redemptive violence?

Just to forestall anyone ending up disillusioned, though you likely will at some point, not only am i a horrific speller, but I claim to have no answers for the readers of this blog. I have opinions, but please assume them to be statements begging discussion. However vehemently I argue, debate must never be lost. If it is, i need to quit everything entirely and move into that monastery i talk about. Now that is a place where debate cannot help but live, so i presume it is the only place that would force me back into it. Now, that ive gotten that long winded preface to life out of the way, to the main discussion introduced here.

So I just got finished watching "V for Vendetta" this evening. I liked it very much. Kind of. That little rebellious itch that likes to be scratched really liked it. And of course, well romance with a revolutionary (on the liberal side)... well... your assumptions are prolly accurage. I liked the symbolism a lot too, and the historical moments they tied into the present. That was well done. And of course, well 1812 Overture, you cant go wrong there. I wanted that in my wedding until mother informed me that there wouldnt be any sword brandishing or actual conquoring or anything that grand. So, in short, i was thoroughly entertained and really loved the symbolic nature creating a (real) new world order.

But i was really rather dissapointed. The lack of creativity or imagination on the part of the writers gave me pause. The lack of imagination and creativity by us, people so dissolusioned by the system that we throw up our hands and proclaim no way out, gave me, well, more than pause. You see, while the movie did teach us to sympathize with those labeled 'terrorist', to find the humanity behind the mask, it did not take the ever so vital next step. In order to defeat the system, one cannot simply employ the means of the system against itself. It's not that easy. Violence will always beget violence, and fear will always beget fear. Those that would unjustly have our allegiance have for the history of humanity, taught us who to kill and who to fear. The system of human history, never truly reformed, haunts us still today. The power has changed hands, yes, but little has changed. And those of us that detest the system, that desire change, that see the problem but do not know the solution have lost that which makes humanity beautiful.

Creativity. Imago Dei.

Draw on the past yes, but do so remembering that you will never use the weapon better than its creator. Evil created violence, and evil created fear, and should you choose to use them, Evil will demand you allegiance as it has demanded the allegiance of men of old. In the end, it will cost you your life. Change must come from the creation of a different weapon. And i'm going out on a limb here... but if it's not violence, let's name it.... peace. Now, peace does not imply the lack of struggle, by no means. The prince of peace himself met a violent end. BUT it does imply attemtping to limit the violence we ourselves inflict on others. He didn't fight. Yes, I know the temple story, very violent, but he made the point without killing anyone so it's still under the non violent resistance umbrella. I'm not claiming pacificsm in peace, im claiming something a little deeper i think. Perhpas the word here is love. 'For perfect love casts out fear' Yes, resistance is demanded of us, and if it is not demanded by our leaders, it is demanded by our position in history. But it must be a new kind of resistance. It cannot be a violent overthrow, but it must be a willful choice of each individual to choose love over fear. To choose help over hurt, thought over rhetoric, others over him/herself. I am not dumb, I know that it seems awfully silly and irational to choose love in a time of such fear. But, him who designed the weapon of peace will also claim one's allegiance, and to it too ones life is lost. But that must beautiful thing remains, for loosing ones life- does not mean death, it means here life.

Creativity.

All rather ironically placed on the eve of His first cry. Yes, very silly indeed to put on the skin of creation gone awry and teach them, heal them, love them. So in the end they can kill You. All to teach them that one thing will never die, and that is Love itself. Violence will pass away, but the work we have done in the name of love, the signature of divnity, creating rather than destroying. And divinity will have our allegiance.