There comes a point where "To ignore, is to condone." While I do not condone violence nor the destruction of property, it would be a flat out lie to say, I don't understand it in this hour. I do undersrand it. I understand that when a people are repeatedly dealt with as if their lives don't matter, at some point, no one else's life matters.
Perhaps, because of my ancestral history, I'm a little too close to this reality to effectively weigh in. I don't know. In hearing Mr. Floyd's outcrys for mercy, saying "Please, I can't breathe," images of a mangled Emmett Till creep into my memory, and I can't help wondering how he must have cried out for mercy (sorry, give me minute, hmmmm). How can any descent human being be too close to any type of human suffering not to empathize; particularly when that suffering is manifest in the ongoing demoralization and dehumanization of others, simply because their race is as God so designed, in His own image?
Has this nation really become so calloused that she can't even see the pain in the eyes of her own youth? Even these young people, of all races, had enough sensitivity and relatability to see themselves in the human suffering of George Floyd, and so many others who have gone before him.
IT IS NOT the future they want for themselves, nor is it the future they deserve.
AND we, as parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, teachers, preachers, government officials should want far better for them. This should be especially true for police officers, those of you who walk into firestorms everytime you put on the uniform. SEE, by their actions, and HEAR, by their protests what they are really saying to you. TALK TO THEM. But you got to come correct; they ain't about that other stuff.
Time is up for the "see no evil," "hear no evil," "speak no evil" days gone by. It's time to confront the glaring evil of imbalance in our justice system, and it must begin at the very top.
Certainly we want our police officers to be honored and to be safe. But, we also want those who take the oath to "PROTECT AND SERVE," to be honorable, and to uphold their oath, with equality, on behalf of all citizens. I want to commend law enforcement for the restraint shown so far. Howbeit, acknowledgement and confession are the beginnings to recovery. Just as there are good people and bad people in society, there are good cops and bad cops on the police force: "WOE! to those who call evil good, and good evil." For certain, had your colleague exhibited the same level of restraint towards, a non-resisting, George Floyd, we would not be in this space.
Property can be replaced, human life can not.
Let us approach this day of Pentacost with one accord as we pray for justice and peace. In Jesus name. Amen.
Perhaps, because of my ancestral history, I'm a little too close to this reality to effectively weigh in. I don't know. In hearing Mr. Floyd's outcrys for mercy, saying "Please, I can't breathe," images of a mangled Emmett Till creep into my memory, and I can't help wondering how he must have cried out for mercy (sorry, give me minute, hmmmm). How can any descent human being be too close to any type of human suffering not to empathize; particularly when that suffering is manifest in the ongoing demoralization and dehumanization of others, simply because their race is as God so designed, in His own image?
Has this nation really become so calloused that she can't even see the pain in the eyes of her own youth? Even these young people, of all races, had enough sensitivity and relatability to see themselves in the human suffering of George Floyd, and so many others who have gone before him.
IT IS NOT the future they want for themselves, nor is it the future they deserve.
AND we, as parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, teachers, preachers, government officials should want far better for them. This should be especially true for police officers, those of you who walk into firestorms everytime you put on the uniform. SEE, by their actions, and HEAR, by their protests what they are really saying to you. TALK TO THEM. But you got to come correct; they ain't about that other stuff.
Time is up for the "see no evil," "hear no evil," "speak no evil" days gone by. It's time to confront the glaring evil of imbalance in our justice system, and it must begin at the very top.
Certainly we want our police officers to be honored and to be safe. But, we also want those who take the oath to "PROTECT AND SERVE," to be honorable, and to uphold their oath, with equality, on behalf of all citizens. I want to commend law enforcement for the restraint shown so far. Howbeit, acknowledgement and confession are the beginnings to recovery. Just as there are good people and bad people in society, there are good cops and bad cops on the police force: "WOE! to those who call evil good, and good evil." For certain, had your colleague exhibited the same level of restraint towards, a non-resisting, George Floyd, we would not be in this space.
Property can be replaced, human life can not.
Let us approach this day of Pentacost with one accord as we pray for justice and peace. In Jesus name. Amen.
We can not continue to ignore.