I Just Got A New Idea

Hi Everyone,

So here's the deal. Over the weekend, I saw the old movie Bob Roberts. The thing was written, directed by, and starring Tim Robbins. It's about some sleazy extreme-right-wing folk singer who has decided to run for the US Senate in Pennsylvania. Interestingly, neither the Republican nor the Democratic party is ever mentioned in the movie. It is set up as a faux-documentary, a mockumentary, like Best In Show, or Waiting For Guffman, only this is sort of sinister, rather than comical. In it, Roberts becomes this cult figure, whom people use to attack various elements of society, including drug users, non-christians, antiwar protesters, all the favorite targets of the culture war politicians. For a "mockumentary," it is stunningly close to real life.

So here's the idea I got when I watched it. Why doesn't someone, hell, why can't I, write a story about the anti-Bob Roberts figure. This would be a person who runs for the Senate who isn't motivated by hatred and suspicion and a thirst for power, but by the opposite. A desire for unity, peace, and a good higher than themselves. This person would exhibit a high degree of moral character, would be effective in challenging powerful corporate interests, and, importantly, giving people hope and unity, rather than fear and division. This would be the story of a person who, instead of trying to create an image of themselves as an ethical, moral person, would put their money where everyone's mouth is.

This is just an idea I had. I've had lots of ideas for stories over the years. Some have had some real potential, in my view, others have just sucked. Obviously, none have ever gained much traction. This is the first one I've ever disclosed to a wide audience of people. I've got sort of a creative flair, as this blog shows, and I've also got a passion for political and social justice. Some of my ideas have revolved around it. Now that I've put this one out there for you, some of you may help give this idea some steam. Some of you may even beat me to the punch in producing it. My hope with this idea is to inspire someone out there to act for peace, justice, and unity. Instead of warning, as was the intention of Bob Roberts, my intention here is to inspire.

One other movie I'd like to tell you about is something more recent, called Can Mr. Smith Get To Washington Anymore? Unlike Bob Roberts, it is an actual documentary. It documents the story of a man named Jeff Smith, who ran for the US Senate seat in Missouri in the 2004 general election. His is the Mr. Smith type story. He ran against a big political dynasty there, and made a significant impact on the Senate race there. It's a very worthwhile movie, and it really happened. So netflix it, or however you can find it, it's well worth your while to check it out. Anyway, this isn't the last you'll hear of my idea. I guarantee you that.

This is the Daily Reeder, Over&out.

Listen To Mr. Obama In His Own Words

Hi everyone,

Really quickly, I'd like to share something with you. It came to my attention that President Barack Obama penned an editorial in Sunday's Washington Post. I don't subscribe to the Washington Post (LA Times all the way!), so I was only able to track down the text of the editorial today. I knew that he had penned a few editorials before; I had read one of them in the LA Times. I have both of the books he wrote; I particularly liked The Audacity of Hope, and I am currently reading Dreams From My Father. So I read the thing from Sunday, and it sounded like something he'd say. It seems he contributed personally to some of his speeches, so it wouldn't suprise me if he personally had a hand in writing it.

Here is the full text of the editorial. Enjoy!

This is the Daily Reeder, Over&out.

A Good Reed for EVERYONE

Hi Everyone,

Well, I'm not Oprah and I'm not about to start a book club, but I've got a good read here that I thought you would like to hear about. It was one of those books that, you know, it comes along, you read it, and you feel like it's talking to you. This was one of those books for me, and I felt I had to share it with you. It has to do with politics, social matters, and religion (three things very close to my heart). The book is called God's Politics: Why the Right gets it wrong and the Left doesn't get it. You might have heard of the author. His name is Jim Wallis. He founded Sojourners, a publication and network for religious-minded folk who care about justice and peace, both personally and globally. This is how I feel, and if you're reading this, I hope you do too.

This appeals to what I think religion should be about. One reason I have been skeptical of religion recently is political. The idea of religious politics I came of age with was the dominance of the Religious Right. I came to believe that most christianity and religion at large was ruled by anti-gay people who were opposed to abortion in any and all circumstances, but who are deafeningly silent on the growing disenfranchisement of the poor, degradation of the environment, our most valuable resource, and think nothing of starting senseless wars. This perception, along with the rise of fundamentalism, soured me on organized religion. I came to view religion in politics as being a problem, a pathway to widespread violence and authoritarianism. I came to view religion more as deadening, dehumanizing dogma rather than revitalizing, empowering spirit.

God's Politics was published in 2005, when George W. Bush and the Religious Right had a firm hold on the US Government. It is sort of dated, but its message still rings true. Wallis has written since, and I caught a little bit of his new book, which debuted since the election of Obama and the change in the power structure in DC. Power can corrupt anyone, even those with high-minded and noble motives. So this is just as important now as it was four years ago, and will continue to be important four years from now, and four years after that.

Wallis contends that the most powerful movements for justice and peace have been rooted in religious, spiritual, and moral ideas. A short list: Wallis sites the anti slavery movement of the 19th century and the civil rights movement a century later as the greatest examples. He talks about Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu as examples for what we can accomplish in our country and in the world. Wallis talked, at one point, about the Berrigan brothers, two Catholic priests who campaigned against the Vietnam War, and then continued to campaign against nuclear weapons.

In fact, it turns out Wallis had a plan in mind for how to avoid the Iraq War. He devoted an entire chapter (Chapter 4: Protest is Good; Alternatives are Better) to a strategy to avoid war, and how he attempted to execute it in the run up to the Iraq War in early 2003. It turns out that Wallis and other prominent religious leaders came up with a six-point plan (read the entire plan here) to remove Saddam Hussein from power, eliminate the WMD's and improve the life of the Iraqi people. According to him, he and the others presented the plan to the British government, British Prime Minister Tony Blair himself, and to the State Department. Apparently, it did gain some traction at the time, but I guess we know now who was listening to it and who didn't.

In the book, Wallis also addresses a chief concern of mine when it comes to religion: fundamentalism. In the following chapter, Wallis addresses the rise of the Religious Right in the '80's and '90's. He commented on the fact that the movement, with Jerry Falwell at its helm, gained political power through the Reagan White House. Wallis notes that because the Religious Right's leaders sought political power right away, it became more about keeping their power for them, rather than about bringing to pass whatever beneficial goals it may have had.

He then notes how the Civil Rights movement in the '50's and '60's, with Martin Luther King at its helm, sought to effect change without political power. Eventually, through its appeal to people of lower status, but of sound moral and religious convictions, the movement gained political traction, and the Johnson White House took bold steps in proposing, then signing, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was not corrupted by its political ambitions, and therefore it was able to accomplish good and justice.

Why I stated that this book was for everyone is because it was subtitled Why the Right gets it wrong and the Left doesn't get it. Wallis's message is meant to challenge both the right and left side of the political spectrum. Wallis says that this is the purpose of religion in politics. The premise is that the right, the conservative side, has made a mistake in co opting religion only to impose personal morality on everyone and ignoring, or going against, the larger responsibility we have to each other, that Jesus stressed in His teachings.

The left, the liberal side, has made a mistake in ignoring the fact that the teachings of Jesus are what give movements for justice and peace the most strength, and turn to a purely secular vision which denies any role for religion in the public sphere. Because it is equally supportive and critical of both sides, and it seeks justice and peace for all, it seems to me like it could gain some broad support. If someone delivered a message of unity and peace like this, in a world riddled with division and war, they could find themselves with a broad base of support. Could it be that Barack Obama read this book, too? It seems that Wallis had known Obama even before he debuted on the national scene.

Wallis even talks about a signing he did in Denver, where he was approached by a kid who was an agnostic. The talk that Wallis gave appealed even to the kid who, like me, was uncertain of the premise of God, but was moved by what Mr. Wallis had to say. I have to close by saying that this book has really spoken to me about what religion can and should be in our lives. What Wallis talks about here has begun to make even me feel that maybe there is something to that Christian tradition. Something that makes it real, that makes it worth pursuing. This way of speaking not just to personal responsibility, but responsibility to each other, has tremendous power, power that can repair this country and this world. Great read, Mr. Wallis.

This is the Daily Reeder, Over&out.