October 2004 Archives

from yesterday's e-mail for the Wal-Mart campaign (which is quickly turning into a more general concern about big box stores):

In Thursday, October 14?s Commercial News, a front page story covered a proposal from Menards to Fabius Township for rezoning of property west of 131 and south of Millard for a store even larger than the one Wal-Mart has proposed. Also, on the front page of the October 26 paper was a story about the school board voting to sell the Johnnycake Preschool property to Wal-Mart. This confirms my conviction that we need a cohesive, forward-thinking vision for what we?d like to see our city become if we ever hope to be more than another characterless cluster of chain stores. My hope is that the Menard?s proposal will cause Fabius decision-makers to seriously consider the pattern that would be established for the future if they begin rezoning land for big box store development.

We have not abandoned the work to critically examine Wal-Mart?s potential impact on the Three Rivers area; in fact, we?re distributing Wal-Mart-related information and statistics to the Fabius Township Board and the Three Rivers City Commission, since these groups stand to be the front-line decision-makers, now and in the future. Unfortunately, the city commissioners who are up for election next week seem to be apathetic at best as to whether Wal-Mart and the like would make a good addition to the community (see below for an article in which Wendell Berry has some choice words for such people). The prevailing attitude is that we can?t fight ?em, so we might as well join ?em. However, I?m convinced that we can do better than to lie down and let the highest bidder buy our dreams for the future of our city.

Of course surrendering to the whims of the free market is easier and less time-consuming than putting up a fight on principle. But we must seriously consider that we?re in the position to decide for the generations to come whether Three Rivers will be a soulless city that uncritically prostitutes itself for easy gain or a willful city committed to long-term, sustainable growth built on what history has shown us is truly valuable, which includes relationships and a sense of community that no amount of money can buy. Though it?s contrary to our instincts, seeking growth with wisdom and discernment means that sometimes, we may have to say ?no? to short-term gain because the big picture shows us all that we stand to lose in the long-run.

I sense that my voice in opposition to big box developments in Three Rivers is a very lonely one and that they will come in the end, not because their coming is unavoidably inevitable, as so many claim, but because too few of us were willing to ask critical questions and take an unpopular stand. However, I?m hopeful that even though I?m entering the conversation at a late stage, I can connect with people who are asking similar questions and who also have an interest in the long-term well-being of Three Rivers. I hope that together, we can build a vibrant, unique community that serves our citizens in all their wonderful diversity with excellent places to live, work and play.

access the referenced Wendell Berry article here.

Having recently gained a slightly more manageable understanding of justice, I'm re-entering justice-related discussions with renewed focus. So I found "Justice for Education; Educating for Justice", a book review on two new books about eduction from Steven Vryhof and Nicholas Wolterstorff in the Third Quarter 2004 Public Justice Report, particularly intersting.

In the section concerning Wolterstorff's book, the reviewer writes:

Colleges must offer students "alternative ways of thinking and guide them into, and energize them toward, alternative ways of living," writes Wolterstorff. "We must combat and counteract the 'oblivion of the normative' which ... is becoming characteristic of our society." Educators must "teach for justice--not only on our local scene but on a global scale. Justice, in the biblical sense, occurs when the little ones are not only protected against oppression but also have a voice in the community. Our common humanity would call for us to care about justice in distant societies; the fact that we live in a world-system, with our own area at its core, makes that imperative."

I'd like to read both of these books at some point, but it seems that the quotes above would indicate a congruence with the vision behind culture is not optional and our visionPractice mode.

I'm finally getting around to thinking about my senior paper, the culmination (of sorts) of my learning in the Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies department at Goshen College.

My thesis, so far, is that peace work needs to start on the local level in community before it can be effective on a larger scale. I hope to argue that by developing right relationships in our communities through institutions (civic society) we can foster the redemptive work of the Spirit, thereby leading to redemptive systemic change.

I realize the idea is a little nebulous; hopefully I can pull everything together that's whizzing around my head. Here's the beginning of the book list I'm working with:

• The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons and other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community by Ray Oldenburg


• Celebrating the Third Place: Inspiring Stories about the "Great Good Places" at the Heart of Our Communities edited by Ray Oldenburg


• Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert D. Putnam


• Sex, Economy, Freedom and Community by Wendell Berry


• Civic Revolutionaries: Igniting the Passion for Change in America's Communities by Douglas Henton, John Melville and Kim Walesh


• Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream by Andres Duany, Elixabeth Plater-Zyberk and Jeff Speck


• Sidewalks in the Kingdom: New Urbanism and the Christian Faith by Eric O. Jacobsen


• The Unconquerable World: Power, Nonviolence, and the Will of the People by Jonathan Schell


• Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination by Walter Wink


• In the Fields of the Lord: A Calvin Seerveld Reader edited by Craig Bartholomew


• The Calvinistic Concept of Culture by Henry Van Til

I'm not sure if anything here sparks a connection to other materials, but I'd be interested if you have any other relevant resources.

i've just finished sealing the envelopes for the road journal and i'll be taking them over to the post office as soon as kirstin arrives at the store around 3:00. those of you on our mailing list should be receiving it shortly.

thank you to all of the world fare volunteers who helped label, fold, staple and collate our somewhat unwieldy mailing. someday we'll figure out how to do this more efficiently; until then, our volunteers' graciousness is invaluable.

also, a hearty thank you to gideon strauss, who included *cino and catapult on a list of "must-visit web sites" today. while it was certainly compliment enough to be included in a list with several organizations whom we respect very highly--ransom fellowship, the new pantagruel, and paste magazine--gideon also offered these kind words:

Catapult continues to be one of the most provocative regular reads in my media diet, and the things *cino and the VG-Rs are doing (cultureVision for high school students, camping is not optional, and the VG-Rs fair trade store, World Fare) and imagining (acts two, visionPractice, and cino communities) serve like little apocalyptic visions to remind me of the hope that is possible in history.

thanks again, gideon, for this wonderful encouragement.

last night, a group of ten Three Rivers folks headed to Grand Rapids to attend the third annual Cup of Justice conference sponsored by the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. it was a fantastic opportunity. we heard from one of the founders of the only 100% fair trade coffee roaster in Michigan and he translated for two coffee farmers from Chiapas, Mexico.

as indigenous Mayans, Jose and Macario shared their story of struggling for a livelihood amid violent oppression. many people from their communities were wiped out in a massacre in 1997, but as these farmers are able to sustain themselves by growing a traditional crop using organic means, they are overcoming a system that seeks to quietly destroy them. here are some of the numbers:

• $.41-the price per pound of organic coffee at the height of the market glut in 2001 (even while businesses like Starbucks were booming)


• $1.00-the price per pound needed for a coffee farmer to break even


• $1.26-the guaranteed price per pound for fair trade coffee


• $1.41-the guaranteed price per pound for organic fair trade coffee

some would say that guaranteeing a (sometimes) artifically inflated price for coffee beans interferes with the natural fluctuation of the market and does harm in the longrun because it's not sustainable. however, in hearing the stories of the real people who suffer when the market dips, i'm left with the question, "Is there any justifiable excuse for Christians to purchase anything but fair trade coffee?" it's a question i'll be considering for a more extended piece that will appear in the "Odd One Out" issue of catapult on November 19.

our housemate, Jeff, made an interesting connection on the way home. the night before, we all attended a potluck for our CSA group. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a relatively new concept whereby people in both urban and rural communities pay in advance for a weekly share of a local farmer's produce during the growing season. so we pay $250 (or so) in February for a half share, head out to our church every Wednesday in the following summer and early fall, and receive a box overflowing with fresh, organic produce personally delivered by Farmer Dale. anyway, at the potluck, Farmer Dale had the opportunity to thank, face-to-face, the people who make his livelihood possible, just like the coffee farmers last night had the opportunity to thank fair trade coffee drinkers in person for choosing to stand with them in solidarity. it all gives me a sense of "the way things should be"...and perhaps the way things WILL be.

I'm not a Republican or a Democrat. I find both parties lacking in many and various respects, so I won't align myself with either. Neither party accurately represents, in full, Kingdom values of peace and justice as I've come to perceive them.

I'm posting this list of links mostly because I'm deeply saddened by the state we find ourselves in regarding war and I'm worn down by human brokenness. Though there are certainly partisan implications to some of these links, I'm not particularly interested in these items for political reasons.

• The Ground Truth: The Human Cost of War is a documentary project that is interviewing soldiers involved in Iraq and Afghanistan. "This project is an opportunity to hear and see the soldiers experience and treatment in the military, and upon returning home." It seems unthinkable, but soldiers' voices are too often lost in the din of war. I haven't seen the film yet, but I think its work is vitally important if we are to understand the true and horrific nature of war.


• Retiring Nebraska Representative Doug Bereuter, a Republican, recently wrote a letter to his constituents in which he admits that he now thinks going to Iraq was a mistake. "The toll in American military casualties and those of civilians, physical damages caused, financial resources spent, and the damage to the support and image of the United States abroad, all demand [an] assessment and accounting." I'm interested in this article mostly because Bereuter is stepping out to realistically assess the situation in Iraq and to acknowledge his complicity in the decision to invade. There aren't many politicians in our deeply divided country who are willing to abandon ideological allegiances (though Zell Miller comes to mind), particularly to acknowledge and take responsibility for perceived mistakes.


• Wall Street Journal reporter Farnaz Fassihi's view from Iraq paints a grim picture.

The Center for Public Justice just sent out their newest Capital Commentary, a piece by Jim Skillen entitled "Religiously Political Conservatism." Here's a taste to whet your appetite:

Regardless of how you choose to cast your vote on November 2, to presume that religiously political conservatism harmonizes with Christianity is a serious mistake.

His argument takes an approach similar to Sojourner's "God is not a Republican or a Democrat" campaign in that it challenges the idea that American Christians should automatically be conservatives, but it goes deeper, ala the New Pantagruel, to challenge the effects of Liberalism on Christianity.

Interesting (and short) read.

we've been working like crazy trying to finish the road journal, but it's really not something that can be rushed. we should have everything finished and mailed by the end of the week.

if you'd like to sign up to receive a copy of our quarterly newsletter, road journal, you can now do it online (thanks to jeff, who prompted me to add this feature sooner rather than later).

paul griffiths argues his reasons for not voting in the upcoming election in commonweal. convincing, but not convincing at the same time.

after writing the last blog entry during lunch yesterday about how thursdays are usually miserable for me, i proceeded to have quite a wonderful thursday.

first, i spent a few hours with fellow peace, justice and conflict studies majors, discussing some of the recurring themes from our junior seminar class (yes, i'm taking junior seminar as a senior): the honor/shame system, redeemable powers, liberal/conservative political idolatry, etc. i can't believe how often we get into really deep theological discussions in class; it's been a really rewarding semester so far.

then i ran into alyssa, kirstin's sister (a freshman at goshen), studying on the lawn outside of the union building and talked to her for about an hour.

all in all, an enjoyable day.

i suppose i don't have anything against thursday, per se, but this year thursdays are particularly difficult. i've got classes in the morning and a night class, which means i get to stay on goshen's campus from 9:30 in the morning until 9:30 at night.

you're probably thinking, "why don't you go home in between classes?" well, i've only got four hours between classes and it takes about an hour (45 minutes on a good day) to get from three rivers to goshen, so i'd only be able to spend about two hours at home. instead, i've opted to use that time for studying.

having said that, though, doesn't make a 12-hour day of classes and studying any easier. i find myself completely exhausted the next day and it usually takes me a weekend to recover. of course, i rarely force myself to stop working, even on weekends, so i rarely feel fully rested. i know and understand the concept of sabbath, yet i find it increasingly difficult to actually put sabbath into practice.

basically, i need to figure out a way to do life better. i can't keep working and studying every waking hour of every day; it's simply not good for me.

kirstin's article in the new issue of comment (the journal of the work research foundation, edited by the estimable gideon strauss) gives an introduction to some ideas kirstin and i have been working with lately, namely new urbanism.

today is october 2, which, needless to say, means september has come and gone. if you're on our *cino mailing list, you'll notice something was conspicuously absent from your mailbox last month: the road journal.

we've managed to get into insane busyness mode again and we simply haven't had the time to piece together the newsletter. we're working hard this weekend to try to finish the road journal; maybe we can get it out the door on monday or tuesday of next week.