[greenyes] Evangelicals - Threat or Promise

["Peter Anderson" <anderson@no.address>]

Dave and Doug have taken exception to the caption I included as a lead in 
the Rolling Stones article on evangelicals' political plans.

Dave says he has no intention of turning the other cheek: and Doug says this 
has nothing to do with recycling. Briefly in reply--

    CHEEKS.  Although I am quite irreligious in the institutional sense, I 
have done quite a bit of reading, because -- notwithstanding the distortions 
to which he has been put-- Jesus is an incredible historic figure in the 
history of social and moral change. In the context of his times, turning the 
other cheek was not a meek and passive act...doing so to the Romans was a 
well known showing of defiance, much like Ghandi's salt protest.  In 
hindsight, perhaps though I should have better mentioned his use of the word 
agape for the basis of a new relationship with former enemies, which is 
usually translated as love, but in Greek really means unconditional love, 
which is something so much more and transcendent.  But, at this point, I 
fear digressing too much, and ask anyone who wants to delve into that to 
email me directly.

    RECYCLING.  Inasmuch as recycling, except for non-ferrous metals and 
high grade papers, continues to hang on by its tenterhooks, more than 15 
years after the beginning of the modern era of recycling, we have to ask why 
if we are going to, ourselves, be sustainable.  I believe the answer lies in 
the fact that the things we compete against, virgin materials and disposal, 
are drastically underpriced because the wrong people have controlled the 
political levers. That is to say, our fate lies in public policy, and in 
that arena, we are today being eaten alive.  Unless we delve in to learn why 
and act on those lessons, we will be doomed to dwell on the minutia of 
recycling as it inevitably declines over time. Our fate lies in the 
fundamentals of our society not the nuts and bolts of our industry.  Note 
that we can ever forget about doing what we can to tighten the screws, but 
not at the expense of forgetting the wider tableau where the things are 
decided that will determine our success. Ditto for what is needed to right 
the ship: we are sinking, not listing, and refining our message doesn't 
begin to reach the depth of our problems: fundamental political changes in 
tectonics are what is needed.

                                                                        Peter

_________________________
Peter Anderson, President
RECYCLEWORLDS CONSULTING
4513 Vernon Blvd. Suite 15
Madison, WI 53705-4964
Ph: (608) 231-1100
Fax: (608) 233-0011
Cell: (608) 698-1314
eMail: anderson@no.address
web: www.recycleworlds.net

         CONFIDENTIAL
This message, and all attachments thereto,
is covered by the Electronic Communications
Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C., Sections 2510-2521.
This message is CONFIDENTIAL. If you are
not the intended recipient of this message,
then any retention, dissemination, distribution
or copying of this communication is strictly
prohibited. Please notify me if you received
this message in error at anderson@no.address
and then delete it.