“Nothing to fear but ...”

For some time, television commentator and Rhodes Scholar Rachel Maddow refused to comment on the “Mosque controversy.” She rightly contended that it was a completely fabricated controversy contrived by the media during the slow news days of August. Still, the vitriol of the debate forced even Rachel to acquiesce and weigh in, labeling it “this month’s new scare white people story.”

What's worth noting about all of these different “scare white people” stories is that they're not really actual news stories. No real news organizations started running with this story as actual news. The best “scare white people'” stories are invented out of whole cloth, from inside the conservative media world so they can be the just right kind of scary, in just the right kind of way, in order to drive the just right political consequences. So, ultimately, if the conservative media drives this to make it big enough, then normal news organizations pick it up too, sometimes because they're guilted into it by conservatives. But no non-Fox News, non-conservative media outlet ever starts these things.

This media-contrived story is feeding on fear and prejudice (which are essentially the same thing). Our own government has worked since 9/11 to make us afraid and keep us afraid. Now they act surprised when bigotry of any sort rears its head. I want to say to our political leaders in BOTH parties, “This is YOUR fault!” With fear as their defense, they declared a “war on terror.” Do you get the irony in that sentence? They don’t.

Thanks to them, terrorists won. They terrified us. They made us afraid of people who are different; thus, an artificial controversy about a Muslim cultural center two blocks from the World Trade Center in a building no one wanted. This political fear-mongering has run up our nation’s deficit by making it impossible for anyone to question, let alone cut, defense spending. When General Dwight Eisenhower was ending his term as president, he warned all Americans to beware of the “military industrial complex.” Our political leadership is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of that industry. As a result, they keep us afraid so they can wage an endless war against terror. Most of them are not idiots, but know full well the game they are playing.

“Follow the money.” Who is getting rich from keeping wars going? It is an economic strategy because a side effect of their fear-mongering is near economic collapse. Fear cripples creativity, ingenuity, passion, and compassion.

Rachel is right. The controversy over the Muslim cultural center in New York is artificial. It is not unimportant, though, because it tells the truth about what happens to a country that gives into fear. We are afraid of “them,” yet we are more likely to be killed by a horse than we are a terrorist. More people die every week from traffic than died on 9/11, yet we still drive fearlessly. What is the difference? Again, follow the money. Who benefits from us being afraid and willing to pay taxes to fund an endless “war on terror”?

Peacemaking activists, I call on you to spread the word and speak the truth. Begin by forwarding this to your family and friends. WE ARE THE HEROES WE ARE WAITING FOR. Our silence makes us slaves to those who would make us afraid of one another.

"Gay"ther Homecoming
First National Gospel Music Celebration
Saturday, September 18, 8 p.m., Cathedral of Hope

Art for Peace & Justice and the Cathedral of Hope will host an array of amazingly talented lesbian and gay musicians and their friends for the first “Gay”ther Homecoming, a national Gospel music celebration modeled after the extraordinarily popular Gaither Homecoming events. This musical celebration is an opportunity for gay and lesbian musicians to perform at the world’s largest church with a predominantly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) outreach. The sacred space will be filled to capacity with musicians from all over the United States, reclaiming the familiar hymns and Gospel songs of days, and lifetimes, past.

More than 40 singers, songwriters and instrumentalists will wow the crowd with solos, group performances and sing-alongs. Two LGBT Gospel groups—Out 4 Joy and Voices of Hope—will be in attendance, as well as major players in the Gospel music world including Marsha Stevens, Susie Brenner, Rob Parker and Rev. Ken Martin. Dallas musical royalty will be well represented by Danny Ray, David Darnell, Kim Wisdom, Liz Mikel, Marvin Matthews, Paul Mason, Lonnie Parks, Buddy Shanahan, Shelly Torres-West, Rusty Johnson and many more.

Dr. Timothy Seelig, Director of Art for Peace & Justice, will be the director for the evening. “As the invitations to participate have gone out across the U.S., the response has been phenomenal,” says Dr. Seelig. “Everyone contacted has responded with immediate enthusiasm. We will include as many musicians as the stage will hold! Most of these talented folks have experienced a huge amount of hurt at the hands of the religions of their youth. This is our opportunity to stand proudly and sing the songs we thought were lost.”

The evening’s proceeds will benefit the soon-to-be-dedicated Interfaith Peace Chapel designed by noted architect Philip Johnson. Tickets are $15 for general admission. Purchase Your Ticket Today!