The archbishops of Kenya, Australia and South America - among others - deplore the New Hampshire consecration. They speak of "broken" and "impaired" communion with the American church and foresee open schism. Says Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria, representing 17 million Anglicans there (compared with the 2 million Episcopalians here):
"We deplore the act of those bishops who have taken part in the (New Hampshire) consecration, which has now divided the church in violation of their obligation to guard the faith and unity of the church."
The usual suspects are ripping a U.S. evangelical Christian lieutenant general - Jerry Boykin - for giving speeches about the "evil" of Islam and the centrality of Christianity in America. Investigations are being demanded (and one in the Pentagon apparently is going forward); and so, from Cairo to Karachi - and even unto the halls of the U.S. Senate - is Gen. Boykin's neck. And in truth maybe, given his lofty position as deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and special operations, the general should have kept his thoughts private.
But the cacophony over his comments does ask the question why it has been left principally to evangelical Christians - as opposed to interfaith mainliners - to speak of Christianity and Islam in any but tapioca tones. This is a Christian nation and religion clearly isn't beanbag. If Islam is fraudulent or violent - if certain of its followers believe killing innocents is the path to paradise - then how is it wrong to point out perceived inherent differences with Christianity? And why does the interfaith community demur from doing so?
Yale's David Gelernter, famously maimed by the Unabomber, notes (regarding smug offense taken at Gen. Boykin's remarks):
"Granted, ours is an Offended Age. All right, I'm offended (might as well get with the program). As a practicing Jew, I am offended when Jews all over the country pop up to denounce angrily some hapless truth-teller who says what is obvious, that this is a Christian country, ... (that) Christianity is (at any rate) a variant of Judaism, formed on a Jewish armature. ... By erecting and maintaining America on Christian principles, Christians have tendered Jews the deepest of compliments. Why not accept it in that spirit?"
On the economy, bad followed good again. Oct. 31 headlines such as these told the tale of economic turnaround: (1) "Economy Records Speediest Growth Since the Mid-'80s." (2) "U.S. (Third Quarter) Economic Growth Surges; Output Rises at Highest Rate Since 1984." (3) "Compelling Signs of Resurgence: Dramatic Acceleration in Q3; Consumers and Business Both Pitch in to Generate Better-Than-Expected Gain." (4) "Best Growth Since Reagan Boosts Bush." And (5) "So Much for Recession."
Yet, as inevitably seems to happen, the bad news came just days later, as these headlines suggest: (1) "Senators Assail Trading Abuses at Mutual Funds," and (2) "Fund Scandal Widens as Congress Opens Hearings Into Trading." First Enron, then Arthur Andersen, then CEO pay, then investment houses. Now mutual funds - which, combined, hold $7 trillion in assets.
How about the strength and resilience of the U.S. economy - despite the best efforts of some that should know better to sabotage it, to cheat and to wink at the rules?