god bless

i just received an email to which i MUST respond, and i don't know that it would be appropriate to respond to just the person who sent it to me, nor all the people she sent it to, as i don't know the majority, and it would probably GREATLY upset them.

but i MUST respond.

the email was from a good friend while growing up, we've known each other since circa 3rd grade. i'm not going to mention a name, as it's not necessary.
so, the email subject was: beautiful picture. it contained a picture of the "american" (united states) flag with the sun shining through the blue/stars corner, creating the image of a cross in the light. written below was, "for those that prefer to think that God is not watching over us...go ahead and delete this. for the rest of us...pass this on."
how to respond in a way that matches my disgust? i thought of first responding to all with just the word, "deleted." however, that wouldnt explain why i'm upset and would just piss a lot of hard-working people off and maybe get my next phone call or email tapped. so, then i thought about writing, "well, right now, i'm actually living in a different country. so...does that preference extend to us 'americans' on other soil? or do we have to be within the borders to get it?"
or perhaps, "well, my brother and sister-in-law just adopted from ethiopia and another is doing it now, do their children get the benefits? does god honor adoption records?"
or perhaps, "i'll pass it on to my host family here, maybe it'll encourage them to come to the states."
or, "i'll pass it on to the boys i work with in one of the poblaciones (poverty-stricken neighborhoods) here and explain to them that that's why they live in tin huts and have a one-in-a-million chance of going to college. they should think about being born elsewhere next time, or pulling themselves up by their bootstraps."

please, know that i am in no way saying that everyone in the states thinks that way, of course. in fact, if thought anyone who read this blog was really gung-ho on the idea, i probably wouldn't write this. and you can look back at my past blog entries--i have been extremely conscious to not make this a states-bashing blog.

however, as i see/learn the effects that mindsets such as the one presented in that email, it is impossible to ignore. unfortunately, it gives me great fear. i fear for our country, our children, and our world (by OUR world, i mean the world that we all, as human beings share. not the world that the US claims to own through it's violent foreign policy and disregard of international law, to name a few. or it's idea that God has chosen to bless it above all other nations. with prosperity. you know, just like jesus said, "blessed are the rich, because god likes them more.")

rev. wright, the controversial pastor from chicago that some tried to use as a weapon (we love 'em!) against obama, was quoted most often (from what i heard) for saying, during a sermon in which he was talking about the great civil injustices of the past and present in our country, "god bless america? NO! god DAMN america." and of course, you cant say that. we have free speech, so you can SAY it, but you cant SAY it. but the point is, what was he trying to say?
in his speech after winning the nomination (which really was a great speech), obama ended by saying, "god bless america." again, with all above, it was the one thing that really made me cringe. not that i don't want god to bless america, but there's a lot more world out there. maybe we could think about spreading some of the blessing around.
and this example of obama goes to show that there is no answer in a power-suit. i believe change can happen, "change we can believe in," if you will. but it won't come from a 45-year-old guy in washington. (or a...70-year-old?) it has to come from the heart and mind of each individual citizen. and as long as we are passing along emails to remind eachother of how great we are, things won't change.

i hope everyone understands that this post has been written in a fit of passion. not that it doesn't present EXACTLY how i feel, but i usually try to censor myself a bit. and here, i have not. in all it's "anti-patriotic," sarcastic glory.

please, if you have thoughts, i would love to hear them. if you would prefer to email rather than post:
kaitlinrae@gmail.com

oh, and god bless.

post script:::
i decided to respond to the email i described. to the sender, as well as everyone she sent it to, the majority of whom i do not know. the text is as follows:

hello all,
some of you, the majority even, may not know me, but i am a friend of _____'s from WAY back (which means we have choreographed a LOT of dances to spice girls' songs.) my name is kaitlin and i am currently living, studying, and working in santiago, chile. i believe my situation gives me an interesting perspective on the subject of this email. and rather than delete it, as it suggests i do, i thought it might be more interesting and beneficial if i begin a conversation. you may dismiss me and delete this email if you choose, but if you find my thoughts interesting, please respond. i would love to discuss it with you.
i just want to say that as i live with a family and work with at-risk youth who do not bow down to that flag, i have a difficult time accepting the idea that is discussed, the idea of God specifically watching over the united states. as i look into the eyes (unfortunately only through pictures right now) of my new nephew, recently adopted from ethiopia, i again struggle with the idea that i have some type of benefit over him or his biological family.
i do believe that God loves everyone in the united states, a country that is so great in many ways, but i cannot believe that he does so more than in other countries, also great for many reasons. the God i know and love, the God of love, who said, "blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth...blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God...blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." (matthew 5).
i believe God absolutely does this, to all those that live as such in the united states. as well as elsewhere in the world.
again, i hope you all may understand where i am coming from with these thoughts. one of the greatest things about the US is that we have been taught to think as we may, and that we have the freedom to express that. whether you agree or disagree, i hope this will make you think, and maybe respond.
wishing you peace and blessings, as we all strive to be a little more like what Jesus was describing,
kaitlin