Blue State... Red State... has been a well publicized dividing point in North America for several political seasons. However, there seems to be an increasing movement of people who refuse to live within these defined categories and they are sick and tired of the posturing... Increasingly people are finding the political pundits and parties no longer speak for them. If you live in a major city in the States, you have become accustomed to the "party spirit" where two sides will simply disagree with each other to gain or maintain power. As one person recently commented about their political opponents, "I just want to poke them in the eye." The cities of North America are in danger of becoming as divided and angry as Belfast and Jerusalem.
In 2007 a group of us traveled to Belfast with the Center for Global Urban Leadership. John Perkins, Bob Lupton, Sunil Sardar, and others joined us for this learning community field experience. Although Northern Ireland regularly produces organizations working on the concept of reconciliation, it became apparent that people actually reconciled, would end the funding for these "reconciliation enterprises." Actual peace would be an unpeaceful solution for these organizations. This is also true in our North American cities. If the American people began to have sound conversations without shrill party rancor and were to reconcile, finding ways to work together, people who live for the fight will lose their funding and their voice.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers for their's is the Kingdom of Heaven."
--Jon Sharpe
In 2007 a group of us traveled to Belfast with the Center for Global Urban Leadership. John Perkins, Bob Lupton, Sunil Sardar, and others joined us for this learning community field experience. Although Northern Ireland regularly produces organizations working on the concept of reconciliation, it became apparent that people actually reconciled, would end the funding for these "reconciliation enterprises." Actual peace would be an unpeaceful solution for these organizations. This is also true in our North American cities. If the American people began to have sound conversations without shrill party rancor and were to reconcile, finding ways to work together, people who live for the fight will lose their funding and their voice.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers for their's is the Kingdom of Heaven."
--Jon Sharpe
