By The Rev. Deborah Byrum

As the U.S. continues to mourn the death and devastation of the attack on the trade towers in New York on September 11th, I want to take this opportunity to explain a bit more clearly my reaction against the response of many citizens to lift the flag as a sign of solidarity and patriotism in the aftermath of this event.

The flag is the symbol of our country, the United States of America. And truly it certainly does express our citizenship, and our love of this nation we all call "home." And in this time of tragedy and "war," we feel good showing support for our country in this way. As citizens of this democracy, we are called not only to support our country, but are compelled to critique it as well.

However, the problem comes when we realize that our country, this so-called democracy," is actually the cause behind much of the oppression, violence and terrorism in the world. We have supported and do support dictatorships, happy for the economic incentives they offer for our support, whether it be access to oil, gold, other natural resources, etc. International corporations based in the U.S. pay the lowest wages possible to the labor forces of other countries, as well as laying waste to and polluting land and water so that their profit margins are maximized. As citizens of this democracy, we are called not only to support our country, but are compelled to critique it as well. Do international corporations wield too much power? What has happened to the democratic process, of late? How is it that the executive branch of the government is exercising so much authority? What has happened to the division of powers, and where are the voices of dissent that are so essential to a vital democratic process?

As followers of Christ, we seek to live out love for God, and our neighbors is ourselves; and those neighbors are found throughout the world. And we look forward to God's Kingdom, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free...nor will there he "rich" or "poor." Rather than waving the flag and supporting "our country, right or wrong," let us take the time to think, reflect, write, and act in a way that will challenge this country to be the democracy it claims to be. And find ways to seek to show that God's love is for all people in the world, not just those who are citizens here.

Last question, why have I never seen a Christian flag on a car or in front of a home? Not that I'm advocating that, but doesn't it speak about our "signs" to others and our "gods"? Bringing Osama bin Laden to justice is not enough! As people bound together in the name of Jesus Christ, we deplore the killing of innocent people anywhere in the world.

We are incredulous at the hypocrisy of a government that mourns the innocent victims of a terrorist attack in the name of Allah on the one hand, yet applauds and upholds the bombing of an entire nation of innocent victims for a sustained period of time in God's name, on the other. And yet, even more ludicrous, the same government asks American children to donate money to buy food for a small percentage of the orphans of this same country, in the midst of our attack... not for those who were bombed, presumably. Dead people don't eat.

We plead with the government to reconsider this course of action that was foreseen and intended by the C.I.A.'s apt pupil, Osama bin Laden.. We lament this course of action that has trans-formed the United States from being:

-the victims of senseless slaughter of the innocent... to its perpetrators;
-the people for whom the whole world mourns... to the aggressors, whom the world fears and mistrusts;
-those who can empathize with victims of terrorism around the world... to those who do what we please in response to the attacks of September 11th, regardless of what we expect from other countries facing similar situations.

And let us not stop there, but rather use this opportunity of collaborative collegiality to address problems of violence and terrorism around the world, not only "head-on," but developing strategies to diffuse their underlying causes and breeding grounds. We appeal to the adage, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." Let us not act as "the Great Satan," as bin Laden expected, or the "great god" that we envision ourselves to be. Let us rather be God's followers, protesting this horrible act in solidarity with people of other countries around the world. Let us come together with leaders of these nations in a spirit of respectful collaboration, attempting to avoid shaming them by issuing public ultimatums, such as "You're either for us, or for the terrorists." Let us avoid the paying of bribes to get our way, and let us not bargain in the face of human rights abuses (for example, in China), in order to gain support for our efforts. Rather, let us talk and listen to those who, based on their experience, insight, culture, and perspective may provide us with more creative and effective responses to the attacks, those not typically imagined by Americans.

And let us not stop there, but rather use this opportunity of collaborative collegiality to address problems of violence and terrorism around the world, not only "head-on," but developing strategies to diffuse their underlying causes and breeding grounds. Whatever happened to introspection of what this country might be doing to other countries to feed our standard of living versus theirs?

Rather than trying to "build a higher wall" around ourselves to try to make us "safer" (which doesn't work; hence, the anthrax attacks), let us rather build relationships with other countries of the world, based on mutual respect, understanding and up-building, and integrity. Only when we stop the massive exploitation of other cultures and threat them as partners for their resources, might we be relatively "safe" in the world, and within the boundaries of our own country.

The Rev. Deborah Byrum, Pastor, East Liberty Lutheran Church