For all the people:
I have been having an internal struggle for the past few weeks. I’m a Christian who is suddenly having fear of the unknown. I’m a black man who worries for those who aren’t used to being marginalized. I’m a father who is worried about the future of this world for his children. I’m a Husband who is worried for his wife, mother, sisters, and lady friends that in this country are living in an increasingly hostile world. I’m an employee who is worried for his employment future.
I’m a man who on the same day can be called an “Uncle Tom”, when explaining that we can survive this and its not as bad as it looks; But within that same day I can be called a fear monger for sharing the experiences of others who have been mistreated or hurt.
I’m a tax-payer who is looked upon as a hater when critical of Police and those in public office, or another unmentionable for supporting those serving the public.
What does all this mean? My same consistent message is received differently depending on who you are, and how you decide to read me.
In my spirit of concern, I pray for a calming of my soul. I seek understanding for what I don’t understand. I’ve seen some of my Christian brothers and sisters apologize for potentially hurting people. To be honest I’m not there yet. Not that I don’t apologize when I’m wrong, but I want to be sincere if/when I have to apologize. Being called a fear monger was something that gave me pause, but is sharing what has occurred to others wrong? I don’t agree.
I do reflect on 1st Peter 2:15-16 -> For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
But what’s good, I find myself asking that. Is communicating that people are hurt a good thing? Many take my points sooo poorly that I find myself questioning it. I keep hoping that it would trigger some sort of empathy and want to make the hurt stop. And in a way It hurts. People in my life seem unwilling to bend. Living free in their own world, but with minimal regard to others. I’m not calling that evil, but it also doesn’t seem that this freedom is being ultimately used as a vehicle for God. Biblically, I feel like we as Christians are like the ancient Israelites/Jewish folk who grew tired of waiting for God during Moses time and are now seeking a savior in something false, and with that we are in for a bumpy road while God holds his steady light house as we find our way back to him.
On a secular point I have been forced to reflect on the campaign and presidency of President Barrack Obama. Did he promote a message that made people feel unsafe? While he didn’t promote prolife for the unborn, he seemed like he was a champion of pro-life for other lives. (There is a balance there that I don’t think that people who are pro-life think about). A lot of his policies were considered socialist by his detractors, but I never felt that this was necessarily a bad thing. But that’s where it would stop with President Obama. His policies. And debating the merit of what he wanted to do vs. McCain or Romney was a pure political philosophical debate.
I would love to know if the fears that have overwhelmed me are the same fears for people that opposed Obama had felt. I’d like to understand why. What was said by Obama that was so fearful? Who was brought to Obama’s cabinet that brought the divisiveness we are seeing in these selections thus far. I think many people forget that the ever present biases that exist in this country, as far as laws are concerned and their application, literally terrorize those who are on the negative side of the bias. The idea that things will be enforced more tightly with no regards to problems in our justice system is very fearful.
Many people are staunch second amendment supporters. Any mention of policies or regulations that could slow down the process of the ownership has been met with strong rebuke. But I find it troubling that the idea of stop and frisk in urban communities doesn’t bring the same rebuke or concern? Doesn’t this intrude on freedom? Isn’t this just a post ownership process of proving you should have a gun? Will this be applied evenly? The previous implementation of Stop and Frisk was ruled unconstitutional due to how it was implemented. But again the gun community remains silent.
For those who are encouraged by the role of Trump restoring jobs to rural America. Cool, but there seemed to be a callousness to the blight of the urban core of America which began to crumble long ago as jobs dried up. Drugs took over many neighborhoods and a lot of the conversation turned negative with regards to the urban core. The push towards labeling of black people as being lazy became a thing. The statement was that there were plenty of jobs, but black people didn’t want to get an education to do them. Today we have the same jobs that require a paradigm shift, but instead Trump is promising to return the extinct jobs back to the American people. So I do have some confusion as to why we weren’t promoting this or attempting to bring back these extinct jobs for minorities back when their cries existed in the 1970s and the 1980s. (During the paradigm shift to white collar banking jobs)
Lord knows I am trying hard to give this a chance, but I’m also lead by the spirit to be a champion of those who are marginalized. And to do that I want to be a vehicle for people to see either side of the argument.