So I spent the early part of the morning searching for something to post to my Facebook page tomorrow. (Stick with me - this is as circuitous as it gets!) Among my Facebook friends are many women who are either artists or artisans. This being International Women's Month, I googled for a video of the song "Bread and Roses". It was originally a poem, written to support a strike of women in the textile industry in the early part of the 20th century, and later set to music. As I struggle with my own inner artist, one segment particularly appeals to me:
Our lives shall not be sweated
From birth until life closes.
Hearts starve as well as bodies.
Give us bread but give us roses.
From birth until life closes.
Hearts starve as well as bodies.
Give us bread but give us roses.
Still with me?
After listening to several versions, I came across the one you will hear below. Listen hard - around the end of minute 2. The part about health care. I was initially annoyed that they had tampered with the original words, earlier in that verse. Then I heard why, and approved whole-heartedly.
And now my point: (phew!...right?) The chorus singing the song is Jewish. Since I became "politically aware" in the 60s, I have had the perception that American Judaism generally stands on the side of those who are oppressed in society. (Note well...I said American Judaism!) As does my own Roman Catholic Church. We call it The Fundamental Option For the Poor, and it is firmly founded in Roman Catholic theology. Roman Catholics are by far the largest Christian denomination in the United States. Yet, listening to the news and their disproportionate amount of coverage on all things political, one would think Evangelicals were. And frankly, they preach something that I don't even recognize as Christian!
I don't want to be lumped in with these people! I don't want non-religious people to think that Christianity is "one size fits all", with Evangelicals providing the "size".
My Church supports universal healthcare. How do I get this message out?
Oh. Maybe I just did!
After listening to several versions, I came across the one you will hear below. Listen hard - around the end of minute 2. The part about health care. I was initially annoyed that they had tampered with the original words, earlier in that verse. Then I heard why, and approved whole-heartedly.
And now my point: (phew!...right?) The chorus singing the song is Jewish. Since I became "politically aware" in the 60s, I have had the perception that American Judaism generally stands on the side of those who are oppressed in society. (Note well...I said American Judaism!) As does my own Roman Catholic Church. We call it The Fundamental Option For the Poor, and it is firmly founded in Roman Catholic theology. Roman Catholics are by far the largest Christian denomination in the United States. Yet, listening to the news and their disproportionate amount of coverage on all things political, one would think Evangelicals were. And frankly, they preach something that I don't even recognize as Christian!
I don't want to be lumped in with these people! I don't want non-religious people to think that Christianity is "one size fits all", with Evangelicals providing the "size".
My Church supports universal healthcare. How do I get this message out?
Oh. Maybe I just did!
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