Theology Reflection #3

Daniel McGee

American society is not prepared to participate in a mass revolution against the forces, economic and social, that oppress it. The main economic cause of oppression is simply the attitude of consumerist demand that defines our culture and history, and drives the liberal market economy. This drive has been embedded in the American culture and way of life since its inception and has been used to justify enslavement, exploitation, and the manipulation of many groups of people worldwide. Socially, there is in place a seemingly intrinsic hierarchy that evaluates human worth based on monetary means. Slowly over time, America has begun to assimilate more groups into this theory or way of life. The civil rights movement led by wealthy, educated blacks in the 1960s illustrates this idea. The call for freedom during this time was not a call for liberation nor a struggle against the causes of oppression and repression. We can consider the term development here because the system as a whole was not challenged. Civil rights leaders were not seeking a radical shift in the thinking that perpetuated this materialistic cultural system, but were seeking to join into the system and gain equality in dividing the spoils or access to the material dividends which were a result of the injustice. This was in effect a transfer of power, not liberation, with the goal of including wealthy blacks into the American reality instead of breaking these economic bonds. This struggle can be seen as just furthering the development of African-Americans from actually slaves to free economic and institutional slaves. I use the term free in the latter to indicate free from forced slavery, but still use the words slave because of the shackles that remain on the mind. Thus their fight for freedom was actually a fight for inclusion, or silver rites. This abstract call for freedom would not apply to those still without means, stuck in poverty, and surrounded by pain but would only enhance the lots of those blacks at the top, already well off. This consumerist mindset is prevalent in American culture and is reinforced by the desires of the average United States citizen. This was not the case with Oscar Romeros struggle for liberation in El Salvador. Romeros struggle was against the established institutions that were persecuting or sacrificing the people. He choose to live with the poor in order to identify with their struggle for justice and it opened his eyes to the true shape of the problem. The evil economic system manifested itself in El Salvador, pitting poor worker against poor solider, brother against brother. His struggle was

against the aristocracy and by association, the United States economic machine that was backing, influencing, and manipulating the situation. Romero responded by preaching not inclusion of the poor into this system for a share of the spoils of disenfranchisement, but for love and community; pathways to build the Kingdom of God. This approach was capped by his rejection of materialism and his determination in the face of these evil forces. The United States culture has a fundamental flaw that inhibits it from pursuing this notion of liberation and building the Kingdom of God. We, as Americans, feel entitled to our freemarkets, and defend them, often to the death, in the name of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. This attitude is conditioned upon us from birth, and is reinforced through the media, institutions, and other socialization factors. The internet, probably the most influential advance in technology in the 21st century thus far, is misused in this way daily. Instead of being a knowledge portal, bringing vast stores of critical information to those who previously did not have access or opportunity, it has been perverted and has become a tool of enslavement for many. It has only enhanced our societys obsession with materialism and has allowed us to consume more. It also serves as a distraction, getting us caught up in the internet reality as opposed to actual reality. This dimension in American society of the American way of life is relayed and believed by many. American exceptionalism should be renamed American ignorance. This self-proclaimed, god given entitlement is what blinds us to the reality of our choices. The American people try to stay disconnected and unaware of the reality and are resistant to the truth and the corresponding changes that must occur. This ignorance must be broken to foster Gutierrezs call for a permanent cultural revolution. Materialism, as well as the wants and greed associated with it, must be rejected. Greed creates and seeks to justify injustice, excessive indulgences, poverty, and struggle creating a smokescreen from which oppressors of the world can hide behind. A great example is the Wal-mart Corporation. In our economy and society, evidently low prices and wide profit margins are considered good, while work conditions and environmental and social impact are seldom considered at all. Wal-Mart disables and replaces small businesses that may have provided health care coverage and higher wages to employees, forcing people to ask the government for assistance or go without health care which is ultimately the costliest solution. The health-care bill recently passed by congress will not eradicate these injustices, only

to quiet the discontent for a short period of time. Only a radical upheaval and shift from our current liberal-market economy, or essential a break from the American Dream will create this permanent cultural revolution. Thus, based on the previous analysis, the United States is neither ready nor able to significantly change its culture and break free from our current liberal market economy. Liberation is a continual process, and is a call to commitment and continuous interpretation of the human reality. While we may challenge it to a miniscule extent in the classroom, there are still those who are too ingrained in their established norms and traditions and will resist the break. Those in power, moving the economic strings that cause the poverty of millions, are good at obscuring and distorting history and then feeding it back to the people twisted and manipulated. Common people feed on this hook-line and sinker, and stay trapped in the economic system. The focus on the individual in American society must become a communal focus; this is the only path to liberation and salvation. Romero chose to live with the poor in order to identify with their struggle for justice; the same path is open to us if we choose to seek liberation. The Kingdom of God is built through community (communion) and service to others. Americans are either very resistant to this notion, or seek to build community in conjunction with building their material profile. This is a serious contradiction. You cannot aspire to build the Kingdom of God while holding to the values of the kingdom of material gain. Oscar Romero understood this, and his is an example to follow of total rejection of these causes and ideals. Gutierrez calls sin a historical reality insofar as it constitutes a break with god, a breach of the communion of persons with each other; it is a turning in of individuals on themselves which manifests itself in multifaceted withdrawal from others. The liberal market economy is in other words an institutional structure of sin, oppression, and repression. It is my argument that American society is not able to achieve this now, and may never be able to due to the deep cultural roots that advocate this ideal of materialism. The silver rights movement was a prime example of Americans still obscuring what the actual struggle is about, and as long as this attitude is consistent throughout American culture we will never achieve liberation. While liberation is a process, without the support of a society that is on one accord focused and fighting the powers of oppression the Kingdom of God will stay far out of reach, and our society and culture will keep with its steady decline indefinitely.