s life and for a black man to be my president is a happening beyond my dreams for fairness among the peoples of this country. Tuesday the 20th of January 2009 is going to be a big day, even if you don’t receive this letter until a few days after the celebration. Please store the memory so that it can be a big part of your life too.

Prejudice is a hateful attitude toward others that should be embarrassing to we humans but is so very common. Do you remember the movie we saw about the debaters? They were black and we experienced their pain through that movie. The black man’s journey toward freedom is a truly inspiring story. May I make a request?

Ask your parents to subscribe to your local newspaper. If you promise to read a few articles everyday from it’s pages, be it news, sports or comics, I will pay the bill. A deal like that surely will be accepted! This is one small way of becoming aware of the happenings in the city of Kingman, the state of Arizona and the country as a whole.

It could also be helpful as you discover the good decisions, those that will help you through the teen years toward full manhood.

Again, thank you for being one of my grandsons, of whom I am very proud.

Sincerely,
G. Goslaw