gdp's Comments

Faith in Action : Confronting White Privilege at Loyola University of Maryland

Mon, 8 Nov 2010 15:17:28 +0000

Hi, Charles. The first reaction was complete silence. After I asked for students to share how they felt about my presentation, there were mixed views. Some questioned the judgement of those who invited me, others were obviously offended, but there were some who "got it" and appreciated what had just happened. Apparently, news of my presentation spread through parts of the campus and discussions were born around the issues raised in my sharing.

Faith in Action : With Friends Like These: Will Black Politicians Speak Out Against O’Malley’s $104 Million Dollar

Sat, 6 Nov 2010 11:03:05 +0000

Wow, Sis. Anna Renee! A "little piece" is an understatement! (wow) That is so kind of you and I am inspired even more to live up to what you've written. THANK YOU!

Faith in Action : Governor O'Malley's Prison for Baltimore Youth Temporarily Delayed

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:17:00 +0000

Amen!

Faith in Action : With Friends Like These: Will Black Politicians Speak Out Against O’Malley’s $104 Million Dollar

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:16:20 +0000

Very sad, but unfortunately very true.

Faith in Action : Wisdom From The Ancestors: Dr. Amos Wilson on Afrikan-centered Consciousness

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:47:04 +0000

You're on point as usual, Sis. The teachings and analysis of Dr. Carter G. Woodson in The Mis-Education of the Negro still proves true in so many ways today. (Why do we refuse to heed the the words of our Great Ancestors!) Many of our Sistas and Brothas remain mentally enslaved. It saddens me to see people who are so brilliant be tangled up in so much bondage. They've outsourced their brilliance in the service of another people's vision!

Faith in Action : Wisdom From The Ancestors: Dr. Amos Wilson on Afrikan-centered Consciousness

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:40:45 +0000

Wow...that's so nice:) Thank you, Anna Renee! I'm going to go and check it out.

Faith in Action : Wisdom From The Ancestors: Dr. Amos Wilson on Afrikan-centered Consciousness

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:39:14 +0000

I definitely feel you, Rev. Solomon. The lack of knowledge about our own history continues to keep many of us embracing a subservient, inferior, "less than" posture. The amazing thing is that when I share information on our people's connection to Ancient Kemit and the Nile Valley Civilization (which has been called the cradle of Human Civilization) many refuse to hear it. Such is the depth of the conditioning of our people.

Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle : Why aren't the kids coming to school?

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:46:32 +0000

Wonderful analysis of a failed "educational" system. While the solution you offer will take great effort; our children deserve nothing less!

Faith in Action : I'm unplugging from the Matrix

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:38:56 +0000

Thank you for your comment, dvonstein. I agree with you that it's going to be imperative that people get back to what is called "simple living". Growing and eating your own food, making your own clothes, building what you need, etc. We have become dangerously dependent on the corporate class and are now subject to their whims. Only when we reclaim our ability to do and think for self will we be free. Thanks again.

Faith in Action : A word to the Urban Farming/Healthy Food Movement...

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:22:39 +0000

Thanks for the comment, David. "A different way of doing and being" - that's a great way to describe what I feel is necessary. I suspect that you're right about the hesitancy to engage such "simple questions". I plan to share them anyway at a few local settings and national conferences that I'm preparing to attend in the near future. I'll be sure to share any feedback that I receive. Thanks again.

Faith in Action : Black People Should Control The Baltimore City Public School System (Part 1)

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:28:54 +0000

Hi Charles - it sounds like you had an educational experience that was appropriate to who God created you to be. For that I give thanks. The foundational years of one's educational sojourn are utterly important which is why I believe that African youth must at the very least must have an Afrikan-centered education through 8th grade. Once in high school and equipped with the tools to discernment; they can go anywhere - to any school and not lose their righteous minds to "his"story.

Faith in Action : About Me

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 22:51:29 +0000

Thanks Mrs. Basement! I'm enjoying your blog as well.

Faith in Action : President Obama spends Palm Sunday praising War in Afghanistan

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:05:10 +0000

Finally, as one who has been blessed to meet people from almost every sphere of society, I must speak up for my Muslim sisters and brothers and vehemently disagree with your stereotype of them. There are many Muslims who have much to teach me and you about what it means to walk daily with The Almighty.

Faith in Action : President Obama spends Palm Sunday praising War in Afghanistan

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:05:04 +0000

God bless you, Bill, and thank you for your comment. Frankly, I don't think I could do better as president. I don't feel that God has called or equipped me for such a task. Furthermore, I attempt to do more than give President Obama a break, I give him my prayers and loving accountability. As far as war goes, I summarily disagree with you. I do not believe that war is a necessary evil and as far as your claim of God directing war goes, I would say to you what my Old Testament professor in seminary, Dr. Jerome Ross, would often say to us: "Who said God said" - or more specifically to your claim: "Who said God directed war?" I connect more securely with the divine directive for peace and an embrace of a holistic humanity. I hear the prophet Moses coming down from the Mountain of God saying, "thou shalt not kill." And I hear the Son of Man, Jesus the Christ, saying, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God." War is not necessary. It is an outgrowth of human brokenness.

Faith in Action : I'm 7 days away from burying Black Friday

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:30:53 +0000

David, I agree with you. In my opinion, Eugene's friend was right to raise a question that sparked an examination of privilege. However, letting low income folks in front of you in the Black Friday line is no solution to systemic economic injustice. If that's what makes some well-intentioned people feel better about institutional injustice then that's a sad commentary on the depth of their concern for "those poor people." I share your concern about the article having no substantive critique on consumerism and our current economic system that feeds off of and encourages it. This really underscores for me what is a glaring deficiency in mainstream Western Christianity: there is very little conversation about capitalism and consumerism in light of their incompatibility with the Kingdom of God preached and lived by Jesus. While there are books, talks, and speakers "underground" who through a "Jesus lens" critique the economic system (I'm thinking of folks like Ched Myers, Jacques Ellul among others) and the unsustainable American way of life; by and large these conversations are just not happening at the scale necessary to provoke a John The Baptist-styled repentance and rebirth. Despite this, I am hopeful that eventually the tide will turn particularly among our generation of Jesus Followers who are more and more questioning the state of our world and wondering aloud about different ways to "be" within it. This is an amazing time to be found within the fold of the Jesus Movement!

Faith in Action : Freeing the Emerging Christian Movement from White Captivity

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:30:13 +0000

Hi Carol, Thanks for the comment and the names of others who I can start googling and such. I'll also start checking out God Complex Radio. It looks like your show is on itunes. I'll subscribe today. I'll keep pushing and agitating on the issue - hopefully, not in an "annoying little brother" kind of way, but definitely in a way that communicates my deep love for the church and the radical diversity expressed in The Way of Jesus. I look forward to meeting you on Wednesday. Your book has been a tremendous blessing to this 20-something year old pastor of a church where the average age is 65.

Faith in Action : Open Letter to Delegate Keith Haynes

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:05:52 +0000

He did. Thanks for reminding me that I need to share what happened as result of this letter. I'll try to update later today.

Faith in Action : Wrapped up, Tied up, Tangled up in Torture

Mon, 4 May 2009 22:15:50 +0000

Interesting article - a 4th Grader asked former Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice about torture. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090504/ap_on_re_us/u...

Faith in Action : The Mayor of Baltimore wants ME to pray for her?

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:59:49 +0000

"Praying for my enemies" - very interesting comment, Advocate. The strange thing is with all of the policies that I've disagreed with coming out of Dixon's administration or city council; I've never considered her an enemy. I've never had one personal interaction with her. Not one conversation. Nothing. So it's impossible for me to harbor personal feelings for her (either in support or against) because I don't know her. Now when engaging the question of whether or not she's been an enemy of our community, then that might be a different story. Well, at this point I've not gotten back to them confirming me praying so I won't be doing that and I really wasn't too enthused about going period. However, perhaps I should go just to - as you say - stand in my truth.

Faith in Action : The Mayor of Baltimore wants ME to pray for her?

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:49:48 +0000

Hey C.S. - I've loved the radical role over the years, but now I'm quite leary about not playing the role just for the sake of it. In this case I'm really not sure if I'm making the right decision.