More About Fake News

            Broadcast personal gravely intone the perils of it. Newspapers spill barrels of ink explaining and exploring it. Researchers pour over reams of data seeking to quantify it. Prominent personalities label reports critical of their behavior or policy it. With distressing regularity, individuals file anything that does not fit their personal paradigm or worldview under it. Intellectually flabby thinkers call challenging information it. Many blogs and social-media platforms traffic in it. Politicians of all types relish using and decrying it. Fake News, the scourge of current society, seems to insert itself everywhere. Yet, we frequently either miss or, more likely, choose to ignore one particular format of fake news, misuse of language.

            We abuse the English language, ignoring the definitions of words, trying to bend them to our purpose in the hope of inducing someone to embrace our particular thought on a subject. A fine example is the word crisis. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) offers three definitions for crisis; a time of intense difficulty or danger, a time when a difficult or important decision must be made, and the turning point of a disease when an important change takes place, indicating either recovery or death. A crisis is a dangerous turning point, a situation fraught with peril, and a time in which the fundamental order of things may change in unforeseeable ways. Unless a situation or circumstance entails grave peril or danger to label it a crisis is inappropriate and ignores the proper definition of a crisis. Yet, we see men and women in positions of responsibility regularly do this to strengthen their position.

            They seek to rally people behind their position, even if it is one of dubious import. They raise a hue and cry over some relatively minor issue, calling it a crisis. Through exaggeration they make themselves seem much more important and capable than they truly are. After all, if they solve the “crisis” then they must be trustworthy and powerful individuals indeed. They adhere to the maxim of many historical dictators and strongmen, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” Ironically, though this quote is often misattributed to Joseph Goebbels, Hitler appears to have coined something like this in Mien Kampf while seeking to blame the Jews for Germany’s loss of World War I. No matter the source, it is true that by misidentifying something as a crisis often enough liars soon convince their audience that doom approaches. As reported in the BBC and other sources, recent research indicates that repetition creates an almost unshakeable belief in a lie.¹ Practitioners of this particular brand of fake news depend upon our use of social media to make this effective. Inadvertently, due to our own predilections and intellectual laziness, we fail to engage in any fact-checking. We repeat the same falsehood because it fits our own viewpoint becoming their witless dupes in spreading “fake news.” And this is, perhaps, the most pernicious and iniquitous fake news of all, the abuse of language.

            Once we embrace this deceptive twisting of the meaning of words, we inhibit effective communication. We find the search for a common understanding of the issues more and more difficult. We believe a relatively minor problem a crisis, expending an inordinate amount of societal energy on it while other truly serious issues remain unaddressed. Deeply foundational fissures wait for serious consideration. Vexing problems that threaten the viability of our democratic institutions linger in the anteroom of government, hat-in-hand as it were, while we engage in acrimonious debate over a non-existential threat. The malefactors, the bullies, win. They’ve successfully diverted us from the salient issues of the day; we often join them in their endeavors.

            Mislabeling an event or circumstance is a form of fake news and perverts the truth, skewing our perception of reality into a form of shared delusion. When we share in the misuse of language, redefining a problem as a crisis, we share in the “big lie.” We join in the chorus and become part of the problem. We must willingly exert the mental effort required to understand the issues of the day. This takes time and effort, requiring us to go deeper than the memes and headlines. Of course, a democratic society rests on the foundation of an educated populace; one that is willing to delve into the details of an issue in order to adroitly handle seemingly intractable problems.

            We must also willingly call those who manipulate language in such a deleterious fashion into account. They do not deserve our trust or confidence. Their actions should make us question their motives. If they cannot bring themselves to embrace the truth, then why should we embrace anything they say or propose to do? Our success as a nation rests on our willingness to engage in the continual work of educating ourselves. Part of the promise of the Internet was making information readily available for all. Sadly, what might serve as education instead provides a lever or wedge to drive us further apart. The resulting rifts make solving the true, intractable, problems we face even harder. In this age of rapid communications and slipshod messaging we must discipline ourselves to ensure that we speak truth. We must not rebroadcast those things that misinform no matter how nicely they reinforce our own opinions. The truth and our nation’s future require this.

1. http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20161026-how-liars-create-the-illusion-of-truth

Epiphany, the Last Act of the Christmas Pageant

            For most of us in the Western religious tradition, Christmas ends on December twenty-fifth. December twenty-sixth rolls around and we trek to the malls spending Christmas money and returning gifts that either did not fit or did not capture our fancy. Soon after the lights and decorations come down. We adjust our playlists away from “Christmas” music. Such old chestnuts as “White Christmas,” “Elf,” “Miracle on Thirty-Fourth St.,” “It’s A Wonderful Life,” and “A Christmas Carol,” find their way into boxes and shelves to await the next round of viewing. The wonder is gone. The shine has worn off. And we’re weary of turkey and eggnog. We move into the New Year and set aside Christmas. But somewhere, for most of us, a certain wistfulness lingers. Isn’t there something more to all of this? Is Christmas just an exercise in overindulgence? Down deep, buried in all of the cultural wrapping of corporate Christmas celebration, lies a fundamental yearning for revelation. We ache for a more meaningful existence. We crave an authenticity that cultivates our better spirits. We seek Epiphany.

            Our brothers and sisters that follow the Eastern religious tradition commemorate Christ’s birth differently. While we normally end our celebratory activities on Christmas day, the day we’ve chosen to remember the incarnation; they extend the celebration to January sixth, when they celebrate Epiphany, or the visit of the Magi. For some, Christmas rolls around on January sixth and Epiphany comes on the nineteenth. No matter the date, Epiphany folds in a different nuance to the season. Epiphany recognizes and honors our deep-set desire to see beyond. Whether we recognize it or not, all of us yearn for something beyond the mundane day-to-day grind of human existence. Deep down, we ache for a return to Eden and the time when we could walk with God. We want to see the wonder and order wrought by the hand divine. The wise men and Epiphany opens a door into the spectacle of God’s plan to rescue and redeem.

            Of all the characters in the Biblical account of Advent, the Magi, or wise men, are the most enigmatic. We know so little. They were plural. They came from the east. They studied the stars and were amenable to follow a star. They knew of the coming Messiah and willingly worshiped him. They brought gifts, wonderful gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And, following dream guidance, they went home a different way, subverting Herod’s plan to destroy the competition. Despite the paucity of information, they teach us much about Epiphany.

            The example of the Magi teaches that those who seek Epiphany must remain diligent. We do not know much about the “star.” Some speculate that it was a comet. Others posit a divinely orchestrated conjunction of other heavenly bodies. The details do not matter. The wise men constantly scanned the heavens looking for the expected sign. Doubtless millions also gazed up into the sky during those days; however, only the Magi watched with purpose. They were looking with expectation. We too must diligently seek Epiphany. Jesus reminds us that, “. . . the one who seeks finds,. . .” Matthew 7:8 English Standard Version (ESV). Our modern minds tend toward passivity and skepticism regarding epiphany. Epiphany challenges our penchant for measuring and evaluation. By its nature, an epiphany defies easy explanation to others. Yet that is what the wise me sought, a revealing or opening of God’s plan. How often do we discipline ourselves to read scripture, seeking some illumination? I fear we tend toward approaching scripture seeking a passage to buttress a previously held belief. The Magi scanned the stars, looking, seeking, and hoping; and God answered. But the lesson of the Magi does not stop there.

            The wise men took action based on their Epiphany. They embarked upon a journey of some difficulty. We do not know their origin; other than it was someplace in the East. Any expedition during those years would entail danger and hardship; yet, motivated by a desire for Epiphany, they came. In our current age focused on self-actualization, aggrandizement really, we rarely chose a course of action that entails self-sacrifice. We enjoy comfort far too much. Though we do not know, it appears from scripture that they may have journeyed for quite some time, possibly up to four years. This level of commitment provides an insight into Epiphany. If you and I desire Epiphany, we must willingly undertake the passage required of it. Keeping the goal foremost in our hearts and minds, we head out in the direction indicated, secure in our belief that the destination is worthy of our devotion.

            Epiphany implies worship and a changed life. Once confronted with the Christ-child the magi, “. . .they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 (ESV). Meeting Jesus, their Epiphany, opened a door for them, a portal into a previously undiscovered, unimagined realm. They had seen the King of kings and Lord of lords. Nothing remained the same. Their world was forever altered by this interaction. They responded with worship and adoration, offering their best. Those who seek and are granted Epiphany, emerge from the experience transformed. And they, like the Magi before, respond in reverence. To seek Epiphany is to seek fundamental change.

           Epiphany opens us up to God’s reality. We no longer see our family, people around us, or the world the way we used to. Like the wise men, we rejoice and worship for we have seen a bit of what God is all about. Epiphany, the unveiling, is God with us. Emanuel. During Epiphany, God draws close. He pulls us into His world for a while, lets us see things as they truly are, and then sends us back changed; better fitted to serve His people and His purpose in strange and new ways. Like the wise men we go on our way rejoicing for we have seen Him, the Christ Child, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.  . When we encounter it with an open heart, Epiphany brings irreversible change.  And, for those that seek, Jesus promises that we will find and the door will be opened and He will come into our world and make all things new. So go and seek Epiphany.            

Kimmy

This summer, my daughter moved home, bringing all the attendant boxes, bags, and challenges. Among the things she unpacked was her cat, Kimmy. Now, I’m not a “cat” person. I do not have allergies or despise them. I’m just a dog guy. Perhaps it is the sphinxian nature of cats. Dogs wear their hearts on their sleeves. They let you know up front where you stand with them. Easy to read and well-suited to pack life, dogs provide fewer challenges in decoding their mood. Cats, inscrutable and given to aloofness, provide a greater puzzle. Sometimes they want to be petted. Sometimes you reach out a gentle hand and pull back a gnawed nub. Periodically I’ll reach down to pet Kimmy as she strolls past, tail waving, and she stops and enjoys the moment. A few minutes later when I reach down, she’ll squat, just out of reach, virtually crawling past to avoid my hand. Cats are just that way; independent and not given to obvious outward displays of affection. But, Kimmy is low maintenance. She’s pretty quiet. She does not urinate or defecate in the wrong place. She eats the food provided and plays pretty well with Arlo, Christopher and Megan’s adorable Cocker Spaniel. All in all, she does not intrude into my space...too much. She and I enjoy a comfortable detente. So why did she choose my lap?

In the morning, I get up, shuffle into the kitchen, and start the coffee. Then, I go into our living room, plop down in my easy chair, reach for my Bible and prayer list, and spend some time in personal devotion. After I pray, I pour coffee. It is my personal quiet time, me and the Lord. Well, it used to be personal. Now, once Kimmy hears me sit down, she galumphs down the hall, across the living room, and into my lap; where, without so much as an “excuse me” she settles down and commences purring. I put her down to go and get coffee. She usually waits there and hops back up when I start reading. It doesn’t seem to bother her that a cat in my lap gets in the way of my Bible. My contortions to get my Bible into a readable position with her in my lap work well for her; and, the little ribbon place-marker provides her some entertainment on those rare occasions when the rustling of turning pages wakes her up. And I’m the only one she does this with. Everyone else in the house, bonafide cat lovers, read uninterrupted. Me, the one verifiable dog guy, gets to adjust himself to an addition to my lap time. She also does this in the evening during my recreational reading. During that time, I frequently use a Kindle. She’s discovered that if she gets her paw-pad on the page she can either turn it herself when she wants or keep me from turning it by lightly resting her pad on the edge of the screen. So now, I must adjust two of my few alone times to Kimmy. When I sit at my desk writing, she will come and try to sit on the keyboard. Kimmy never asks. She just jumps up. She assumes a warm welcome. She assumes permission. She lives here so she feels she has the right to intrude upon my space and time. She does not do this to either Christy or Candace, just me. And in these quiet moments with an uninvited guest in my lap, God has spoken to me.

When I hear her galop coming down the hall, I know what’s about to happen. She does not wait for approval. This is how God wants us to relate to Him. He desires an open relationship which assumes reception. Romans 8:15 reminds us that God wants us to call Him “Abba, father,” a term of closeness and endearment. He does not want a standoffish formal relationship. He desires informal and loving. I’m not sure if my soul can purr; but, He wants me to stretch out in comfort and security and relax, conforming to His shape, taking pleasure in His presence and warmth. Kimmy did not “warm up” to me. She just made up her mind and concluded my lap was her domain. Now, she climbs aboard at will.

In Matthew 11:28 we read these sweet words of comfort, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” God offers a place of quiet, comfort, and rest. Despite my being a non-cat person, Kimmy knows that I offer refuge and comfort. I do not twist her tail. I do not torment her. Instead, I accept her and adjust myself to her. She’s comfortable with me. God offers a refuge from the chaos of the world. He looks forward to our jumping into His lap so He can scratch us behind the ears...metaphorically speaking of course. But the idea is true, God wants to extend comfort and rest. He wants to treat us tenderly.

In Luke 13:34, Jesus’ great lament over Jerusalem, He compares Himself to a mother hen seeking to protect her young. He drew from the rich metaphor tradition found in the Old Testament, Psalm 91:4 for example. God wants to be our protector. He wants us to know we are safe and secure. Kimmy enjoys knowing that I will not harm her or allow harm to come to her while in my lap. It is a place of security and refuge. And that is what God wants for us. He wants us to impose upon the peace and quiet of His easy chair. And, unlike a certain grumpy guy, He has no favorites. He wants us all. He yearns to hear the familiar sound of our gallop down the hall, across the living room, and into His lap.

The Importance of Truth

“It often seems to me that’s all detective work is, wiping out your false starts and beginning again.”

“Yes, it is very true, that. And it is just what some people will not do. They conceive a certain theory, and everything has to fit into that theory. If one little fact will not fit it, they throw it aside. But it is always the facts that will not fit in that are significant.”
Agatha Christie, “Death on the Nile”

38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” John 18:38

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 Jesus

“We live in a post-truth society.” Pundits and essayists use words with great gravity, hoping to sound wise, well-read, and avant-garde. Recent trends in public discourse and politics might make one think we’ve crossed a significant phase-line culturally. However, Pilate struggled with the same thing over two-thousand years ago. Socrates and Plato grappled with the same issue some five-hundred years before Pilate governed Judea. Look on backward into history and you find that humans always struggle with truth. We want to bend reality to fit our perceptions, our needs, our goals, and our feelings. Perhaps what has changed is our willingness to embrace a leader that speaks falsehoods. But, a quick scan of history and the Biblical record reveals a sorry legacy regarding holding leaders accountable for truth. Perhaps, the ease and rapidity of spreading falsehoods make this time especially perilous for those that embrace the truth. Whatever the cause or case, Christians must avoid the human penchant for distorting or disregarding truth to meet our own personal needs.

Often we employ moral equivalence to excuse our behavior. How many times have we said, “After all, they all do it,” to justify our support of a leader, secular or otherwise, that has developed a track record for prevarication. While it is true that all humans fail, all of us have lied at some time in our lives, that does not excuse moral turpitude. We know the difference between someone that has displayed the fallen human condition and someone that exhibits a reckless disregard and disdain for the truth. Jesus counseled us, “24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” John 7:24. We all know the seductive siren song. Our favored party or candidate fails grievously and still, we cling to them, hoping that they will continue to work on issues we feel important, and perhaps, they will. However, with abject failure in truth-telling, all trust is gone. We know that person does not tell the truth when it inconveniences them. Faced with difficulty they invariably choose the easy wrong over the hard right. Trust destroyed resists attempts to rebuild. And to ignore such failure in positions of responsibility is foolishness. As a junior lieutenant in Germany, I watched, dismayed, as one of my favorite Battalion Commander’s career evaporated due to his failure to tell the truth. He’d lied about his whereabouts in order to conceal an illicit affair. His superiors lost their faith in his ability to tell the truth regarding difficult issues. Once compromised over an issue of personal conduct, he could not be trusted with issues broader impact and gravity. We cannot entrust leadership to those who display a casual disregard for the truth. Yes, it is true that all people fail; however, we can, and should, exclude those who regularly and recklessly lie. It is a disqualifier from positions of responsibility. This sort of person or party does not deserve our loyalty.

As Christians, we must seriously consider the role of partisanship and loyalty in our lives and witness in the public square. When I cast my lot with a specific party, I also must carry their baggage. As a Christian, I must consider the entirety of the Bible, God’s revealed word, when developing my own socio-political philosophy. When examining political parties, I must consider all their stances. To what degree do they support truth-telling? Do they rightly handle information, or do they embrace deceit as a viable political tactic or strategy? Will they accept and support a deceitful person as a leader? Where do they diverge from my understanding of the heart of God? I must sort through these and other questions before I align myself with any given party. These days of bare-knuckled, winner-take-all, divisive politics makes independence as a voter much more desirable for those of us who consider allegiance with Jesus primary. Of course, one may choose a party; however, you must clearly consider what issues to agree with and those you find objectionable and be prepared to speak truth to leadership. An organization's stance on truth-telling must rise to the top of any issues list. Rightly handling information is critical for leaders and followers.

Often we quail when faced with facts or truth that fail to line up with our preconceptions or worldview. And, this is one of the more challenging areas of truth-telling in the world today. The internet, talking-heads on radio and television, social media platforms, and the proliferation of various outlets the spout propaganda under the guise of news, make developing a reality-based view of almost any issue difficult. And this is where we must develop a passion, a devotion to, a zeal for the truth, denying support to those who display a cavalier attitude toward truth. Jesus claims that He is the truth. While we tend to look at this statement as metaphor, in this bold statement Jesus reminds us of a key component of His essential character. He is truth and those that claim to love Him must also love truth. We must love truth more than political party or philosophical ideas. Like the man in Matthew 13, we must value truth above all things and expend every effort to apprehend it. This fervor for the truth leads us to demand truth from leaders, to hold them accountable for their statements. When we accept dissembling, disingenuous speech we put distance between ourselves and the one who is truth. We also embolden the prevaricator, making it easier for them to employ dishonesty. When we embrace those who traffic in lies and deceit, we erode our witness. Through our acceptance of this iniquitous behavior, we become complicit in the lie. Just as they have proved themselves untrustworthy, in a like manner, we prove ourselves unreliable, feckless, and faithless. Failure to embrace truth undermines the foundations of a successful civilization.

We must speak up in this time. We cannot embrace silence as a tactic. We cannot wait this out. Truth is more important than party, political ideology, and personal comfort. Jesus claimed that He was the truth. Early in His earthly walk, Jesus told us that we could know the truth and in that knowing, we would find freedom. Embracing truth is embracing Jesus. Defending truth is defending the one who is truth.

"Christian" Art

“There can no more be a “Christian” art than there can be a Christian science or a Christian diet. There can only be a Christian spirit in which an artist or scientist, works or does not work. A painting of the Crucifixion is not necessarily more Christian in spirit than a still life, and may be very well less” W. H. Auden in “The Shield of Perseus”

I gleaned this Auden quote from a post on Facebook by John Poch, a poet, a professor, a husband, a father, a friend, and most importantly a man of faith. I have found that one of the challenges of maintaining a friendship with former instructors is that they never stop.  They constantly introduce me to works I’ve not read, challenging me to continue my education. This is compounded by my father, a history professor, who still works on molding his progeny. After I finish this snatch of writing, I will need to look into purchasing yet another book, Auden’s collection of essays, “The Shield of Perseus.” In the quote above, Auden makes a very challenging point.
In our modern Western Worldview, we cling to the concept of secular and sacred, binning activities, artistic works, and even people in one of two camps. Look deeply enough into the heart of this dichotomous worldview we find our very human drive toward legalism. In this passage, Auden rightly pushes back against such a limited view of art and the Christian. For the Christian, nothing exists outside the realm of the sacred. In our modern world we like to think of ourselves completing discrete, separate tasks; now I’m doing my work, now I’m being a husband, now I’m worshiping. Almost two millennia before Auden picked up his pen, Paul wrote these words, “23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.” Colossians 3:24-25 English Standard Version (ESV)
The thing is, God, a jealous God, wants it all. We, as selfish and timid people, want to limit the intrusion. God calls us to join Him in His continuing creative work. I hesitate, wanting to keep some area unto myself. If, if I can label some part of my life as secular, then holiness and its attendant considerations need not intrude. In the secular portions of my life, my desires, my rules reign supreme. After all, this portion of my life is secular and I can do as I please with it. We do not find this dichotomy in scripture. God owns it all. For me, as a husband, father, teacher, and dabbling artist, this fundamental truth alters my worldview. Now, everything I do bears the imprint of His hand and everything reflects His impact on my life. Do I work in conjunction with His Spirit?
If I believe what Paul and Auden say, the question is not one of secular or sacred, but one of alignment or influence. In a very fundamental way, we live in God’s masterpiece. Every sunset that flames the sky in bold and subtle colors is His work. The vast encompassing sweeping stillness of a prairie echoes with His footsteps on the wind. He made it and declared it “Good.” Waves climbing a sloping beach gently hiss His name. All creation reflects the imprint of the maker’s hand. So when I engage in activities, mundane or profound, I must consider their alignment with my maker. If I take God seriously, I do nothing out of hand. God is not some garment I put on and off at will. I cannot confine Him to a room I visit on the convenient occasion. He’s an overwhelming primal force that sweeps into time and space with a presence that demands consideration and oddly, at least from a human perspective, a gentleness that preserves our freedom. Whether I’m teaching a class, cooking a meal, shopping for “stuff,” or writing, I’m participating in an ongoing adventure of creation. My only choice is whether I participate in concert with Him, or work against His plan. I know that we speak of this frequently, but still, I find myself thinking of “Christian” music; as if music can somehow be Christian. For the Christian, the entire tapestry of life remains sacred.
When we let the modern penchant for compartmentalization enthrall us, we dilute the leavening effect of the Spirit. Through this, we close off rooms and wings of our lives, rendering much of what we do weak, anemic, and often impotent. God calls us to reckless abandon, not some paltry substitute, efficacious only on Sundays. We also leave open the door for legalism, the dry-rot that sinks so many ships of faith. When God’s love inundates our lives, it pushes out the need for, or dependence on, external rules or guideposts to keep a course. I do not need statutory guidance in creating art. I find freedom, freedom to create as moved, freedom to explore, and freedom to follow. When I bend to His will, letting the potter’s hand work freely, I create truly beautiful works of art in all that I do. I move with Him. I find His presence everywhere and in all things. My work, my ballot, my art, and my family all attuned to His guiding hand. And this may be what Auden seeks to clarify. When we seek to define or categorize some art as Christian and some as not, we severely curtail or limit the freedom we find in Christ. We also limit the voice of God through us, or our work, as a venue. 

Memes

I follow detailed lesson plans; a habit I learned in the Army. I post my lesson plans on a web-based platform for my students and their parents. Eventually, all my students figure out that I pretty much follow my lesson plans, at least in the details; though I rarely keep up with my planned pace. I regularly utilize memes in my classroom. Most days, I start with a joke and find memes an excellent source of humor, at least the clean ones. But other than as introductory material, I find memes inadequate for educational purposes. You cannot well capture a complex idea or truth in a sentence fragment. The meme construct works well to deliver a joke but fails when utilized as a communication tool of the deeper, more complex, issues we face as people and as a nation. As I scan facebook, and other social media platforms, I find the pervasive use of memes disheartening.

Often, unscrupulous people find a photograph, manipulate it to make their own point, and then publish it. They choose venues designed to generate the most “likes,” stoking the fires of their own ego. Those who participate by sharing, also share in the culpability. Those who aid in the proliferation of such blatantly misleading and propagandistic memes participate in the perpetuation of a lie and the deluding of everyone that falls prey to such iniquitous activities. In a time such as this, when the stakes are so high and misinformation so pollutes every information platform, we must not become part of the problem through either carelessness or partisan fervor. Just because something carries a message that I agree with does not make it acceptable. A lie remains a lie. We must remain watchful against such intellectually deficient attempts to coerce or manipulate.

Additionally, memes, by their nature, fail to fully explain or represent an idea. All serious issues we face, as a nation and as people, require more than a snippet of information. Frequently memes give a partial truth, either ignoring a significant concept or crucial complexity of the truth they purport to proclaim. Memes rely on our desire to reduce things into easily digestible chunks; however, complex issues require more attention. If we are going to address the thorny, seemingly intractable, problems our nation faces we must take the time to fully explore and consider. Memes delude us by presenting the complex as simple. They appeal to our desire to see things in stark black and white, when the reality is much more complex, offering variations in shade, intensity, and color. If we envision a community or nation in which all may fully participate in public discourse and seek the blessings of liberty for themselves and their posterity, we must be willing to engage in serious mental work. Memes beguile. They drape themselves in the trappings of intellectualism without any rigor. They are a crass substitute for serious thought.

Finally, many memes traffic in sarcastic insults, designed to denigrate and separate. They gain traction through a simplistic worldview. No matter the side, they tempt the reader to view themselves as part of the “in” group and anyone that thinks differently as an outsider. Those who occupy positions of influence and power regularly seek to paint the other side as somehow unpatriotic, ignorant, befuddled, or villainous. Memes often encourage such broad-brush thinking and aid in the debasement of our society. We face serious enemies outside the gate. We need not encourage our unhappy tendency to bite and devour one another. We need to evaluate memes prior to spreading them.

Before we share or post, we ought to consider their veracity. Does the meme tell the complete truth or does it merely promulgate a few facts designed to obfuscate? Does the meme serve to unite or divide? Is it merely a joke? Laughter is good, so humorous memes serve a useful purpose; but, we must consider how the meme generates the laugh. Are we chuckling at the expense of others? After all, we assume responsibility for all the things we post or share. When we engage in reckless behavior we demean public discourse and for those of us that wear the name Christian, we besmirch the good name of the Christ. Perhaps if we spent more time contemplating the impact of an ugly or dishonest meme we might enjoy a better reputation among non-believers. Memes serve a use. They make us laugh at times and who could not use a good laugh today. We need to act responsibly and think before we post.

The Nature of allies

“Daddy, what’s that,” asked Candace pointing to a large collection of flowers, candles, and hand-painted signs loosely arranged over a large red sandstone fountain.

“Well, that’s a spontaneous display of solidarity with America after the 9-11 attacks,” I replied. The display had sprung up in Wiesbaden the day after the horrifying attacks. Starting with a few flowers and a candle or two it had grown to overwhelm the large fountain. I wondered who carted away the dried and wilted flowers and who replenished them. Months later the display remained fresh and seemingly well tended. It always encouraged me when I passed, this outpouring of support for my country. I clearly remembered watching the towers collapse in the office of the Staff Judge Advocate, knowing that my life would not be the same. That day revealed things. Those desperate hours, as the dust settled across Manhattan, revealed the true depth and strength of our German and NATO allies.

I’d joined the Army in 1981, fully expecting to fight the Soviet hordes somewhere in Germany. As a child of the Cold-War, the seemingly eternal conflict between the East and the West shaped my worldview. As a soldier, I knew that we shared a love-hate relationship with our German allies. The annual Return of Forces to Germany, better known as REFORGER, brought out legions of protestors. They lined the streets near all major military headquarters in Kaserns across West Germany. Small forests of demonstrators pickets sprang up wherever protesters could draw near to maneuver areas. These public displays left the impression of a people surly over long years of “occupation” by Western military powers. It was part and parcel of my military experience. Oddly, one of the most popular protest songs of that era, 99 Luftbaloons by Nena, was quite popular among young soldiers. Of course, Nena’s raven hair and winsome looks drew many of us young troopers. Who knows the number of tracked vehicles which rang with the strains of 99 Luftbaloons patched into CVCs during exercises. Whatever the cause, I assumed that a majority of Germans irrationally resented our presence. And then the wall fell.

In the late eighties, as a young lieutenant, I was stationed in Germany. I watched, astounded, as the great Soviet monolith unraveled and blew away in the space of a few months. The mighty enemy that I’d planned on fighting was suddenly gone, destroyed by interior forces. We had no inkling of the imminent collapse. Suddenly we had very little reason for our continued presence in Germany. I expected most Germans to agitate for our removal. After all, we cluttered up their rather beautiful terrain with our Kaserns, our tanks, our exhaust belching deuce and a halfs and five-ton trucks, our wide HMMWVs, and our rather boisterous soldiers. In the late 80’s you could not move around West Germany without tripping over American soldiers. We were everywhere with all the associated problems soldiers bring...and their strengths as well. Suddenly communities valued their soldiers. Somehow, these goofy, BDU clad, irreverent, and often ill-behaved soldiers had wormed their way into the hearts and minds of the German people. It turned out they kind of liked the hordes of young men and women who traipsed through their villages, castles, and forests. I may be wrong, but I can only remember one city that steadfastly wanted their soldiers out. Their Kaserne hosted an attack helicopter squadron and they were quite ready for all the noisy low-level flying to stop. Over the next few years, some units and soldiers went home, we adjusted to the new world order, and found out there were reasons to stay in Germany. And, the Germans found reasons to keep us around. Time passed.

Eventually, the Army took leave of its senses and promoted me to major and sent me back to Germany. Then 9-11. A few days later the local German Army Region Commander asked for a staff meeting. He was a three-star general. His staff and the 1st Armored Division staff, under the command of Major General Ricardo Sanchez, sat down for a meeting. The German General opened the meeting with the following speech (this is as accurate as I can make it from memory):

“My American friends. Our hearts go out to you in this dark time. We hurt with you. We watched in horror as planes crashed into your buildings, consuming thousands of innocent lives. We stand with you, our American allies, our brothers, and sisters. For over forty years you stood watch over my country. You kept watch on the wall. You kept my nation free. You spent years and untold millions of dollars ensuring the I and my children might grow up enjoying the pleasures of freedom. Now, it is our turn.

We will help you in this dark time. We will not forget the great debt we owe you. If you have any need. Any need at all. Come to us. And (hear he looked directly at his staff)  I want you to understand that I am the only one in my organization that has the authority to say no. No one else can say no. They may say, I will get back with you. But I am the sole no authority. We will help you in whatever way we can.

And he was true to his words. The Germans helped us in many ways. Later, when we deployed our tanks to Iraq, they cleared the rails for us, enabling a rapid deployment. The harbor of Bremerhaven was cleared of ships, allowing our ships to move freely. When our MPs deployed to Afghanistan, German MPs took their place, keeping us safe and secure. And these are just a few of the ways the Germans stepped up to help us in those chaotic days. That’s what allies do.

We need allies in this world. We may be mighty. Our military is very strong, the strongest in the world. Yet, we know that a handful of desperate men, well organized, can wreak havoc on our soil. Our economy may be the largest in the world, but we still need places to sell things and there are still things we want to purchase from others. You see, sometimes allies get the better deal. That is the way of things. International relations are not a zero-sum game with only winners and losers. As in any relationship there is give and take. Sometimes we give, sometimes they give, and sometimes we both give at the same time. 

Yes, for years we gave greatly to Germany and NATO without getting much back for our investment, unless you count a relatively peaceful Europe. But, when our backs were against the wall our German friends stood by us. Our other friends, the British, the Australians, the French, and even former enemies stood with us. We needed them and they did not abandon us. We cannot go it alone in this world. We need to strengthen our relationships with our long-term friends and allies not bully and belittle them. We never know what dark forces may be arrayed against us, waiting and watching, biding their time until the moment seems right. Then they will strike. And we cannot imagine what help we might need to quell fresh round of violence. So, let us work hard to build bridges, strengthen old relationships, and forge new ones. Allies may be troublesome, but good friends are worth the effort.