57 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King gave a speech at the “March on Washington; a peaceful protest attended by over 250,000 people: In his speech, “I Have A Dream”, Dr. King’s words move the minds and hearts of people of all races around the world: “There is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” Powerful words from a man who actually instigated real change in a time when racism was rampant.
Doctor King also famously said “Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love… Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate the white man, but to win his friendship and understanding.” This could be said for all of us. We should be striving for friendship and understanding with all peoples – this is the only way to lasting peace.
The recent riots have been confusing to many. What began as peaceful protests around the country in response to the wrongful murder of George Floyd by a minneapolis police officer quickly bubbled up into violent riots, killing twelve innocent people, several in cold-blooded murder – to date – and devastating the lives of many others. I have heard and read people trying to justify this behavior with reasons and excuses ranging from “People are angry from years of racism” (absolutely understandable, but NOT justified by violence and murder) to “We learned violence from the white man” – excuse my language but that is pure bullsh#t.
Take a quick look at history, friends. Racism and slavery is nearly as old as our history. Egyptians were enslaving Jews thousands of years ago. The Nazis created a hatred for Jews a hundred years ago and many still experience prejudice to this day. Africans were both enslaving and selling their own people as slaves long before the white man decided to get in on the game. For a current example, look at the entire continent of Africa where slavery is still practiced – young children being forced from their homes to join military groups, child soldiers being taught to kill the innocent in the name of the civil unrest that is rampant across the country – but often the leaders of these military groups just use guns and violence as an excuse to gain power. Young girls and women are routinely gang-raped or used as sex slaves in military encampments. I’m not in any way justifying or excusing the atrocity that is slavery by Caucasians or any other group – I’m just saying don’t use whites to justify violence, looting, and murder, and the ends NEVER justify the means when we turn our anger to violence.
Did David Dorn, a caring, well-loved African-American retired police chief from St. Louis deserve to die as he was trying to protect his friend’s business from looters? Four other St. Louis officers were shot by someone in the crowd while standing “at ease” during the protests. Did they deserve to be shot? O what about the three other officers that have been murdered across the nation? Did their families deserve to lose their husbands and fathers? What is wrong with a country that will riot and protest for one man but not for those that risk their lives every damned day? Nearly ninety law enforcement were murdered last year, but who stands for them?
What about Dave Patrick Underwood, the African American security guard who was gunned down in a drive-by, David McAtee, the bbq restaurant owner who was shot – or the others of varying race who have lost their lives over the last six days of violence? Did Korboi Balla, an African American firefighter deserve to lose his lifelong dream – the sports bar he invested his life savings in – to looters who burned it to the ground after looting it?
I would like to think that the resounding answer would no.
Again, I need to state that I am not condoning racism. Bias sucks in any form. I’ve been with friends of color and have experienced firsthand racism through their eyes and frankly, it is shocking and heartbreaking. I’ve also been in parts of the country where I was in fear of my life as a caucasian female in primarily black areas due to reverse racism. We all need to move to understanding, compassion and acceptance of our differences, whether color, sex, or belief system.
Most of us can relate to what it feels like to experience some form of prejudice or another. As a female, I and likely nearly every other woman on the planet have faced sexism from childhood on. In many countries women are still treated as slaves. American Indians have lost their way of life, their lands, and their self-respect and still battle prejudice and racism every day. Many Asians in this country and others confront racial and cultural bias in the workplace and beyond. For that matter, as an American who travels frequently, I have personally experienced intolerance for those of our country in Europe and I know many others who call themselves Canadian when traveling abroad due to this cultural intolerance.
I understand this bias. Politically and spiritually there are aspects of our country that are bereft of good, but isn’t it often the few who ruin things for the many? It is those few uneducated, ignorant “good ol’ boys” who rattle their sticks loudest and unfortunately end up representing the majority of us who are moderate in our beliefs and truly want a peaceful, healthy planet. Or those on the extreme left who are also biased, who scream “racist”, “zealot”, “nazi” to any that speak in favor of freedom – speech, religion, or otherwise – of all – rather than only those that believe as they do. Again, I repeat Dr. Martin Luther King’s words – “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.”
The media seems intent on amplifying the division we are experiencing, but it is only through unity that we can create tolerance. It is only through tolerance that we can achieve peace. It is only through peace that we can create a world that is safe, happy, and equal to all. Please, friends, let’s speak out against ALL violence. Let’s stand together in equity regardless of race, gender, culture, sexual preference or career.
I, too, share the dream of Dr. King – I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal….I have a dream that my childrenwill one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream that one day soon, we can stand together as one people, united by our differences and our strengthened by our sameness, meeting each other not with physical force but with soul force. Much love, friends.
This Blessed Sacred Life 