I have been teaching high school for a very long time. So very long. There are certain and real truths that emerge while watching youth grow. You see, high school can very similarly mimic the adult world.
This is truth: any time there is controversy or a fight amongst teenagers, there are always parties standing by. Among these parties when one looks closely, we can find the catalyst, the antagonist, the gasoline.
So often we get so wrapped up in watching or fighting against the “aggressors” or the ones drawing the most attention. I can promise you this: those individuals are not at the center of the problem.
In all of my experience, the individuals that are at the center of the issue, the pain and the anger are standing idly by and watching the fire burn. The fire in which they started. And they watch as the innocent parties fight a battle that they insighted. And all too often they walk away unscathed.
We are in a place where we are forced to see blue versus black. And both sides see hate and violence. And both parties are currently afraid. And we know enough about the human brain to know that when fear arrives, logic leaves.
Look it up.
Fear paralyzes the frontal lobe. And the frontal lobe allows humans to think and process, to make decisions that are based on logic and consequence.
But are we looking at the crowd? Are we looking around to see the real cause? Those standing smiling on the sidelines when other more real and genuine people do their bidding. I promise. They are there.
Recently, my family attended a peaceful vigil for prayer and love. One-hundred feet away were strangers heavily armed with visible assault rifles. These individuals were not invested in our community. They were from another state entirely. They didn’t care about us or our town, yet when asked about their attendance they claimed they were present to “ensure safety.” They were not police officers who leave their families on holidays to ensure our safety. Our local police officers were not as heavily armed nor as guarded. Our officers were not afraid, nor was I, nor were my children. The citizens were not afraid. Until the strangers bearing arms appeared. When my children saw strangers (whom they didn’t know or trust) brandishing visible guns, they were afraid. Those men were ugly. Their sole purpose was to instill fear. And fear breeds panic. And panic breeds chaos.
Their sole purpose was to bring chaos. Who were they there to protect? Me? My little white children? I was in no danger nor were my children. And in all of our whiteness, we were more afraid of those ugly men than anyone present or in our everyday community. Luckily, I live in a sweet, docile town where all people feel loved and protected for the most part. But that is not true everywhere. And for that, I am sad. In my town, police and civilians alike came together for love. And the reason this is possible is that is how most citizens of my community live their daily lives. But we have an intimacy that isn’t present in most places of the world. And I recognize that.
However no matter what city or state you live in, I ask that you please please stop. Don’t stop fighting for good. For the love of all things good- don’t stop standing up for what is right. Just stop and take a breath and see past what is being “said.” Please look around. There is pain. But there is good. And we must not allow those few -very few- to light our fires in a way that blinds us from grace and paralyzes us to the point where we fight the wrong bad guys. Those ugly people are waiting. They WANT to see the world burn for whatever side they “believe.” Do not be their hands. Do not fight their battles. Do NOT put yourself in harm’s way to fight for a coward spouting lies on the sidelines while they watch you sacrifice your safety, time, family, and peace. The most pure and genuine people are the ones standing beside and even those across from you, no matter what side you are standing.
Every minority you encounter is not the opposition. Nor is every police officer. As we have seen in recent days, so many officers are leaving the safety of their homes to fight a losing war that they may likely not agree with. But they believe in civility and safety. And so many of our beloved minorities are doing the same and have been for many years. There is a message to be heard. But that message is of love, respect, and truth. And the truth is, both sides have been doing this for years and years before it became trendy to side with either. There are ugly guys on both sides. But ugly is the minority, not the majority! Let me say that again, the ugly is the minority, not the majority.
Yet, it will take all of us: black, blue, brown, white, red, and purple to take a step back and look at this with genuine perspective. Who is the real and true cause of our pain? People are hurting. But that does not mean that every person you meet is the cause for your pain. We need grace. We need real perspective. Or this battle will not accomplish anything but more heartache.
Stop. Just for a second. Humans have a right to feel free. Officers who are also humans have a right to feel safe to sacrifice for that freedom. And if we can just find the catalysts and remove their power over people, we will find a new world. Because I can promise this….most people are good.
Shalom (God’s perfect peace),
A mother whose heart hurts for the world my children will live in, a teacher who longs for a world where she doesn’t have to teach her students the unspoken rules of society, and a soul that longs for a world where we can simply love the way that we are so generously loved.