Re: [asa] a thought for earth day (tomorrow)

You go on to say:
> L*ists should take note: "loving your neighbor" doesn't involve
> protecting him against the __just consequences__ of his own
> mistakes, or giving him special dispensation if he's unlucky, or
> punishing the productive in the name of helping the less fortunate.

Let's see North America and Europe produce 2/3 of the CO2 emissions,
while Africa 3%. The effects of said emissions either marginally hurt
or may in the short term help slightly North America and Europe.
Meanwhile, Africa pays dearly through drought. We have people from
all across the pol. spectrum -- you even gave one -- that only differ
in how we deal with this injustice. My beef is not with people that
have market-based solutions because at least they are proposing
solutions. In fact, your postings make such people look poorly. Let
me put this in its starkest terms. Here we have the rich causing the
problem even benefiting from it and then have the poor paying for it.
Then, to add insult to injury the innocent get blamed. You might say
that the rich are innocent, also. That's true until they are informed
of the need and they then do nothing or worse to continue justifying
their actions once they realize they are harmful to their neighbor.

An exegetical note: the special dispensation for being unlucky and/or
having the more fortunate forgo profit for the sake of the poor --
what you wrongly call "punishing" the productive -- is very much
Biblical. You accuse George of reading into Scripture. It's time to
pick up the mirror.

> Leviticus 25:35-38
>
> 35 " 'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to
> support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a
> temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. 36 Do not
> take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your
> countryman may continue to live among you. 37 You must not lend him
> money at interest or sell him food at a profit. 38 I am the LORD
> your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of
> Canaan and to be your God.

To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
"unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.
Received on Sat Apr 21 17:11:31 2007