For All

Can we say the Pledge of Allegiance anymore and mean it? I am not talking about the under God part, but the indivisible part. We are divided.  I cannot place my hand over my heart with integrity and say the next part, "With liberty and justice for all" unless it really means "for all." Social media land is reposting all week  "UNDER GOD, copy and paste if you agree." Maybe instead our focus should ask if we are in agreement on the parts "indivisible" and "liberty and justice FOR ALL."

There is this national call for unity. I agree, we need it. But this call for unity rings hollow because without addressing "for all," it is really a call for submission. Sadly, we have a long history of patriarchy and violence where this is the expectation, but progress has us looking back and confessing this was wrong. With this being the most divisive week for our nation in my lifetime, we have been forced to take an honest look at ourselves in the mirror. I could go through a laundry list of racism, misogyny, Islamophobia, and homophobia, but with the frequency of examples, we know it all to well.  To deny it should be convicting to the denier.  Until we can address our concerns for our most vulnerable, how can we work towards unity? 

Unity does not require like mindedness. We are a nation of immigrants and unique to this great country is the gift of our diversity.  The Apostle Paul speaks of unity including the diversity of many members with the most vulnerable being indispensable, and the weaker having the greatest honor. We can get there, and we should, but we are not going to find unity by telling us to "quit throwing a temper-tantrum," or 'grow up."  No, our resistance is not a tantrum and we are not sore losers.  Elections have consequences, and as much as we expected concession from Donald Trump, it would be hypocritical to not have the same expectation of ourselves. We are the 'we the people' who have an expectation that liberty and justice includes all.

How do we get there? We find a beginning. Confession and repentance would be nice. May I suggest we begin by denouncing racism in all of it's forms. If we were witness Donald Trump and key leaders speaking publicly against the acts of hatred that we have witnessed the last forty-eight hours, or a public denouncement of David Duke and White Supremacy we would have a beginning. Show us a concern that the scale of justice is focused on stopping the oppressor rather than targeting the oppressed. Another huge olive branch would be seeking a resolution that would move the Dakota Access Pipeline. Show us some art in making deals. Assure us with marriage equality. Welcome diverse leaders you disagree with to the table seeking collaborative solutions on the injustice of incarceration rates and our criminal justice system. Let us hear that freedom of religion means for all. Help show us this by answering Jesus' question, "Who was the neighbor?" (Hint: It's the one who showed mercy.) Go and do likewise.