What is the most useful asset a person has to bring to their
life? Is it knowledge, a fist, savvy wit, a weapon or a heart full of love,
ears open to listen and hands willing to help? I had a fascinating conversation
with a couple of my college interns last night about how change happens in
society. Clearly we are all reacting and hurting over the various incidents the
last month where someone has been killed in a fashion that seems to show
injustice. The response to these circumstances varies from social media
blitzes, peaceful protests to the extreme of purposefully planned acts of
violence and destruction. The goal of our discussion and this blog is to
reflect on what truly brings about change in our lives, families, neighborhood
and country.
I confess to being a child of the 60’s where I can remember
watching from a distance various types of radical protests that ranged from sit
ins around college campuses to the extreme of kidnapping someone famous or blowing
up some government facility to get a point across. I read much from the works
of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Chavez and Marx and listened in a college
context to the thoughts of both hopeful students and aging professors. Yet the
clear message that I experienced was that change doesn’t happen on a personal
level or societal level quickly. The means by which this happens isn’t clear.
There isn’t any 1, 2, 3 step model that will transform my life or the world.
I truly believe that God through his Son Jesus Christ and
his gospel, message of redemption and reconciliation, brings true hope to a
broken world. The challenge is that not everyone will accept and affirm this
message that many will celebrate soon. I know that fear too often stops most
from expressing themselves in conflict where violence and harm might take
place. So what steps does one take when there seems to be an injustice in our
society? What path does one pursue to see the fighting between different racial
groups stop? As I listened to one of my interns speak about the why of violent
protest, she’s not affirming it but attempting to explain the frustration of
never being heard. The result of being ignored by some is to rise up and get
the attention of the world through destroying a police car, burning down a
building or attacking someone in authority.
The media has brought to the forefront the need to address
racial issues, police policy and practice and how to see justice for those that
seem to have been treated unfairly. I’m excited to see some express themselves
in a way that does bring out the issues and attempt to have open dialogue. The
challenge is that the superstars in media, sports, celebs in the film and music
industry don’t really represent the typical or average person. I read a post by
a rather well known CEO who is African American who is frustrated by being
questioned about his presence in a nice restaurant or whether he is attempting
to shoplift at a high end store in the mall. Clearly he has the means to
purchase anything his heart desires, yet the color of his skin brings judgment
and a question of why are you here?
The obvious message from the last month or so is that we as
a society are very far from being able to talk about race in a constructive
fashion. I know that most of my ‘White’ friends don’t necessarily see what’s
the big deal? It is so easy to compartmentalize the world until the race issue
comes to your doorstep! This last week there was an unfortunate shooting of a
young ‘Black’ dad by a ‘White’ Phoenix Police Officer. The issue is now on my
doorstep. I’m so thankful that the mom of the individual killed was quick to
shift this away from the race card but talk about poor training and bad
judgment.
As I finished my conversation with my two amazing interns we
sensed that the time is NOW to continue the dialogue! The real need is to send
a message of hope so that the actions of a few don’t stop the average person
from doing what is right on a moment-to-moment basis.
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