The Archbishop of York cuts up dog collar over Mugabe

John Sentamu, The Archbishop of York, has pledged not to wear his dog collar until Mugabe leaves power

John Sentamu, dramatically cut up his dog collar live on television yesterday in a protest against Robert Mugabe's regime – and pledged not to wear the collar until Mugabe leaves power in Zimbabwe. Sentamu, a guest on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, was speaking as the Zimbabwean President attended the EU-African summit in Lisbon. The Archbishop said Mugabe had been "destroying the identities" of his people through oppression and economic mismanagement. Taking out his dog collar, Sentamu said Mugabe had "taken people's identity, literally... and cut it to pieces."

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[Lloyd Whifefield Butler]

Dear Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend (John) Sentamu Ebor; peace be unto you and may God continue to bless you.

In reference to the recent headlines “Sentamu cuts up dog collar over Mugabe”. I thought you would alter your collar and tell the people of Africa to not let unapologetic America and Britain break their noble spirits of joy, ingenuity, and ancient integrity. Yes, “Africa must drop the guilt card to strengthen its hand” and play the “Above suspicion card of Judgment Day” for the rape of Africa, colonialism, and the European Slave Trade of which America and Britain has never made compensatory reparations of any sort; except an oral admission of guilt, or a day in court.

Can any African recall a day of restitution, reparation, or compensation equivalent to repairs made to devastated Europe after both World Wars; caused by their insatiability for African wealth? “Men do not despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; but when he is found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house” says Proverbs 6:30-31. As you know restitution, reparations, and restoration are the essence of justice.

The opening ceremonial remarks at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum by Under Secretary of State Stuart E. Eizenstat said the following concerning compensatory apologies: “For those who, against unimaginable odds, are still alive today, our work must be guided by an urgent resolve to ensure that those who survived the tragedy of the Holocaust will not continue to suffer in poverty and fear. For those who perished, our efforts must be galvanized by an unrelenting aspiration to uncover the truth and to seek justice for both the living and the dead. Only then can we provide a last - albeit inadequate - measure of justice for those who died. As painful as it may sometimes be, we must not sweep these issues under the rug of embarrassment, silence and indifference…By undertaking a moral accounting, by completing the historical record, by providing restitution, by educating future generations, by righting the wrongs of the past and finally by seeking justice for the living and for the dead, we can walk together in the path to that “perfect day.”

And, opening remarks by Mr. Avraham Hirchson, Member of the Knesset, stated “We are not involved in vengeance, but rather a sacred duty. Vengeance is driven by instinct. Duty is driven by the feeling of mission.”

The Guardian, March 26, 2007, reads “Archbishop of York urges PM to apologise for slavery - Expressions of regret not enough, say leading clergy’ and that ‘Mr. Blair did not issue an apology, but expressed "deep sorrow and regret" in Ghana to mark the 200th anniversary of Britain passing an abolition law. Mr. Blair did not issue an apology, but expressed "deep sorrow and regret" for the suffering it caused…”

Your holiness, did you alter your collar for the Church of England’s responsibility in the European slave trade of African people, and or, your government’s participation? Did you alter your collar and demand former Prime Ministers John Blair and Gordon make a compensatory apology to all Africans? If not, why Mr. Robert Mugabe?

We are reminded of Luther, the German reformer, who wrote in the sixteenth century: “He that says slavery is opposed to Christianity is a liar!” And Bossnet, the great pulpit orator of the French Catholics, joined his words with Luther’s, the following century, by declaring that “the laws of all nations sanction slavery. To condemn it is to condemn the Holy Ghost.”

Beloved Most Reverend, when and if Zimbabwe collapse resulting in chaos, civil unrest, death and economic destruction; how will the opposition compensate in revitalizing Zimbabwe’s people and economy other than selling Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth to the highest or lowest capitalist bidders?

Upon the societal collapse of Zimbabwe how will the opposition to the active Zimbabwe government prevent a foreign invasion imposing terms suited for their profitable benefit?

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. warned us: “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death…A nation that will keep people in slavery for 244 years will "thingify" them and make them things. And therefore, they will exploit them and poor people generally economically. And a nation that will exploit economically will have to have foreign investments and everything else, and it will have to use its military might to protect them.”

Africans must command economic justice from Europe and America for the past initially and as a prerequisite.

The European Union and AFRICOM, are the modern plenipotentiaries, and according to Wikipedia: “The Berlin Conference (German: Kongokonferenz or "Congo Conference") of 1884–85 regulated European colonization and trade in Africa during the New Imperialism period, and coincided with Germany's sudden emergence as an imperial power. Called for by Portugal and organized by Bismarck, the first Chancellor of Germany, its outcome, the General Act of the Berlin Conference, is often seen as the formalization of the Scramble for Africa.”

Beloved Archbishop of York, as your know, in 1702 Queen Anne instructed the Governor of New York “to give due encouragement to the Royal African Company of England.”

American Abolitionist Rev. John Wesley stated that “The assumed legal relation of master and slave was a cunning fabrication.” And I say the assumed legal relation of former colonizer and former colonized is too a cunning fabrication.

May the Ancestors bless the Archbishop of York and President Mugabe with wisdom, unity, and faith. The people of Zimbabwe have spoken: they have a preference for their Elder Statesman President Mugabe. We Africans should work and quarrel together as a family, respecting our Elders even in criticism. We all should avoid the "ad hominem ad nauseum". Reconciliation is a proven ancient African tradition of jurisprudence.

Lloyd Whitefield Butler, Jr.
Descendant of African Slaves in America
295 Clinton Avenue – Suite F9
Brooklyn, New York 11205

[Pastor Lewis]

Has this Sentamu guy gone nuts or something.

Does he know that Zimbabwe is the most secure place in Africa?

That SA peasants have apparently decided to shoot dead all white farmers rather than to tell them to fuck off like Zimbabwe did.

Does he know that Zimbabweans are so educated that they know what is happening to them and who is to blame without need to read any bullshit news?

Does he know that Mugabe has been given the mandate to do what he is doing by Zimbabwean voters?

That this revolution will go on with or without Mugabe.

Does he know that it is a sin for a people to live in bondage coz of fear of other people.

If David as a lad had the balls to confront
Golliath what can stop us from reclaiming our land.

If you say Mugabe gave land to his cronies then more than 80% of Zimbos are cronies.

Sentamu should rather concentrate on his asshole-fucking British congregation and leave our Mugabe alone.

[Lloyd Whifefield Butler]

This article is from The Zimbabwe Guardianhttp://www.talkzimbabwe.com/

Reparations: The Saints Go Marching In
18.DEC.07
SINCE writing “Letter to the Archbishop” Zimbabwe Guardian 15 Dec. 07 and my comment in Zimbabwe Today responding to a recent worldwide headline "Sentamu cuts up dog collar over Mugabe," the saints are on the march including the World Council of Churches, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Council for World Mission.

I raised the following questions with the Archbishop: “Your holiness, did you alter your collar for the Church of England’s responsibility in the European slave trade of African people, and or, your government’s participation? Did you alter your collar and demand former Prime Ministers John Blair and Gordon Brown make a compensatory apology to all Africans? If not, why Mr. Robert Mugabe?”

And for the historical record and root cause I wrote: “We are reminded of Luther, the German reformer, who wrote in the sixteenth century: “He that says slavery is opposed to Christianity is a liar!” And Bossnet, the great pulpit orator of the French Catholics, joined his words with Luther’s, the following century, by declaring that “the laws of all nations sanction slavery. To condemn it is to condemn the Holy Ghost.

As this controversy was brewing in the world media The World Council of Churches, 17.12.07 15:40, in a joint release with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Council for World Mission boldly released their conference report; "Abolished, but not Destroyed: Remembering the Slave Trade in the 21st Century" and “Reparation needed to address transatlantic slave trade”.

The WCC release stated that “Sixty theologians, church leaders and activists from Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas attended an event called held 10 to 14 December in Runaway Bay, Jamaica…The conference marked the 200th anniversary of the passing of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act of the British House of Commons. Between the 16th and 19th centuries an estimated 15 million Africans were forcibly removed from their homes and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to become slaves in the Caribbean and the Americas.”

‘We also realize, however, that people of White European ancestry, whether they were anti- or pro-slavery, benefited from the entitlements accruing to them by virtue of being White-skinned peoples. For example, in late 1800s, in Brazil and many other colonies, although Black peoples were being emancipated from legal slavery, they were not given land, and had to pay high rent for tools and other resources; at the same time, White European immigrants were given incentives such as land and other resources. Thus, people of White European ancestry who had no direct involvement in the slavery or the slave trade became never-the-less beneficiaries of the enslavement system. Much has been written today about White privilege; this privilege is one of the legacies of the ideology of racial superiority that infused the Transatlantic Trade in Africans.’

‘Jennifer Ayana McCalman of Nevis, a CWM delegate, said, "What has been done in one generation has effects in the generations following. If we don't deal with these consequences from the slave trade then we, the church, are living in denial."

‘WARC general secretary Setri Nyomi, who also attended the event, expressed thanks for the collaboration with WCC and CWM. "The statement sends a strong message challenging churches to look at their own past complicity in the evil of slavery and the slave trade and be at the forefront of exposing modern forms of slavery and oppression of people based on caste, race, gender or economic status," Nyomi said.”

These events of historical magnitude taken by the World Council of Churches, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Council for World Mission must be commended. For the complete WCC reparation conference reports see: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/home.html.

In reference to African and Caribbean nations where the governments are accused of being despotic and or tyrannical; methods should be devised to ascertain the truth in order to dismantle or revitalize these remnants of the Peculiar Institution and European colonialism. Ways that are not self-destructive to the people or their fragile economy. Ways and means for opposition groups to be heard and not falsely imprisoned, threatened, or disrespected whether in America or Zimbabwe, Haiti or Britain, Sudan or Egypt, France or Sierra Leone. This can be done.

We cannot afford to have a symbolic Samson complex pulling down the pillars of emotionalism down on ourselves.

Lloyd Whitefield Butler, Jr.
Descendant of African Slaves in America

[Ten Shots]

Arch bishop am sure u fully aware of the hypocricies of ur organisation. U preach on pure gold alters to rag clothed parishners. After the Jews the catholic is the second richest in the world. 400 years ago u had to formulate ideologies to excuse enslavment colonisation and arpatheid. u spoke of a God given right to civilise the world and in Africa u commited th worst hypocrisy. wool clothing the vampire . ur misionaries preached a domesticating theology that blinded the people from their own salvation in the face of the slave brokers. U destroyed the very strength of the African culture that gave wisdom , prudence and insight to the people. Isaiah 14:21...."Prepare slaughter for his sons because of the guilt of their fathers, lest they rise and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities." never again u take me in bondage and civilise me u hypocrites. Judgement is set do not be surprised when u forfeit entry into the very heaven u preach. now u want to introduce ur Medivial asskissing in my back yard, taking my ancestors for nought.

[Ten Shots]

"there is nah hope for the pope"

[Forbes32Millicent]

All people deserve wealthy life time and home loans or commercial loan will make it much better. Just because freedom bases on money state.