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Life Ways AMERICAN in a BORDERLESS WORLD
by Janet Alampi "IF YOU CAN’T FEED A HUNDRED
PEOPLE, THEN FEED JUST ONE. Some experts claim that the best way to help the U.S. out of the current economic slump is to help Japan and Germany out of theirs. Not a few analysts assert that a peaceful future rests on how well we enable Russia and other countries of the former U.S.S.R. to succeed in reaching economic stability. The struggle of blacks in South Africa, the invasion and pillage of Kuwait, the starvation in Somalia, the slaughter in Bosnia—just how many foreign interests can we as a country handle? Evidently, we are weary of the struggle. Last year Americans voted in a new administration in the hope that domestic issues would take priority over foreign ones. But how realistic is such an expectation? True, domestic issues are many and pressing. We now work harder for less. We face a deficit that threatens not only our future but that of our children and grandchildren and who knows how many generations to follow. We have shorter vacations, longer hours, and much less security than a generation ago. We are the sandwich generation, caring for our elderly parents and for our growing children at the same time. We face soaring health care costs, massive layoffs, uncertain futures. Homeless persons shiver in the shadow of skyscrapers. Crime terrorizes the innocent. Drugs are rampant. Domestic violence scars lives. Prejudice and hate rock our urban centers. Gangs murder our children. Abortion kills the unborn. Promiscuousness sows death in epidemic proportions. And the media often distort truth, morality, and family values. The picture is not pretty, but this is one side of our country. Yet, there is another side. Admittedly, we live in the greatest country in the history of the world. We are the richest, most powerful nation on the face of the earth. We are, at present, the only superpower. Our role in post-Cold War times is perhaps more crucial than in any other preceding era. And our responsibilities as a nation are enormous. How, then, are we as American Christians to view the balance of charity beginning at home with global concern and involvement? "ONE AMERICAN PUT IT THIS WAY: EVERY TOMORROW HAS
TWO HANDLES. WE CAN TAKE HOLD OF IT WITH THE HANDLE OF ANXIETY OR THE
HANDLE OF FAITH." A REALITY CHECK The saying, "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it" is not without merit. And what does history tell us as Americans? Five decades ago, Pearl Harbor taught us that looking away and trying to stay clear of a situation does not guarantee safety. Under involvement does not always pay off. Instances of over involvement are not lacking either. Take Iran, for example. In 1953, we backed—particularly through the CIA—a coup which put in power the Shah. Through a secret police organization, he systematically tortured Iranian citizens. Needless to say, he was not very popular, and when our history of supporting him became publicly known, we drew upon ourselves the lasting hate of a nation. Interference then is risky too. Too much or too little, too soon or too late—it would seem that balance is the key. Neither isolationism not intrusion assures national security or spreads good will toward our country. But we as Christians should not be solely concerned about the temporal repercussions of policy decisions. Rather, as socially conscious believers our reflection should extend to some deeper considerations. A reality check should include eternal realities, especially the teaching of Sacred Scripture. And while most of us do not legislate or greatly influence national or international policies, we have a responsibility to do our part to make this a better world, to be the salt of the earth, to spread peace, to be our brother’s and our sister’s keeper. THE HEART OF THE MATTER The place to first build peace is within ourselves. Have you ever been watching the news, heard of some atrocity, and found yourself calling for blood? Outrage as an initial reaction is not wrong. Some crimes are so heinous that one would have to be unconscious not to react strongly. But the words of Jesus are clear: "Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned" (Lk 6:36-37). Judging others does not lead to inner peace nor does it guarantee justice. We can feel secure that evil will be punished either here or in the hereafter because God is all just and has reserved to Himself both judgment and the meting our of punishment. Crimes that slip passed the legal system will not successfully dodge divine surveillance. Although God wishes the conversion of every sinner, He also has the lowly at heart and will avenge any wrongdoing that harms them. Scripture teaches: "He is a God of justice, who knows no favorites. Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed" (Sir 35:12-13). Sometimes the tension between our wanting to help others and our desire to stand clear is caused by our own attachment to wealth. Obviously, neither we as individuals nor we as a nation have bottomless pockets. Yet when confronted by the incredible suffering endured by persons in lands such as starving African nations, we can hardly compare our own tribulations or needs. Despite our economic slumps, we have supermarkets filled with every type of food, we have malls loaded with an array of clothing and other goods, we have programs to help the poor. "IF WE LIVE GOOD LIVES, THE TIMES ARE ALSO GOOD.
Jesus told a parable (Lk 16:19-31) about a rich man who did nothing to alleviate the suffering of a beggar. The poor man stayed at the rich man’s gate in the hope of getting some scraps to eat. Both men eventually died and their fortunes were reversed in eternity. The lesson is clear: we place ourselves in grave jeopardy if we are not willing to share with those less fortunate than ourselves. In another parable, Jesus teaches us about the Good Samaritan who notices the plight of the unfortunate man attacked by robbers (Lk 10:29-37) and stopped to help. Two other important men—a priest and a Levite—had passed the man by. Perhaps their lives were too busy or their minds too cluttered with their own needs. Many of us Americans can relate better to the priest and the Levite than to the Good Samaritan. We may encounter not just one but many "injured" persons in the course of our typical day. And if we broaden our consideration to include the hurting in other countries, we might well feel overwhelmed and discouraged. One point of this story that must not be overlooked is that the priest and the Levite were of the same nationality as the injured man. The Samaritan was the foreigner. So boundaries do not decide who is our neighbor; rather, compassion does. Evidently, the Lord does not believe in promoting isolationism. Of course, God expects us to care for our own families before reaching out to others. But that does not mean that every whim of our family members must be satisfied before we begin to address the urgent needs of the less fortunate. We can live without cable TV, but the starving cannot live without food. We can remain warm without wearing the latest fashions, but the poor cannot survive without protective clothing in the winter. For us as Americans, this is not an easy time. Proverbial "enemies" now seek our aid. Some allies scoff at us and violate human rights. Nations that hold no key to our own financial interests cry out for our assistance. And our populace at home struggles under burdens that threaten to crush us. It is a time that beckons us to trust more in God and less in wealth. Few Gospel accounts are as moving as that of the widow’s mite (Lk 21:1-4). A woman in dire straits gave all she had to God, in complete confidence that He loved her enough to provide for her. She did not live in an era or land where there were public assistance programs. Her source of support, her husband, was gone. But she knew God was trustworthy and He would not leave her disappointed. Hopefully, during this lean time in which we live, we will have the strength to imitate the examples of virtue which the Gospel points out to us. Perhaps less secure in our possessions, we can find the wisdom of becoming more secure in God’s providence. Looking beyond our own needs, we will then recognize all people as members of the family of God in a world made better by Christians whose treasure is the Lord.
Copyright © 1999-2003, Daughters of St. Paul. All Rights Reserved.
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