{"id":7472,"date":"2020-08-06T05:03:03","date_gmt":"2020-08-06T10:03:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/?p=7472"},"modified":"2020-08-06T19:22:08","modified_gmt":"2020-08-07T00:22:08","slug":"black-lives-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/black-lives-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Lives Matter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Please don\u2019t leave. Let\u2019s talk.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all have strong feelings here. Some support the summer long demonstrations for an end to racism in the law enforcement community; some are in opposition to a movement that has brought looting and violence here in Rochester and in cities around the county and the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why bring it up? Aren\u2019t there enough problems out there to\ndeal with without talking about an issue that divides so many\nof us?\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A couple reasons I think. <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
  1. Looking away only keeps the problem festering. <\/li>
  2. We\u2019re a people of hope. We never give up striving to let love win. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    So briefly . . . let\u2019s look at both sides.\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    (I went to the BLM website and discovered that it had morphed from a \u201cmovement\u201d to combat racial injustice by law enforcement, to an \u201corganization\u201d that now espouses causes contrary to Catholic teaching about gender and family. What follows is a description of the movement NOT the organization.) <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There is a different experience of life if you are a person of color in this country. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s a black person over the age of 13 that hasn\u2019t experienced some form of discrimination (however slight) that has never occurred to me as a white person. I\u2019ve never . . . <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • Had the cops called on me for walking in a strange neighborhood. <\/li>
    • Been called \u201csuspicious\u201d because of the clothes I wear. <\/li>
    • Had my name or hair ridiculed for being \u201cdifferent\u201d. <\/li>
    • Had my intelligence doubted because of my color. <\/li>
    • Watched people wrap themselves in a flag that championed my people\u2019s slavery 150 years ago. <\/li>
    • Been told a house I\u2019m interested in has already been sold – – when it hasn\u2019t. <\/li>
    • Seen video\u2019s of suspect white men being choked to death as they begged to be allowed to breathe. <\/li>
    • Been told, as an Irishman, to go back to where my people came from. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Space doesn\u2019t allow for hundreds more examples. The net result is, over time (like 200 years), a deep seated anger and resentment. Like a volcano it eventually blows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Okay. Now the other side . . .\n<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
      • What about the lawlessness, looting and gun fire that accompanies Black Lives Matter protests? Doesn\u2019t that indicate a criminal component? <\/li>
      • What about the disrespect, taunting, and rock throwing endured by lawful authority that\u2019s trying to save the very neighborhoods the protesters live in? <\/li>
      • How could we possibly \u201cdefund\u201d law enforcement when 99% of officers only want to \u201cserve and protect\u201d? <\/li>
      • What about the \u201coutside agitators\u201d that come to town using the protests to just cause trouble? <\/li>
      • Why isn\u2019t the movement called \u201cAll Lives Matter\u201d? Don\u2019t we all count equally here? If blacks don\u2019t want to be \u201cprofiled\u201d or set apart, doesn\u2019t the movement make a certain race \u201cspecial\u201d in a way that creates reverse discrimination? <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
        \n\n\n\n

        So what do you think? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

        By the way, I don\u2019t imagine I\u2019ve captured the full picture of either side. Each bullet point can be nuanced to be more accurate. I\u2019ve tried to be as fair as I can, listening to conversations about town and watching all the news channels (we\u2019re news junkies in the rectory). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        But weighing the points on both sides, I\u2019m wondering – – – Isn\u2019t\nthere a guiding light to lead us through the loud voices on both\nsides? I think there are. Two in fact. They\u2019re called Justice and\nher sister Love; they are graces, come from God, to guide our\nlife here on earth. They unite us as children of God.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Can we not find a way to attend to the wounded cry of the black community? (There\u2019s been real injustice here.). Can we not support Law Enforcement in their mission to \u201cserve and protect\u201d? I think we can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        But it\u2019s going to require we listen to each other; that we put\naway the \u201cknee jerk\u201d reaction we use to end discussion and\nprotect our opinions. Most of all we can\u2019t close our eyes to this\njust because it\u2019s unpleasant.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Talk to your children. Get them to express themselves about\nthis. This is important. Children must be challenged to see\nChrist\u2019s way in this matter. Can we say a prayer at dinner or\nbedtime that asks God\u2019s help?\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \u201cLord Jesus, help us to see your face in all your people. And to\nlove as you have loved us.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        With Love,
        Fr. Tim<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        PS. Next week let\u2019s talk about our favorite ice cream! <\/p>\n\n\n\n