society(5/1)
We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality
I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea.…
Sabbath is a social imperative
💬 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. Exodus 20:8-10 (ESV) The Sabbath commandment in Exodus is corporate.…
Justice is more than absence of harm
💬 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Deuteronomy 10:17-18 (ESV) As I reviewed the many passages about justice for the fatherless and the widow, so many refer to defense and the absence of oppression that it might appear a righteous person is one who doesn’t directly harm the poor.…
Societal views on business are cyclical
Prior to the 1970s, the American spot-light was on the successful, stable company and the loyal managers who supervised them. To work as a manager at Sears or General Motors was the dream job. You were the grease which made the machine go, and without which the engine would grind to a halt. There was meaning, stability, and certainty you’d retire well off as a long-standing employee of one of these stable firms (Micklethwait).…
Pseudo cultural experience does not build cultural intelligence
Pseudo-cultural experiences do not build cultural intelligence, and may give a false sense of assurance. As I meet people in Chicago I’m amazed how many have foreign travel experience. Europe, South America, Asia and more - I used to think world traveler was a unique title of mine. With international travel comes cultural experience, or so I thought. I was wrong. A trip to Cancun offers a poignant example. I had hopes of interacting with Yucatan people, eating local street food, and maybe even getting lost for a bit.…
Perceived motivation affects social programs
Due to the concentration of capital, experience and expertise in the corporation, it is uniquely suited to effect positive change among the people it serves. And so a broad-hearted owner may choose to funnel some of his company’s wealth into the common good. The British-owned Cadbury enriched the town where its factory was built with the construction of parks and the allotment of a garden to every employee (Micklethwait, loc 1407).…