Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie

Re-writing History Reagan-style

(James Brolin as Ronald Reagan in the new CBS Mini-Series)

CBS is about to run a new mini-series on the life of Ronald Reagan. Republican leaders are demanding that they get script approval before the program airs.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Republican National Committee Friday asked CBS to allow a team of historians and friends of former President Ronald Reagan and his wife to review a miniseries about the couple before it airs.

(RNC Chair Ed) Gillespie said that if CBS denies the request, he will ask the network to run a note across the bottom of the screen every 10 minutes during the program's presentation informing viewers that the miniseries is not accurate.

It seems the Republicans are worried the former President will be portrayed as uncaring toward people with AIDS, for example. If that’s the case we’ll know the film is historically accurate. Reagan showed almost no compassion as the AIDS crisis developed. He wouldn’t even say the word AIDS in public.

Maybe the Republicans in Washington should spend a little less time fighting to change historical realities and concentrate instead on helping those still suffering from HIV/AIDS today. I know of some groups that could use their assistance.

More Halloween Fun

My brother-in-law Rick Medders sent along this bit of Halloween fun. This is everything you need to know about ghosts. Enjoy. (Might take a minute to download)

Download file

Happy Halloween

For something a little less serious on this site... a picture of my nephews Ian and Devin.

Not Welcome in Charlotte

A social service agency in Charlotte, North Carolina that serves people who are homeless is refusing to accept gay volunteers from a local chapter of the Metropolitan Community Church. Why? The director of the Charlotte Rescue Mission, The Rev. Tony Marciano II, told the press:

"We cannot endorse a church that openly teaches that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle."

Rev. Marciano did say he would be happy to continue taking financial contributions from the gay church. Maybe money is the great social equalizer after all.

What does Jesus say about homosexuality? Nothing, actually.

But Paul’s letter to the Galatians reminds us that:

“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Ga 3:28 NRSV).

Rev. Marciano seems to have missed this part of the Christian message.

Jessica Kate Williams

A number of people have asked how to get copies of my essay on the death of Portlander Jessica Williams and the response of the faith community towards violence against people who are homeless. First, you can still read the essay on the NCH site by clicking here. I've also uploaded the Word file the document is in and you can access that by clicking the download file button.

What's the essay about?

Jessica Kate Williams was 22 years old and homeless when allegedly 12 other homeless youth and young adults repeatedly stabbed her, set her on fire, and left her to die under a Portland, Oregon bridge on May 23, 2003. (1) The violent nature of her death – along with what a district attorney called the "Lord of the Files" (2) feel to it – captured immediate media attention. It was not the first murder in 2003 of someone who lived homeless in America. In fact, over the period of 1999 – 2002 the National Coalition for the Homeless tracked the murders of 123 homeless individuals who were killed by people who were not homeless and another 89 violent attacks were noted that did not result in death. (3) Most of these crimes have gained little media attention. Homeless on homeless violence confirms our stereotypes of who homeless people are and is easier to digest than crimes committed against homeless people by those who have homes. All these violent incidents, however, must force Christians – and other religious people – to seriously consider how our failure to acknowledge the bonds of common humanity between us have lead to an increasing numbers of deaths. Bringing justice to this growing crisis on both individual and societal levels should be of paramount concern to people of faith.

Union Leaders Like Dean

The news today is great for Howard Dean and bad for Dick Gephardt. CNN is reporting that union leaders are ready to bolt from the Missouri congressman and endorse Vermont’s former governor. In other campaign news, this week Dean released his plan for ending racial disparities in health care.

Windfalls of Post-war Reconstruction

More than 70 American companies and individuals have won up to $8 billion in contracts for work in postwar Iraq and Afghanistan over the last two years, according to a new study by the Center for Public Integrity. Those companies donated more money to the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush—a little over $500,000—than to any other politician over the last dozen years.

Read the report from the Center for Public Integrity.

Gods and Generals

Several days ago I wrote about the controversial comments made by U.S. Lt. General William Boykin. It was Boykin, you’ll remember, who has been going around the country telling conservative Christian audiences (including one in Oregon) that his God is “bigger than their God,” referring to Muslims. The Christian Science Monitor published an update this morning that explores some of the theological viewpoints involved in the debate surrounding Boykin’s remarks. This is a great article for those interested.

Depends What The Meaning Of "Is" Is

This week the President was asked if flying onto that aircraft carrier last May and speaking under a huge banner that read “Mission Accomplished” was a mistake since more Americans have died since he declared the war over than before. His answer: Bush told the press the Navy put up the banner, not the White House. The banner:

"was put up by the members of the USS Abraham Lincoln, saying that their mission was accomplished. I know it was attributed some how to some ingenious advance man from my staff -- they weren't that ingenious, by the way."

Actually, they were just that ingenious. The New York Times is reporting:

After the news conference, the White House press secretary, Scott McClellan, carefully elaborated on the president's words.

The banner "was suggested by those on the ship," he said. "They asked us to do the production of the banner, and we did. They're the ones who put it up."

The man responsible for the banner, Scott Sforza, a former ABC producer now with the White House communications office, was traveling overseas on Tuesday and declined to answer questions. He is known for the production of the sophisticated backdrops that appear behind Mr. Bush with the White House message of the day, like "Helping Small Business," repeated over and over.

AFP is reporting that later McClellan admitted

"The Navy asked us to take care of the production of the banner."

Democrats are furious:

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, asked by reporters about the incident, called it "one of the most significant embarrassments of the entire Iraq experience so far.

"We've lost more lives since (Bush) declared victory than we lost prior to the time we declared victory. And this latest fabrication is yet another illustration of their (the Republican administration's) unwillingness to except reality."

The administration "said that the Navy called for it, and that was a fabrication because they then later acknowledged that it was the White House who created the banner," said Daschle.

Funding Faith?

On Wednesday night, George W. Bush pushed his faith-based legislation alongside his friend Pastor Tony Evans. The President said that Evans’ congregation, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, offered just the kind of faith-based programs government should be funding. Oak Cliff runs a program called Project Turn Around. But what is Evans preaching? According to the Texas Freedom Network some of Evans remarks in recent years have included these:

"The demise of our community and culture is the fault of sissified men who have been overly influenced by women." -Tony Evans, co-editor of "Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper" in The Progressive, August 1996.

"Sit down with your wife and say something like this: 'Honey, I've made a terrible mistake. I've given you my role. I gave up leading this family, and I forced you to take my place. Now I must reclaim that role.' . . . I'm not suggesting you ask for your role back, I'm urging you to take it back. . . . Treat the lady gently and lovingly. But lead." - Tony Evans, speaker for the Promise Keepers

Christianity has everything to do with inclusion and nothing to do with exclusion. Christians are called to seek justice. Evans misses the point of faith. No group that discriminates against gays or women deserves federal support.

Now We Can Eat Again

Here's some good news for St. Louis shoppers:

(KMOV) -- News 4 has learned that there is a tentative settlement that could end the strike between grocery workers and Schnucks, Dierbergs and Shop 'n Save.

Click here to read the story.

"My Favorite Uncle"

Arnold Schwarzenegger had lunch with his Uncle-in-law US Senator Ted Kennedy in Washington, DC today. California's governor-elect said:

"He's a good balance. My more conservative way of thinking and his more liberal way of thinking. This is the way we can come up with good decisions together."

One can only wonder what the last of the Kennedy brothers thinks about his kin.

Two More and Counting

Two more soldiers were killed today. That means more Americans have now died since President Bush declared the war in Iraq over than in the actual invasion. Does this sound like Mission Accomplished?

Winter is Coming

As the temperatures start to fall here in St. Louis, and in our other home of Portland, our thoughts turn to winter.

On Saturday, the Goose Hollow Family Shelter at First United Methodist Church will open for their 10th winter season. This program serves 24 people a night in families with no government money. It takes 150 volunteers a month to operate. Half the guests each night are under the age of ten. I know all that because until I quit to head off for seminary it was my job to run the shelter as the church’s director of community outreach.

I hope that everyone reading this in Portland takes the opportunity to serve with this inter-faith project. The budget is less than $50,000 per year. Over 20 different faith groups, schools, and community organizations provide the rest. Be part of it. They need you.

Dean and Jackson

The rap on Howard Dean is that this former Governor of Vermont cannot attract significant support from minority voters – an important and influential voting block in Democratic primaries and general elections. That image might change with the news today that US. Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. is set to endorse Dean. Dr. Dean’s campaign is looking stronger every day. In the Chicago Congressman’s words:

"I'm not wasting my time with any more non-straight-talking candidates," Mr. Jackson said in introducing Dr. Dean, a former governor of Vermont, to a group of about 150 people at Chicago State University.

"I've seen him stand up for health care," he said. "I've seen him stand up for students. I've seen him stand up for ordinary Americans. I'm asking you to stand up for Howard Dean."

Will Abraham's Children Unite?

Bill Moyers has a new interview out with Joseph Hough, president of Union Theological Seminary, where Hough suggests that the children of Abraham - Christians, Muslims and Jews - need to act in non-violent opposition to the prevailing political winds that bring pre-emptive wars and policies that harm the poor the world over. The interview is worth the read.

Imperial presidency

Liz had a letter to the editor published this morning in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Here's what she wrote:

E.J. Dionne has it right in his Oct. 22 column: The imperial presidency is back.

On my way to work recently, I drove through block after block of boarded up, crumbling houses. Parts of our city look as though they have been bombed out.

Our schools are closing. Our friends have no health insurance. The Institute for America's Future recently calculated that if we were to spend $20.3 billion on reconstruction in the United States (an amount equivalent to what we are spending in Iraq), Missouri would have an additional $379.5 million to help itself rebuild.

Bush says he doesn't want to hear any debate on his well-funded plan to pay for schools and roads and health care in Iraq. He insists tax cuts for his wealthy friends are more important than reducing our national debt.

I keep thinking: The emperor has no clothes.

Liz Smith Currie
Webster Groves

California Burning

I’m sure it is just a coincidence that California elected Arnold Schwarzenegger the new Governor and the next thing you know the state is buring to the ground.

You can help by supporting the American Red Cross.

What did they know and when did they know it?

Thomas Keen is one of those rare Republicans. That means I respect him. He’s the former Governor of New Jersey, now president at Drew University, and chair of the bi-partisan National Commission on Terrorist Attacks on the United States. The commission was established by Congress to investigate the 9/11 attacks. The Commission’s work should be finished by spring. But there’s a problem. From The New York Times:

The chairman of the federal commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks says that the White House is continuing to withhold several highly classified intelligence documents from the panel and that he is prepared to subpoena the documents if they are not turned over within weeks. "I will not stand for it," Mr. Kean said in the interview in his offices here at Drew University, where he has been president since 1990.

What’s the problem?

"It's obvious that the White House wants to run out the clock here," he (former Democratic Senator Max Cleland) said in an interview in Washington. "It's Halloween, and we're still in negotiations with some assistant White House counsel about getting these documents it's disgusting."

He said that the White House and President Bush's re-election campaign had reason to fear what the commission was uncovering in its investigation of intelligence and law enforcement failures before Sept. 11. "As each day goes by, we learn that this government knew a whole lot more about these terrorists before Sept. 11 than it has ever admitted."

Slade Gorton, a Republican member of the panel who served in the Senate from Washington from 1982 to 2000, said that he was startled by the "indifference" of some executive branch agencies in making material available to the commission. "This lack of cooperation, if it extends anywhere else, is going to make it very difficult" for the commission to finish its work by next May, he said.

Will we ever know all the facts about 9/11? Only the White House can answer and right now they’re not talking.

Patriotic Shopping

Last Saturday, Liz and I went to Sam’s Club (Wal-Mart’s version of Costco – something we didn’t know until after arriving). This was our first visit. At the membership desk was a prominent sign stating that due to the Patriot Act additional personal information was required for those applying for Sam’s Club credit cards. What does fighting terrorism have to do with Sam’s Club? The employee manning the desk said he would have to read the legislation to know. Here’s what the ACLU wants us to know:

Just 45 days after the September 11 attacks, with virtually no debate, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act. Many parts of this sweeping legislation take away checks on law enforcement and threaten the very rights and freedoms that we are struggling to protect. For example, without a warrant and without probable cause, the FBI now has the power to access your most private medical records, your library records, and your student records... and can prevent anyone from telling you it was done.

The Department of Justice is expected to introduce a sequel, dubbed PATRIOT II, that would further erode key freedoms and liberties of every American.

The ACLU and many allies on the left and right believe that before giving law enforcement new powers, Congress must first re-examine provisions of the first PATRIOT Act to ensure that is in alignment with key constitutional protections.

First Congregational United Church of Christ in Hillsboro, Oregon (where my sister Heather and her family attend) have been active in opposing the Patriot Act. Read about that church's work in United Church News.

Is This Dignity?

Dignity Village is a homeless camp in Portland, Oregon. For the last couple of years the camp, which was established and is governed by people who are homeless, has faced critics from all corners. What’s the problem? No one likes the idea of having people sleep outside in the elements. In a nation with this much wealth no one should be forced to live outdoors. Unfortunately, no one has built the low-cost housing that Dignity Villagers – and all those homeless in America – can afford. Most cities even arrest people for sleeping outdoors. Those factors mean we need safe places like Dignity Village. The Portland City Council is now considering a 10-year lease for Dignity Village to continue. The council members should vote yes. Then they should get working to quickly build enough housing so no one has to sleep in camps or shelters. We need to Bring America Home.

The New Bishop

Gene Robinson is about to be ordained as the first openly gay Bishop in the Anglican Church. Conservatives are threatening to split the church in two if Robinson moves forward. Even some progressives have asked Robinson to step aside to keep the church whole. They’re missing the point. Fighting the ordination of gays are the theological heirs of those who fought against the ordination of women and racial minorities. Robinson’s promotion to Bishop will be a step forward in making sure everyone is welcome at Jesus’ table. This is a moment for all Christians to celebrate. And if the Anglican Church does split and their progressives need a place to call home there is always the United Church of Christ.

Freedom of Choice

The Senate and House have sent the President legislation that will outlaw the so-called partial-birth abortion procedure. What’s wrong with that? Plenty. The legislation doesn’t, for example, include a provision allowing for the health of the mother to be taken into account. Under some medical circumstances pregnancy can create problems that put the life of the mother in danger. But that doesn’t matter to the “pro-life” forces in Congress and the White House. Almost all of these late-term abortions are done for medical reasons. Next on the Bush agenda: outlawing Roe vs Wade and taking away a woman’s right to choose. Visit the National Abortion Rights Action League and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice for more information.

Take a Poll

The White House has been trying all week to paint a pretty picture of what is happening in Iraq. They even took a poll that proclaims a vast majority of Iraqis want a US-style government. The only problem with that argument is the pollster who did the poll in Iraq says the White House is spinning a story that is not true. It turns out more Iraqis want governments like those in other Islamic Middle Eastern states than the one we have here. James Zogby gives the facts in the Arab News.

A General Problem

Last week the LA Times broke the story that U.S. Lt. Gen. William Boykin has made remarks around the country comparing Islam to “Satan” and declaring the U.S. a “Christian nation.” On Wednesday, the President distanced himself from the General’s views. That was a good step. But criticis say the Defense Department needs to remove the General from his post. Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners Magazine, wants more from the General. Wallis wants Boykin to understand how bad his theology is. Read Wallis' letter.

This Is a Test

This is only a test. I'm considering adding this weblog to www.chuckandliz.com. More may follow if I decide this will work.