Desmond Tutu interview in Newsweek fantastic

[Democrat 4 Ever]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6769668/site/newsweek/

This is a great piece, be sure and read all of it, here is just a snippet -

‘Religion is Morally Neutral’
Desmond Tutu discusses the tsunami tragedy, God, Iraq and the re-election of George W. Bush

(snip)

You said George Bush should admit that he made a mistake. Were you surprised at his re-election?
I still can't believe that it really could have happened. Just look at the facts on the table: He’d gone into a war having misled people—whether deliberately or not—about why he went to war. You would think that would have knocked him out It didn’t. Look at the number of American soldiers who have died since he claimed that the war had ended. And yet it seems this doesn't make most Americans worry too much. I was teaching in Jacksonville, Fla., and I was shocked, because I had naively believed all these many years that Americans genuinely believed in freedom of speech. discovered there that when you made an utterance that was remotely contrary to what the White House was saying, then they attacked you. For a South African the déjà vu was frightening. They behaved exactly the same way that used to happen here —vilifying those who are putting forward a slightly different view.

Do you see any other parallels with white-ruled South Africa?
Look at the Guantanamo Bay. You say, why do you detain people without trial in the fashion that you have done? And when they give the answer security, you say no, no, no, this can't be America. This is what we used to hear in South Africa. It's unbelievable that a country that many of us have looked to as the bastion of true freedom could now have eroded so many of the liberties we believed were upheld almost religiously. feeling as devastated in many ways as I am, it is wonderful to find that there are Americans who have felt very strongly —the people who turned out for rallies against the war. One always has to be very careful not to do what we used to do here, where you generalize very facilely, and one has to remember that there are very many Americans who are feeling deeply distressed about what has taken place in their country. We take our hats off to them

Talking about religion, much has been said about the role it played in the White House race. What do you say to those who believe that Bush was chosen by God?
I keep having to remind people that religion in and of itself is morally neutral. Religion is like a knife. When you use a knife for cutting up bread to prepare sandwiches, a knife is good. If you use the same knife to stick into somebody’s guts, a knife is bad. Religion in and of itself is not good or bad—it is what it makes you do… Frequently, fundamentalists will say this person is the anointed of God if the particular person is supporting their own positions on for instance, homosexuality, or abortion. feel so deeply saddened . Do you really believe that the Jesus who was depicted in the Scriptures as being on the side of those who were vilified, those who were marginalized, that this Jesus would actually be supporting groups that clobber a group that is already persecuted? That’s a Christ I would not worship. I'm glad that I believe very fervently that Jesus would not be on the side of gay bashers. To think that people say, as they used to say, that AIDS was God’s punishment for homosexuality. Abominable. Abominable.

[bloom]

1. It is so great to get outside perspectives.

Esp:

"I was shocked, because I had naively believed all these many years that Americans genuinely believed in freedom of speech. discovered there that when you made an utterance that was remotely contrary to what the White House was saying, then they attacked you. For a South African the déjà vu was frightening. They behaved exactly the same way that used to happen here —vilifying those who are putting forward a slightly different view. "

[idiosyncratic]

2. WOW! I am more and more impressed with Newsweek.

Desmond Tutu is wonderful. :loveya:

I wish I could have been in Jacksonville, Florida and have been a student of his. What an experience that would have been.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

3. Wish I could have had him in class, too.

This article is dead on with what the rest of the world is thinking about us. We knew it, but to have someone of Tutu's stature to be willing to go into print is astounding. Only surprise, that Newsweek had the guts to print it. Guess who's reporter won't get invited back to the press room after the New Year?

[propagandafreegal]

4. Great snippet! Thank for posting. nm

[itzamirakul]

5. Thanks for the link and the

snips. I have passed the info on to my mailing list.

Why do I often feel as though these brilliant people are "pissing in the wind?" Are the Democratic "leaders" listening at ALL?

[jmatthan]

6. NEWSWEEK's answer to the TIME

'Person of the Year" gaffe!!

Absolutely great.

There is only one person morally on a higher plane to Desmond Tutu who makes actions to speak louder than words presently,.

Nelson Mandela, who refused to meet Bush on his visit to Africa!!

Jacob Matthan
Oulu, Finland