Words and Art by Amanda
I credit my uncle with giving me a conscience regarding social issues. Before becoming Fundamentalists, my parents named him, my father’s brother and the only Democrat, hippie, vegetarian, nature loving, travel the world on foot, humanitarian, please-donate-to-Unicef-as-my-Christmas-present male in the family, as my godfather. I am eternally grateful for this decision.
Since high school, he has gifted me with books by Howard Zinn, documentaries about tribes in the Amazon and the general human sacrifice performed in the name of capitalism. I can only imagine the gifts he sent me as a child that were dumped in the trash before I ever got my hands on them: “New Age” dream catchers maybe? As an adult, I cherish time with him and his gentle spirit as we play Acey Ducey in his home, tucked away at the foot of Mt. Shasta, near the some swirling vortex of God knows what. Unknowingly, he is responsible for a great deal of the way I think in regards to humanity and its welfare over the financial abundance of a few.
Recently, a friend recommended the book Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt. Already familiar with the provocative journalistic writings of cartoonist Joe Sacco, I put it on my Christmas list. While Howard Zinn excavated the foundation of an America, not (only?) built upon the noble ideals of a few, but the carcasses of millions, Sacco and foreign correspondent, Chris Hedges, continue Zinn’s work by uplifting the petticoats of modern capitalism to expose the unthinkable crimes against modern humanity, modern Americans.
Visiting the reservation of Native Americans in Pine Ridge South Dakota, the slums of Camden, New Jersey (more recently covered in Rolling Stone), the mining communities Welch, West Virginia, and corporate-induced slavery in Immokalee, Florida, they reveal what’s left of these communities and the broken lives left in the wake of “progress”.
The writing is captivating and disturbing, Sacco’s images, haunting. What perhaps is most alarming is that these towns are not found in the remote regions of Africa or Afghanistan, but in our backyards. Having begun the book and its research before the misfits and malcontents descended on NYC during The Occupation, it was done with the hope that people, through awareness, would revolt and demand change. They have. We have. Now what?
The country is bleeding and it doesn’t seem to matter who we vote for. As a doer though, it’s excruciating to read a book like this and not act, to not have a plan of attack, to not have band-aids to hand out. Those elected by the people and for the people only protect those who pillage the country and take away our children’s resources. They turn their heads while the poor are given over to drugs, the innocent become diseased from working the mines of the rich and continue to wish the Native American population would finally dry up and take our spotted history with them.
Perhaps change begins by simplifying our lives for the sake of our children. Maybe we become the change by showing mercy on the broken by paying for a meal for the homeless or restoring dignity to the down trodden. Each one of us has a Camden, New Jersey in our backyard and there is always an opportunity for mercy.
Rolling Jubilee, set up by the non-profit organization, Strike Debt and founded by Occupiers, have decided to help fellow Americans with the weapons established by our financial system, with a twist. By collecting $400,000, they have paid off $15 million of debt that weighed heavy on the shoulders of American families. People they have never met, had their medical bills paid for and were given a fresh start. Radical idea? Yes. The origin of the jubilee concept may surprise you.
It originates from the Old Testament where God commanded the people to take mercy on one another, every 50 years and to release those under the burden of debt. The commandment (yes, a commandment for kindness), went on to proclaim a time of rest for the nation, a time of solidarity and rejoicing.
Our country needs this, in some shape or form. It’s been more than 50 years since the post war era promised our citizens riches and prosperity and we have fallen under the weight on its consequences. The promise became a burden and the burden a curse.
We need to release ourselves from the burden of success spelled out in dollars and return to its purest, simplest definition: living within our means to enrich the lives of those around us.
Another great post Amanda! You & I both know God’s heart for the poor, the downcast, the fatherless, & the widow. What is interesting is that God says, “I the LORD, do not change”. I agree with you that we, people, especially people of faith, need to change & be the change this world needs.
Kyle, thank you. I completely agree. There is an economic survival of the fittest that has drained the soul of our country (and the world) and as Christ followers we have bought into it and use it as a weapon against the poor. It’s tragic. We need to you use our power to change and to better the lives of those around us and stop hoarding our resources.
Ya, we need someone to forgive our debt, like $17 Trillion of it an counting. Only problem is, the #2 world economy, China has extended so much credit that Fitch Ratings Agency calls it “unprecedented in the modern era” and Japan, the #3 world economy has so much debt they pay nearly 50% of what they collect in taxes to pay the interest on their debt.
Well, all that debt will probably be forgiven when the current System blows the hell up.
Alex, then what is a viable option for the future? Is there one? Or do we simply choose to help those nearest us with the power we have until the world blows up? (Serious question).
The world won’t “blow up” it’ll just change dramatically in the area of money/global finance. The Pope is calling for it, so is China, so is Russia, so is Brazil, even India is on board. The IMF has already articulated a viable plan for the next economic collapse (2008 was a precursor, but we simply doubled-down on the same policies and actions that brought us the 2008 world crisis).
It’ll be a new World Reserve Currency regime and a World Central Banks schema governed by a G20-like body of representative nations on a WCB board that will set interest rate policy and monitor and regulate the new Reserve Currency to transact global trade. This is after the leading nations and rest of the world kill each other metaphorically in the ongoing Currency Wars and race to the bottom with regards to national currencies backed by debt and promises to repay that can never be met (now).
There will still be national currencies, but a global currency for Trade that isn’t easily manipulated by a single nation’s Central Bank. It’ll level the playing field and de-americanize the world. US will be a powerful seat at the table of many, but it won’t be the defacto World Central Bank any longer and the US dollar won’t be the WRC (World Reserve Currency) any longer.
There will be a short time of turmoil when this all happens (within the next 20 years most likely) but it won’t be armageddon, just a major shift to a new economic System. It’ll feel like the uncertainty and panic we saw in 2008 and probably more so, but the “leaders” will do their emergency meetings and the G20 will meet etc and they’ll come on TV and announce they had no choice to do the extreme measures etc, but that, bingo: “here’s the new System!” and the rationale will be presented that “well if we didn’t do this, the world would have come to an end!” much like the scare tactics used in 2007/2008 to do major unprecedented things and the same for 9/11 with regards to the huge unprecedented loss of liberty, etc.
Crisis will come and the world leaders will act. Some will argue if it was self-fulfilling prophecy and a planned Agenda, I don’t see it that way, it is simply the cause/effect correlation of the Consensus-dynamic and the power and way that finance/money/globalization works today. Money and Trade are the things that trump all political and religious ideology. The world will have to unite on those issues once we blow up the current System due to Debt/Credit that is unsustainable (and really it is the Moral Hazard the hyper-Keynesian path has created).
Wow, Alex. You seem to know your stuff. I was amazed by your insight. Seriously. “Money and Trade are the things that trump all political and religeous ideology.” I am in complete agreement but more so, your comment is true and I believe prophetic. However, do you actually believe that by fixing the debt/money crises that exists, it will only be a band aid for a far deeper problem? Amanda, I thoroughly enjoy your writing. I am all for action at the grass roots level. “If you are not part of the solution. You are part of the problem.” A hero is one who does what he/she can. Consumerism gone mad! I agree with your call for activism. However, the preaching of the Gospel is still the mainstay of the church.
Sam, I completely agree that the Gospel provides the ultimate hope and should be our message, but it doesn’t put food on the table, pay the bills and find homes for the homeless. Living out the Gospel does and that’s what I want to prompt people to do.
Oh, Amanda! This article is an absolute masterpiece. Your writing style is symmetrically, and poetically sound. The way you are clear, and crisp, and persuasively expound your views, is noteworthy. I get so excited when there are other people out there that share the same views as I do. Bravo!.Amanda
Thank you Wendy. I feel like I’m in the baby stages of truly thinking the way I urge others to think. I so much want to cut out the excess in my life and help bring healing in the lives of others. I believe that so many of us live far below what we were intended for, because we are so consumed with ourselves.