My first emotional response to this letter was that I loved it. Even if it couldn't work. Even if the world could never be this way. I wish it could. I want it to be this way. The idea itself is so beautiful and inspiring. I imagine that when Jesus returns and the Kingdom is fulfilled this is the way things will be.
On top of my emotional reaction to the letter, I have read
"Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and I know that this type of thing works because he is doing it. His non-profit builds schools and funds them in Islamic countries. It works because before he came parents' only option was to send their kids to Fundamentalist Islamic schools funded by their Fundamentalist Islamic State. At those schools they learn about jihad and such. The idea is that when they graduate they are delighted to join a militant western hating army. And it works. But when Mortenson built his schools kids learned normal stuff like math, English and science. When those kids graduated they became doctors, mid-wives, teachers, engineers, political leaders, restaurant owners, etc..... All the normal stuff that supports a healthy functioning society that doesn't crash airplanes into large buildings. It worked. It's still working.
BUT here's the catch. It worked so well that our government noticed and asked to get involved. Mortenson said no, because he knew if he had government support that no one would trust him. He was there because he cared about the people and their livelihood. He didn't have a political agenda. He knew he couldn't get his work done unless people believed he cared about them and them only.
So the question I have is, would it work to have our government do this? Really our government is supposed to be just a representation of us as a people. It shouldn't be different than if we all supported
Mortenson's non-profit. But somehow it is. So I have my doubts. Like some of you said, when our gov has tried this in the past the stuff we built just got bombed (I hadn't heard about this. Do you have any sources?). Maybe we should all just support Mortenson's non-profit. But we won't because it doesn't come out of our paychecks automatically as taxes. *sigh*
I also had to laugh because I can imagine the OUTCRY if Obama did make a decision like this. It isn't fair! It's our money! We have needs here in our country too! It would NEVER fly. And yet we're okay with our gov. spending the same amount on a war. Truthfully I don't really understand why spending the money on war is better to people than spending it on support.
I'm not totally convinced that it's the right thing, the best thing, the wisest thing, or a logical idea. But I'm an idealist at heart. God made me that way. So I'm drawn to this idea. I want this to be the way we do things. If we do it well, this way works better than our normal human way. You know, the whole "love your enemies" thing. =)
In the last few years I've fallen in love with Jesus' way of doing things.
Those are my thoughts. Forgive me if they are a little incoherent. You have to remember that I'm thinking through all this as I do the dishes, discipline children, make meals, serve at Upper Crust, connect with my husband, etc. So hopefully you'll cut me a little slack. =)
