church
GRITtv: March 11, 2011
"We live in one world, not three. I'm very much against that we have three worlds. We have one world dominated by the same system," says Nawal El Saadawi, the pioneering Egyptian feminist thinker. In part two of her conversation with Laura, Dr. Saadawi elaborates on what real democracy would look like, in Egypt and around the world, on the connections between capitalism, patriarchy, and religious fundamentalism--and not just Islamic religious fundamentalism. A little over a year ago, Rose Mapendo visited us in our New York studio to tell us her story. Rose escaped from the Democratic Republic of Congo with nine of her ten children, and she became a humanitarian activist. Pushing the Elephant picks up ten years later, as Mapendo reunites with her daughter and is struggling to heal her family and homeland as an advocate for refugees. The documentary exposes the hidden effects of war on families, and the collective power of women. Dr. Peter Gomes died recently; the Harvard theologian advocated for the rights of gays and lesbians after coming out about his own sexuality in 1991. Just after that, he gave the sermon at Rev. Jacqui Lewis's commencement. She shares her memories with us. Distributed by Tubemogul.
Email this pageGRITtv: Jacqueline Lewis: Remembering Peter Gomes
Any preacher will tell you that you learn something about their heart and soul in the sermons they preach. I am a preacher, so I can tell you this is the truth. On a warm and wonderful May Saturday in 1992, Dr. Peter Gomes preached my Princeton Theological seminary commencement, and we learned something about his heart and soul. Although Dr. Gomes had come out to his Harvard colleagues in 1991, he came out publicly just before accepting the invitation to be our commencement speaker. Our president opposed gay ordination, but did not rescind the invitation. So as the press, our community and the Church listened in, Gomes playfully broke the tension: "I know that my being here today is the cause of no small consternation for some of you," Gomes began. "After all, I am... (dramatic pause) black... and I am... (dramatic pause)... Baptist... and I am (dramatic pause)... from Harvard!" We howled with laughter. What I remember even more is the way my eyes filled with tears when I heard something this great preacher said near the end of his sermon, called "Lions and Doors." Reflecting on the story of a man named Daniel, who was thrown into a lions' den for being faithful, whose life was spared. “The moral is not ‘be good and God will save you from Lions. NO, the moral is God is good and if you believe that and remember that you can face the lions, even the church lion, even for lunch and even if they eat you up (which they did not in this case). God is still Good and because of that, so are you. God is still good, and so are you. Dr. Gomes’ heart and soul knew that the goodness of God means all of God’s people, no matter race or ethnicity, no matter gender or sexual orientation, no matter their station in life are GOOD. How dare we treat them as otherwise. Preach it Dr. Gomes. We will miss you! Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: March 11, 2011
"We live in one world, not three. I'm very much against that we have three worlds. We have one world dominated by the same system," says Nawal El Saadawi, the pioneering Egyptian feminist thinker. In part two of her conversation with Laura, Dr. Saadawi elaborates on what real democracy would look like, in Egypt and around the world, on the connections between capitalism, patriarchy, and religious fundamentalism--and not just Islamic religious fundamentalism. A little over a year ago, Rose Mapendo visited us in our New York studio to tell us her story. Rose escaped from the Democratic Republic of Congo with nine of her ten children, and she became a humanitarian activist. Pushing the Elephant picks up ten years later, as Mapendo reunites with her daughter and is struggling to heal her family and homeland as an advocate for refugees. The documentary exposes the hidden effects of war on families, and the collective power of women. Dr. Peter Gomes died recently; the Harvard theologian advocated for the rights of gays and lesbians after coming out about his own sexuality in 1991. Just after that, he gave the sermon at Rev. Jacqui Lewis's commencement. She shares her memories with us. Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: Jan. 14, 2011
"Phil was always a little ahead of the curve," says Ken Bowser, the director of a new documentary on 1960s protest singer Phil Ochs. Ochs wrote and performed folk music in its heyday, weighing in on major political issues of his time and connecting with other singer-activists around the world, from Bob Dylan to Chilean singer Victor Jara. Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune talks to people, from Sean Penn to Christopher Hitchens, who were touched by Ochs's music and who knew the singer, who took his own life in 1976 at age 35. Bowser joins Laura in studio for a conversation about Ochs and the film, the place of art and music in protest and activism, and why Ochs has faded from the public's consciousness. Half a century after Dr. King, the civil rights struggle continues and one group still pushing even to be understood, let alone included in what President Obama would call the circle of our concern are transgender people, people who feel their gender and their physical bodies don't match. The group for Parents Familes and Friends of Lesbians and Gays has produced a film, "Faces and Facets of TransGender Experience," a story less of tragedy than triumph. You can get copies to play in your community or school through PFLAG and they benefit from every sale. And finally, GRITtv contributor John Fugelsang has a few Bible lessons for Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church. Distributed by Tubemogul. Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: Jan. 14, 2011
"Phil was always a little ahead of the curve," says Ken Bowser, the director of a new documentary on 1960s protest singer Phil Ochs. Ochs wrote and performed folk music in its heyday, weighing in on major political issues of his time and connecting with other singer-activists around the world, from Bob Dylan to Chilean singer Victor Jara. Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune talks to people, from Sean Penn to Christopher Hitchens, who were touched by Ochs's music and who knew the singer, who took his own life in 1976 at age 35. Bowser joins Laura in studio for a conversation about Ochs and the film, the place of art and music in protest and activism, and why Ochs has faded from the public's consciousness. Half a century after Dr. King, the civil rights struggle continues and one group still pushing even to be understood, let alone included in what President Obama would call the circle of our concern are transgender people, people who feel their gender and their physical bodies don't match. The group for Parents Familes and Friends of Lesbians and Gays has produced a film, "Faces and Facets of TransGender Experience," a story less of tragedy than triumph. You can get copies to play in your community or school through PFLAG and they benefit from every sale. And finally, GRITtv contributor John Fugelsang has a few Bible lessons for Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church. Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: Ken Bowser: Phil Ochs and the Guitar He Won on a Bet
Filmmaker Ken Bowser talks about how Phil Ochs started playing music, including his first guitar won on a bet thanks to the election of John F. Kennedy. Watch the full interview at http://www.grittv.org. Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: John Fugelsang: Bible Lessons for Westboro Baptist
In the wake of the horrific Tuscon shootings, The state of Arizona has passed an emergency measure instituting "funeral protection zones" that will keep all protestors at least 300 feet away from funeral services. Of course this was a response to Westboro Baptist church and the Reverend Fred Phelps, who are to Christianity what Jesus Christ was to ignorance, hatred & inbreeding. Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: Chris Hedges: The Death of the Liberal Class
"We have a choice," says Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Chris Hedges. "You can either be complicit in your own enslavement or you can lead a life that has some kind of integrity and meaning."
GRITtv: Nov. 12, 2010
"We have a choice," says Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Chris Hedges. "You can either be complicit in your own enslavement or you can lead a life that has some kind of integrity and meaning."
Every Church A Peace Church 33: Dr. Robert Franklin
Dr. Robert Franklin, public theologian and Morehouse College's 10th President, discusses his book "Crisis In The Village: Restoring Hope in African American Communities." We also discuss Dr. Franklin's vision for Morehouse College to encourage young men to learn and to act with courage to fulfill their commitment to community. Solutions to the crisis in AFrican American communities include reviving a culture of healthy relationships. Don also presents a special candle-lighting ceremony to commemorate this special "candle-in-the-dark" interview.
