This is a rant. This is my rant. A rant is a verbal (or written) tantrum. A rant is not to be reasoned with because the one ranting is not in a frame of mind to be reasoned with. A rant can be filled with logical mistakes, historical fallacies, and spiritual foolishness and yet serve as a cathartic and can be persuasive in its own right, though filled with flaws because there is the seed of truth in it. A rant is to be accepted or rejected, but not critically analyzed and debated. The purpose of a rant isn’t to communicate information, but to express moral outrage. In parsing a rant and analyzing its logic, its very essence is swept aside. This is a rant. This is my rant.
Listening to the radio the other day I heard of the imminent threat that radical Islam poses to America and to our sacred traditions. The radio host was telling of how these terrorists are intent upon imposing their way of life upon us. Our life and our way of life matters little to them – they are bent on empire. They believe it is their destiny to swallow us alive. They are waiting in the wings with violence in their hearts and murder on their breath to obliterate our great civilization.
As I listened, I began to think about America’s behavior in the past. Somehow, 
I was able to lay hold of an old radio broadcast by Tecumesh, chief of the Shawnee Indians. He had a daily program that aired to the Indian nations in and around 1800. There was great concern among the various tribes about the imminent threat that the white man presented to the indigenous peoples of this land. He spoke of the godless Americans and immigrants from Europe who are pushing westward. Let’s listen in – “Brothers, these men achieve their ends by violence and deceit. They believe that what has been ours for centuries is theirs for the taking. And take it they will. They kill and burn and steal with no moral hindrance. Their theologians and thinkers have what they believe is a manifest destiny and that it is their God’s will that this land be inhabited by them. They will kill us in order to lay hold of what is ours. Brothers, the Great Spirit does not guide them and they are strangers to the way of the Great Spirit. What God they follow, I know not, but it is not a God of justice and mercy.” The recording became indecipherable after this.
Back to 2012 – I listened to the radio broadcast of this evangelical decrying the godless, butchering Muslims wanting to invade our land and I got mad – not at radical Islam (and there is enough to be mad and alarmed at here); I didn’t get mad at the radio personality and his myopic vision; I was mad at our American ancestors. This country was obtained by the shedding of innocent blood. And the blood cries out. Much wealth was gained by the oppression of an entire people (my rant has now switched to how our ancestors enslaved millions of black people). And the blood cries out. We are still paying the price for this.
Obviously, we should resist any attempt by any people (radical Islam or otherwise) to invade/infiltrate/defeat our nation. But let’s not be surprised that it’s happening.
We are being treated the way we treated others.
What goes around, comes around – on a cosmic/historic scale. There was a famine in David’s day and the Lord told him that it was because of the way that Saul (a previous administration) had treated the Gibeonites. And the blood cried out. Their innocent blood was required by the hand of the nation.
I hear today of oppressive American policy practices abroad; of corporate America’s unjust business practices in third world nations. And the blood cries out. What goes around, comes around. The seeds of injustice yield a harvest of hatred and violence. And the blood cries out. ”O, God, make me a peacemaker.”
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Galatians 6:7
1) I accept your rant.
2) “…I heard of the imminent threat that radical Islam poses to America and to our sacred traditions. The radio host was telling of how these terrorists are intent upon imposing their way of life upon us. Our life and our way of life matters little to them – they are bent on empire. They believe it is their destiny to swallow us alive. They are waiting in the wings with violence in their hearts and murder on their breath to obliterate our great civilization.” — This sounds like someone who could be complaining about the advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven.
3) That Native American broadcast… must have been some radio. Ever seen the movie Frequency?
Terry, @ your #2 – hmmmmm.
Rant applauded and approved!
So much for America returning to her Christian roots. :-/
Thanks Tim. Your rant is appreciated!
Tim,
I like when you rant!
It is easy for us to forget our failings in light of our accomplishments and present circumstances. Not to mention the fact that it’s just more comfortable to put our past failings out of mind. I feel the same way you do over the rhetoric coming from our tribe (i.e. Evangelical) regarding Islam, when I see my brothers speak of “Undocumented, Illegal Aliens” in very heated and angered tones.
I was driving I-8 from Tucson, AZ to San Diego today, a good portion of which follows the U.S. / Mexican border. As I was looking to the south, which at several points the border fence is less than a quarter-mile away, I couldn’t help but think, “I’d cross in a second to get here from there if the tables were turned.” Then I remember that my grandparents on my father’s side immigrated here from Italy less than a century ago, and I’m glad they did.
Too easy to forget our roots and the manure from which we sprang. I wonder if we’ve mixed the USA up a little too much with the Eternal Kingdom of God and actually think that this (the U.S.) is it.
Great post!
Miles…..could not agree with you more.
Good word.
I’ve thought the same thing. I’d be over the border in a second – even as a Christan man. I would think that my responsibility as a husband/father would trump national sovereignty.
Amen!
I was educated when young in Canada. The revolutionary war in our eyes was an Indian war. The American settlers wanted to abridge the treaties with the Indians signed by the British and French. After the war, General Brant, the British educated leader of the Mohawks led his peoples from their lush valleys in New York to the sandy soil of harsh Ontario. He crossed the Grand river in the town I was raised, Brantford, and the Mohawks lived there rather squalidly. George Washington, the great Indian fighter, went on to found the United States and set the tone for future dealings with the natives.
Nature, red in tooth and claw.
History, red in tooth and claw.
Tim, I took a class once on “America’s Christian History,” and as the instructor spoke of the Civil War, he blamed it upon the sins of slavery. Then he theorized that if the blood atonement to cover the national sins of slavery was the Civil War, then what will God require as blood atonement for the killing of over 54,000,000 babies through abortion?
Yet, we have continued to be blessed as a nation, but increasingly are being chastened for our national sins.
My personal opinion: the presence of true believers as the salt of the earth, and our support of Israel have both contributed to the mercy God has continued to shower upon us.
My question is, when will enough be enough in God’s mind? Revival is most certainly needed.
Hi, Bill – I agree with your assessment. The presence of the righteous, our gospel witness to the world, support of Israel, and generosity in charity and mercy are preserving the nation. But assests are being counter balanced by debts. The blood cries out and God will not be mocked.