Onward

November 16-18, 2016

My time has been dominated by bookkeeping in the last few days.  It seems like there are a lot of things to write about in regard to my own feelings and what I perceive this new presidential administration may try to inflict on many of my American siblings.

First I will record a text I received from one of my dearest friends who was in Baltimore with her daughter for Veteran's Day.  I record this here with a few minor changes, first of all not using names and secondly, just making correction for errors that typically occur when texting.

My daughter and I went to a meeting for the Hopkins (John Hopkins University) Community yesterday.  As you know, there have been marches here.  Lots of advice.  Don't be silent was a recurring theme.  Here in the City a minority of Trump supporters have felt emboldened to behave badly toward minorities.  There was advice on how to behave - - - such as stand by anyone you witness being verbally harassed and begin a conversation with the minority.  Call 911 and use your cell phone to record what is going on.  It was a good discussion about organizing.  Join civil rights organizations and align yourself with the good was discussed.  There was also some terrific discussion about trying to more deeply study and understand the white communities that felt so angry and disenfranchised that Trump is now our President (Elect). They have been "under served."  Great discussion about getting to the root cause and developing strategies for healing. There was quite a bit of fear for personal safety expressed by minorities. The official University response about providing safe places, counselling and "security" was met by several students with concerns.  More police was not perceived as an answer, rather a change in climate is needed.  Good news is that people are taking to the streets without violence that I know about so far.


I am feeling very self-conscious about wearing a safety pin.  It seemed like a powerful symbol to me but the controversy over the issue has tainted my desire to wear one.  So today I am going to try to order one or more lapel pins that read, "Black Lives Matter",

I printed off the article by Christopher Keelty, "How to Easily be a White Ally to Marganlized Communities."   I noticed other suggestions from articles I read from my Facebook feed.  All good and worthy of serious consideration, but I have to start somewhere in my own personal evolution.
One suggestion I really wanted to pursue was "to seek out marginalized voices and perpsectives" Mr. Keelty offered this list from his own experience as a place to start.. "Deray McKeeson; Roxane Gay; Shaun King; Baratunde Thurston; Raquel Cepeda; Rebecca Cohen;  Xeni Jardin; Sara Yasin; Kumail Nanjiani; Anil Dash; Jamelle Bouie; Rembert Browne; Heidi Heilig; Ta-Nehisi Coates"  I decided to start with the end of the list.  Seemed symbolic somehow.  So I started a file folder to put articles in. I printed out Wikipedia article about Ta-Nehisi Coates.  He was born in Baltimore.  He is an American journalist and educator and has written two books.  Today I will call my local library and hopefully reserve one or both books.

One of my cousins posted an article praising Mike Pence and his family.  Vice Pres. Elect Pence seems like a descent person and many evangelical Christians seem to love and respect him.  The article made me realize that he is probably well-meaning.  Most professed Christians are.  But I would ask some pointed questions about the disconnect between the examples from the life of Jesus as compared to evangelical Christian's judgments and attempts to control other people with different life experiences.  You are completely free as a Christian to heterosexually marry, not have abortions, to keep the gender you were born with, and to own a gun.  Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of Heaven being within our hearts and as far as I can determine, he never condemned anyone.  The only group he really criticized was the established religion of his time.  Evangelical Christianity, is the established religion of my experience and for me it misses the mark or the whole point when it tries to control everyone's personal lives through politics and law.  I believe there is plenty of evidence that Governor and Congressman Mike Pence often used his political position to try to control people's personal lives.  Okay, I give you that he seems to be a good family man and loving father.  So are my evangelical parents and I am grateful for their abiding love and goodwill. But that does not mean they have it all figured out in regard to the religion and doctrine they hold so dear.  Maybe I don't have it figured out either.  But what stands out to me is that Jesus said, "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone."   Can't evangelical Christian politicians just put their trust in God and the Spirit of Christ to operate in the hearts all people they deem to be "immoral" or "sinful".  Can't these elected "servants" keep themselves busy serving rather than attempting to control everyone?  Vice-president Joe Biden is an excellent example of a public servant who takes his faith seriously and abides by the morals his personal faith dictates in his own personal life.  He does this without trying to enforce his personal beliefs on everyone he serves.  He personally believes abortion is wrong, but he does not attempt to impose his personal beliefs in the legal arena where he has so graciously and humbly served.  He can be pro-life personally while legally protecting the "right to choose."  Mike Pence says he is a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican in that order.  Is he being honest with himself?  Do his actions reveal the reverse order?  Just asking?  Just saying.

One last thing.  There is a difference between fundamental, evangelical Christianity and mainline Christianity.  Evangelicals tend to be restrictive and punitive while mainline Christians are more expansive and tolerant, more understanding of others.  I sort of gag when I consider saying I am a (gag) Christian because I was raised in an evangelical doctrine.  But, like some other minister's offspring who have moved away from fundamentalism, I am by inheritance, and at heart, still a Christian.  I seek, though often fail, to follow the example of my wise brother, Jesus.  I am a Christian who also accepts and champions the goodness and truth in all religions, knowing full well that all religions, including Christianity, sometimes fail.