Our Children

I have realized that many people simply do not understand why there are so many racial issues coming up in the news. People sometimes get tired of hearing the "race card" being "pulled." Now sometimes things have nothing to do with race, but sometimes they do. 

For many many years, minorities were by law treated as lesser than and not worth what white people were. We all know this to be unfair, but it was law and people enforced those laws. Many people still think his way, as it was what they were taught by parents or grandparents, maybe not by word, but by actions and behaviors. Our legal system has a long history of protecting white people, but not minorities (internment camps, jim crow laws, slaughter and take over of Native American land). Now by no means am I stating or implying that this is not a great country, it is. It's still been way more fair and better to live in then most of the world. But that doesn't mean we haven't made mistakes. 

People are often embarrassed of these mistakes and so they don't talk about them. They want to forget it. But the families, mothers, fathers, grandparents and great grandparents who were targeted by these unfair laws, well most of them can't forget it. Many teachers even skip past or make light of these parts of our history because it is uncomfortable. However, I was always told that the reason it is important to learn about history is so we don't repeat the mistakes of our past. 

Many people see the things happening in the news and are reminded of our sordid history. They just want justice and fair treatment. They want to be heard and valued. 
But so many aren't willing to listen, so many aren't willing to be compassionate. But these are... people. People who were created in the image of God and are loved by him. The bible says that if you love those who love you it is no credit to you because even sinners do that, it asks us to love those we consider enemies to be merciful and kind (Luke 6:32-36). So I think it is highly important as Christians that we love those people we don't understand, those we don't agree with, those who look different, act and talk different, those who believe different than us, those who have different political associations than we do. We need listen to them, ask questions and start conversations that will enhance our understanding. 

Everyone has their own perspective, based on the life they have lived. And I get it, we haven't seen all seen or experienced the same things. You may have a brother, a father, a sister or cousin who is a cop and who would never act according to race, who works his or her tail off and gets spit on in return. You may know many like this. But, that doesn't mean all cops, or all people are this way. Some people, and even some cops, do believe in racial stereotypes, and they do act accordingly. It does happen. It is my hope that as people who love the Lord, people who say and claim to follow Jesus would..... have compassion, not only for officers, but for children of all colors, for mothers and sisters and brothers, who despite their color are no different. Who just want the best for their children, the same way we all do. Who just want to be treated fairly. They just want their families safe. 

And please don't tell me they aren't taught to respect authority. I have never met a mother more hard on her kids about respecting authority, especially police, than a black mother. She would never want her baby to become  a hashtag, so believe me when I say, they are respectful. 

(Side Note: In the most recent events, many may not have even noticed or seen just how polite, well mannered and respectful the children in the video were. The young man forcefully sat on the ground was respectfully saying, "Sir, please. We were just going to a birthday party sir." The young girl (of 14 or 15) was leaving, not because she was avoiding arrest, but because he told her to leave (watch it again, you can see and hear). And even when the officer ran after her, and dragged her back, and violently threw her to the ground, she did not curse him, she did not try to get up and run, she just said to her friends, "somebody call my mom." This girl child's face was smashed into the ground and had a knee jammed in her back. She was not under arrest, and even when manhandled did not resist. The officer even admitted his over reaction, his chief publicly stated he was wrong and that was not what he was trained to do. His chief said the 11 other excellent officers there already had it handled properly. And still many people defend only the officer, and do not see the child. Why? I just ask why? Is it because she must have deserved it? What makes you think that? Ask yourself, is it possible that you may believe stereotypes too?)