On January 10, 2008, when President George W. Bush said, "There should be an end to the occupation that began in 1967," a surge of hope inflamed me.

"Missing from Israel's security framing is the very fact of occupation, which Israel both denies exists and excises from all utterances."-Jeff Halper, page 1, Obstacles to Peace.

For Bush to say the "O" word while in Israel was a major step into reality.

I experienced a second surge of hope, when President Bush also warned Israel of its obligations to negotiate a "contiguous" independent Palestinian state. Bush admitted what anyone who looks at a map of the 'Holy' Land understands are Bantustans and that the "Swiss cheese isn't going to work when it comes to the outline of a state."

President Bush also said there must be "painful compromises" and for that to happen we American tax payers must become more politically engaged and rise up and speak out about where our money is laid down.

Human beings have rights and nations and states have obligations.

Bush acknowledged the rights of 4.4 million Palestinian diaspora refugees to receive compensation, but he ignored Article 13-2, of the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS which Israel agreed to uphold when it became a state and which affirms: Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

What has been missing in every peace process and in the Road Map is the issue of human rights and international law. When leaders fail us, it is up to we the people to rise up and lead them in the way they should go and to remind them of their promises.

In his Second Inaugural Address, President George W. Bush affirmed, "In the long run, there is no JUSTICE without FREEDOM. There can be no human rights without LIBERTY. All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know the United States will not ignore your oppression or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for LIBERTY, we stand with you."

Liberty means freedom from captivity and Justice is outlined in International Law and the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

Every unjust action Israel gets away with is always claimed to be for 'security'. And "that 'security' requires Israel control over the entire country, thus eliminating the possibility of any truly viable and sovereign Palestinian state: that one side must win and the other lose, rendering impossible a just peace based on human rights, international law, reconciliation and regional integration." [IBID]

In the Post 9/11 world American democracy has devolved for the claim of 'security' has allowed Big Brother too much control and it is paranoia and fear of 'the other' that runs through the heartland.

Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free." Freedom from fear of 'the other' is liberating and that journey begins by looking within at ones own heart and comes to understand that evil as well as good is already there.

Although it is not true, many believe America is a Christian nation.

True Christians follow what Jesus actually said and he laid it all out on the Mount of the Beatitudes.

About 2,000 years ago, when Christ was about 33, he hiked up a hill and sat down under an olive tree and began to teach the people;

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven."

In other words: it is those who know their own spiritual poverty, their own limitations and sins honestly and trust God loves them in spite of themselves who already live in the Kingdom of God.

How comforted we will all be, when we see, we haven't got a clue, as to the depth and breadth of pure love and mercy of The Divine Mystery of The Universe. God's name in ancient Aramaic is Abba which means Daddy as much as Mommy and He/She: The Lord has said, "My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not yours." -Isaiah 55:8

Christ proclaimed more: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

The essence of meek is to be patient with ignorance, slow to anger and never hold a grudge. In other words: how happy you will be when you also know humility; when you know yourself, the good and the bad, for both cut through every human heart.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they will be filled."

In other words: how happy you will be when your greatest desire is to do what "God requires, and he has already told you what that is; BE JUST, BE MERCIFUL and walk humbly with your Lord."-Micah 6:8

"Blessed are the merciful, they will be shown mercy." In other words: how happy you will all be when you choose to return only kindness to your 'enemy.'

"For with the measure you measure against another, it will be measured back to you." Christ warns his disciples as he explains the law of karma in Luke 6:27-38.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they see God."

In other words: how happy you will be when you WAKE UP and see God is already within you, within every man, every woman and every child. The Supreme Being is everywhere, the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end. Beyond The Universe -and yet so small; within the heart of every atom.

"Blessed are The Peacemakers: THEY shall be called the children of God."

Oh how happy the WORLD will be when we all seek justice and pursue it, for there can be none without the other.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires, theirs is The Kingdom of Heaven."

And one fine day the lion will lie down with The Lamb and man will make war no more and that is the Kingdom of God.

"Love is not the starving of whole populations. Love is not the bombardment of open cities. Love is not killing......Our manifesto is the Sermon on the Mount, which means that we will try to be peacemakers." -Dorothy Day

Isaiah said it first, Jesus seconded it and I will third it:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim LIBERTY to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." Luke 4:14:22

2008 could be such a year, but it will take an engaged citizenry and for all Americans who claim to be Christian to actually do it.

-WAWA Blog January 11, 2008

Posted by: eileen fleming | January 11, 2008 3:30 PM

"I wonder how many Christians today can even recite the beatitudes."

From what I have read in surveys and such , I don't think many know where to find them .

"This article encourages me that Bush is not completely isolated from direct contact with truly spiritual and deeply compassionate people."

Glad your encourgaged . I took it as a non news day myself for a blog entry .

Posted by: Mick | January 13, 2008 7:21 PM

Today I googled "Sermon on the Mount Beatitudes Muslims" and I came to this website. I was hoping to find what the Muslim religion thinks about The Beatitudes. I will write Michelle Obama to read this.

It is good. Senator Obama needs some help today, to explain his faith, given today's headlines involving the retired pastor of his church.

I believe that I strongly support Senator Obama's candidacy for President because he, more than anyone I know of, lives by the teachings from The Sermon on the Mount.

Posted by: Nona Sheridan | March 14, 2008 11:07 AM