I feel for you entirely. It's ok that you were thinking about your kid. You can't control what happens to his teacher but you will inherently want to help make sure your own kid is okay. You've got plenty of empathy for her. You had a moment that focused on him.
As for the rest of the deluge... it's intense, and I feel like there are a lot of voices talking loudly about the end of democracy. That said, are you familiar with Anand Giridharadas? Two podcasts I've listened to recently (over three episodes) have been entirely comprised of interviews with him because of his new book, "The Persuaders: Winning Hearts and Minds in a Divided Age," and I feel like there's a glimmer in them. Amid all the darkness about the intentions of Eussia's Internet Research Agency, etc. his Rx is up your alley. You're already doing the work it takes to save democracy.
So much here, but first: if you, like Thomas, need to see to believe, please come to Rhode Island. Or at least the South Coast of Massachusetts, where we also drink coffee milk.
I saw that billboard yesterday in Massachusetts. What got me is that I believe Jesus was *all about* politics. He was fed up with power being hoarded and keeping us all in bondage...which is not what the conservative Christian bros are interested in, at all. They want to sanitize the Gospel and keep the discussion of power out of church conversation -- dividing Christians with the most basic of what connects us, the Good News.
Phew. Good thing you wrote this newsletter as individual points, so that I can take bite-sized pieces.
I started reading Anand Giridharadas' new book The Persuaders and have thought of you often as I read, Garrett! Highly recommend, if you have space for more word-words-words. So far there's no appearance of white Jesus, but so much about bridge building and way finding with folks we don't align with 100%.
Bravo, Garrett. This is such a good piece. I really appreciated it.
I also loved Jamelle Bouie's column--now I gotta go read Black Reconstruction--it's been on a "you should read this" list for awhile.
And I, as an exvangelical, had a similar reaction to the hip bro Jesus campaign. I spent my first 22 years amongst the Baptists and I am here to testify that white evangelicalism has ALWAYS been, at its core, a faith about white supremacy and patriarchy, dressed up in the language of Jesus. The last 10 years has just made that all the more obvious. And I really don't think there's an ad campaign that can make people unsee what white evangelicalism has shown itself to be.
Thanks so much! And I agree that there are a whole lot of institutions, unfortunately definitely including Evangelical Christianity, who would be better served with less marketing and more interest in being actually welcoming, safe places for all human beings.
Another great post—but nooooo NYT. Fuck them anymore, honestly, with their front-and-center doomsday-for-Dems headlines. I will always, always question the potential effects of that shit.
Thank you for sharing that detail about Freedom Summer-- I know a couple (Quakers, unsurprisingly) who took part, and I am curious how much participants understood about that as an aspect of their participation.
OK, well, being an Idahoan now living in Washington I first had to go and look up a recipe for sugar cream pie because I had never heard of it. Priorities.
The evangelical Christian reference is reminding me of a friend I met years ago through circumstances that definitely would never have led me to guess that she was an evangelical Christian. We were sitting in a bar drinking beer at the point at which she said she was an evangelical and I expressed surprise.. She said, "Because you're assuming that being an evangelical means I can't think" and then went on to explain to me that socialism is the only truly Christian economic system. (She was Dutch, which seems relevant here.) She later told me that those kinds of ideas made her less than welcome at the local evangelical church. I'm not sure but I'm guessing the beer drinking may have played a role there too. Either way I can just imagine her mercilessly mocking the Jesus bro billboards.
I feel for you entirely. It's ok that you were thinking about your kid. You can't control what happens to his teacher but you will inherently want to help make sure your own kid is okay. You've got plenty of empathy for her. You had a moment that focused on him.
As for the rest of the deluge... it's intense, and I feel like there are a lot of voices talking loudly about the end of democracy. That said, are you familiar with Anand Giridharadas? Two podcasts I've listened to recently (over three episodes) have been entirely comprised of interviews with him because of his new book, "The Persuaders: Winning Hearts and Minds in a Divided Age," and I feel like there's a glimmer in them. Amid all the darkness about the intentions of Eussia's Internet Research Agency, etc. his Rx is up your alley. You're already doing the work it takes to save democracy.
Thanks for the permission to not be a bit less overwrought and a bit kinder in regard to myself! I agree!
So much here, but first: if you, like Thomas, need to see to believe, please come to Rhode Island. Or at least the South Coast of Massachusetts, where we also drink coffee milk.
I saw that billboard yesterday in Massachusetts. What got me is that I believe Jesus was *all about* politics. He was fed up with power being hoarded and keeping us all in bondage...which is not what the conservative Christian bros are interested in, at all. They want to sanitize the Gospel and keep the discussion of power out of church conversation -- dividing Christians with the most basic of what connects us, the Good News.
Phew. Good thing you wrote this newsletter as individual points, so that I can take bite-sized pieces.
This is really, really well put. Agree 100%
I started reading Anand Giridharadas' new book The Persuaders and have thought of you often as I read, Garrett! Highly recommend, if you have space for more word-words-words. So far there's no appearance of white Jesus, but so much about bridge building and way finding with folks we don't align with 100%.
Didn't read your reply before writing mine... man...classic error on my part!
I'm loving all the co-signs on how I need to read Persuaders. I bought it this weekend!
I haven't read it yet but have had a lot of folks now tell me that it would be super up my alley. Thanks for the push to go over the hump with it.
Bravo, Garrett. This is such a good piece. I really appreciated it.
I also loved Jamelle Bouie's column--now I gotta go read Black Reconstruction--it's been on a "you should read this" list for awhile.
And I, as an exvangelical, had a similar reaction to the hip bro Jesus campaign. I spent my first 22 years amongst the Baptists and I am here to testify that white evangelicalism has ALWAYS been, at its core, a faith about white supremacy and patriarchy, dressed up in the language of Jesus. The last 10 years has just made that all the more obvious. And I really don't think there's an ad campaign that can make people unsee what white evangelicalism has shown itself to be.
Thanks so much! And I agree that there are a whole lot of institutions, unfortunately definitely including Evangelical Christianity, who would be better served with less marketing and more interest in being actually welcoming, safe places for all human beings.
Another great post—but nooooo NYT. Fuck them anymore, honestly, with their front-and-center doomsday-for-Dems headlines. I will always, always question the potential effects of that shit.
It's a good point! It's an interesting question: What impact would it have on the election if the NYT like, didn't do that?
Thanks, Garrett, for once again not just pulling the thread but tying it all together and inspiring us in the process.
Thank you for sharing that detail about Freedom Summer-- I know a couple (Quakers, unsurprisingly) who took part, and I am curious how much participants understood about that as an aspect of their participation.
I'm realizing I should find and interview some participants! 100% have the same fascination.
OK, well, being an Idahoan now living in Washington I first had to go and look up a recipe for sugar cream pie because I had never heard of it. Priorities.
The evangelical Christian reference is reminding me of a friend I met years ago through circumstances that definitely would never have led me to guess that she was an evangelical Christian. We were sitting in a bar drinking beer at the point at which she said she was an evangelical and I expressed surprise.. She said, "Because you're assuming that being an evangelical means I can't think" and then went on to explain to me that socialism is the only truly Christian economic system. (She was Dutch, which seems relevant here.) She later told me that those kinds of ideas made her less than welcome at the local evangelical church. I'm not sure but I'm guessing the beer drinking may have played a role there too. Either way I can just imagine her mercilessly mocking the Jesus bro billboards.
And where is our dose of "proto-hippie free-love commune in Ripon"?!
It's coming on Sunday!!