“We have had more than enough of contempt.
Too long we have suffered the scorn of the wealthy,
And the contempt of the arrogant.(1)”
The concluding lines of Psalm 123 relate to one of the messages from the “Occupy Movement.”
On Friday, November 11, 2011, David Olive wrote a column in The Toronto Star about the “Occupy” movement, and the politicians in Toronto, Halifax, Vancouver, etc who are determined to clear the occupiers from parks in those cities. The column had lots of information about the growing gap between the “haves” and the “have nots”, and how the middle class in North America is being downsized.
Economic injustice is a choice that we make as human beings. Having our sisters and brothers living in poverty is a decision that our society makes – it doesn’t just happen.
Advocacy for the re-distribution of wealth is a part of our scriptures, and I wonder why Christians haven’t taken up this cause? The JUBILEE that Jesus spoke about, as recorded in Luke 4:19, also has roots in the Hebrew scriptures in Leviticus 25. Psalm 123 concludes with the lines above. Why are Christian churches not at the forefront of challenging the economic system that is creating such a chasm between the wealth of the 1% and the rest of humanity?
David Olive’s clear implication is that the current trends will not lead to the continuation of “peace” in our society. I suspect that he is referring to what has happened in other nations when the economy is restructured for the benefit of financial institutions that are in the control of the wealthy. His column concludes with the ominous words:
“Those now working to shut up and shut down the Occupiers are in denial about the real threat to civil society. Its not the tents and yurts of Occupy Toronto’s peaceful encampment in St. James Park.”
“We have had more than enough of contempt.
Too long we have suffered the scorn of the wealthy,
And the contempt of the arrogant.(1)”
[1] Psalm 123, page 847 in Voices United
allanbaker 