the american dream...

over the last three weeks, i have cringed every time a presidential candidate suggested his economic plan guarantees you and i to "get back" the american dream...

wiping my butt with excess dollar bills was never my idea of the american dream...my dream never existed in a realm where i possessed millions of dollars and owned nine houses...

joe the plumber is stating that his american dream is not to share the wealth..."it's mine, all mine" he might say...so i am guessing the american dream is to help a citizen get as rich as they possibly can, hord all their possessions, remove the word "share" from the communal values of the country - because god forbid we help a neighbor out anymore...it's mine - all mine...the american dream...

i am ashamed that the american dream is cloaked with selfishness...i am ashamed that the american idea of "dream" is something that denies a basic philosophy of loving your neighbor as yourself...some people would tell me to shut the hell up - the bible has nothing to do with capitalism and non-distribution of wealth...i beg to differ...remember that small community in acts 2? economy was a BIG freakin deal to them...

i don't want to get back the american dream...partially because in about thirty years, we are going to be right back where we are today, trying to offer frustrated citizens a glimpse of how it used to be...

regarding money - i can't really recall any instructions by jesus to gather and hord...zaccheus had to pay it all back...matthew had to pay it all back...the rich young ruler had to sell it all...ananais and sapphira died because they withheld some of their capital...making money isn't the dream...giving it away is...

so what does a pastor say regarding the american dream? i would probably get stoned to death...