Elian: The Moral High Ground?
From: name omitted
To: ucmpage@ucmpage.org
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2000 5:47 AM
Subject: UnOfficial CM
Greetings,
I am an avid follower of this site. However, I am extemely disappointed that you have
forayed into the Elian Gonzalez issue, just when we need to be keeping our eyes on the
prize.
The story at the top of your news page is worthy of the National Inquirerer, not this
site.
A boy should be with his father. Do we not believe this? This is NOT Castro's idea.
Let's not yeild Castro, the anti-father, the moral high ground. The family is the bedrock
on which democracy is built. Were it not so, we would find it necessary to seize children
all over the world, and bring them here to the land of opportunity, in order to promote
democracy.
You have rational supporters who do not agree with you on this one. Let's stick
together through General Conference and leave politics out of it.
Sincerely,
name omitted
From the Editor:
Richard,
I value your advice and will consider your counsel. Please, consider mine.
I agree with you about the family, General Conference, and the purpose
of this site.
This story involves the GBCS, so it is UM News.
According to my observation, world politics has prevented the family
issue from ever being honestly dealt with, hence, the family, both US and Cuban, has never
been allowed to be such because of the interference of the atheistic minions of communist
Cuba's Castro, who do not believe in the family. (Children are the property of the
state=slavery) And this, with the support of an agency of the United Methodist Church!
Since family has not been allowed to be considered in this political
situation fraught with lies and deceptions, and since Elian will not be returned to his
father who has not been allowed to discuss his desires for the welfare of his family, I
have come to the conclusion as I would with my own son--he is better off free with his
family in Florida, which was apparently the intent of his mother and father before the
political intervention in these family affairs.
If I were his father, I would choose to lose the son I already lost
through divorce and had full knowledge of his escape to freedom, in a society that
recognizes the family as the bedrock of democracy, and who has, in fact, a loving family
in Florida.
Therefore, I am loving my neighbor as myself. If I were Elian's father,
I would chose to sacrifice my own selfish desire and give my son a future with his loving
family in America, rather than with papa Castro who owns my son and family is denied.
I would also like to highlight that our UM agency has contributed to
this deception and violence against the family of Elian. I have heard no protest for the
deception, lies and violent machine gun assault on Elian's family in Florida from our
Board of Church and Society. What would Jesus Do? Carry a machine gun, break into an
unarmed family home, yell "give me the f---ing boy or I will shoot" while
promising a peaceful resolution of the family issue over the phone? From my vantage point
we, the UMC, have placed ourselves on the side of violence in America, the murder of the
Castro regime, lies and deception, and have not protested the same in the handling of the
Elian situation. By such fruit, I would say that we are NOT on the side of family, but on
the side of the "father of lies."
(John 8:43-44 NIV) Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are
unable to hear what I say. [44] You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to
carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the
truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he
is a liar and the father of lies.
I do not see the family ever dealt with in this situation, just
politics, violence and lies that characterize a murderous regime where the concept of
family does not exist. Is this America? Is this the United Methodist Church? What would
Jesus do?
(John 15:12-13 NIV) My command is this: Love each other as I have loved
you. [13] Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Elian's mother did, I believe I would, and it would be consistent with my
faith. God sacrificed his only son so that I might be free from sin's wages. I would
sacrifice my fatherhood so my son could be free from a society that offers no freedom.
"If he died to make men holy, let us die to make them free" as the old hymn
goes. The father is denied through the politics of lies, murder and extortion to express
his family desires for his son. The mother has been denied the freedom by death struggling
for that very same freedom to express her desires for her son. The family of Elian in
Florida have been denied the freedom in America to express their desires for the welfare
of Elain through the politics of lies, deception, and violence. The only voices left are
Clinton's and Castro's, neither of whom are members of the family.
This in not a matter of family. That has been denied all the
legitimate members of his family. It still remains a matter of the politics of lies,
deception, and violence with the support of the United Methodist Church. Where is
their any voice of protest in our denomination?
(Matthew 7:17-20 NIV) Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad
tree bears bad fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear
good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the
fire. [20] Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
I have yet to see any good fruit in this situation regarding our
denomination, our nation, or communist Cuba. That, is why, I would speak as a Christian
and a father to keep Elian free and expose the works of "the father of lies" and
his offspring, which I believe is the "moral high ground."
I will prayerfully consider your advice and perhaps let this be the last
I say on this issue, except in the report of UM related news and in providing a voice for
those who otherwise would be lost in a sea denial and deception.
Love in Christ,
John OSMA<><
Rev. John Warrener, MDiv., MBA
Palmyra Road United Methodist Church
1600 Palmyra Road Albany, GA 31701
jwarrene@ucmpage.org
Unofficial Confessing Movement Page
http://ucmpage.org
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