I am white from northern European and Scandinavian stock, growing up in Minneapolis, MN, than SD and am now, to me, in the South – though the Mason-Dixon line is still south of my town. However, the suburb which I call home was religiously diverse being 50% Jewish and hosting a Buddhist Temple. I knew one Asian family of whom part were Lutheran and part Buddhist. We got along. It is only later in life I truly appreciated the diversity in which I grew up.
Downtown Minneapolis had more black people. My dancing and clarinet lessons were there with diverse colored and ethnic children. I don’t recall thinking any less of anyone because their skin color or religion was different. It did come a shock one day when a teacher, Jewish, dismissed out of hand my New Testament quote. I think it was the first time I understood other people did not, and really did not, believe as I or my family did.
The struggle to show love to all people goes on – the struggle to gain and maintain civil rights goes on. I thought of MLKJr. today when I read this article on maids in South America. They cannot even walk the same street in the gated communities they serve – there was no mention of color but definitely of class.
Last week the American people acted to prevent bills from being passed which could have done much harm to the Internet as we know and use it. Congress was shocked – it seems they are not listening to the American people as closely as they should. We the people need to be involved and informed about our government – else we will lose it. I am not a political junkie but for a long time, I have noticed us peel away our rights from the Constitution for security, for the Federal government, for this and for that because it was EASIER.
The Federal Government is to serve the States – not the other way around. Do we really want smaller Federal government? Than we, I, need to be involved – we need to act – we need to be prepared to give up some of which the Feds feed us; we need to support private industry in helping us, State by State, develop programs for our poor, needy, for education and infrastructure instead of relying on the Feds.
We are in Epiphany – winding down the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ who came for ALL, regardless of gender, class, color, age, or belief. He came to save us from the tyranny into which the Law of Moses, manipulated and amended by men, grew over the years. He came to remind of intent, of love, of caring for one another – even unto death in order to save those He loved.
Can we do less? Can we, I, radically follow Jesus for all people?
Related articles
- While You Rang In 2012, Obama Was Busy Trashing America’s Liberties (paualready.wordpress.com)
- Krista Tippett: The Prophetic Imagination Of Walter Brueggemann (huffingtonpost.com)
