Why Bad People Happen
in a Good Country
I have tried
and tried but I am having a hard time putting this nicely; the shootings at a Sikh
temple in Wisconsin have made me feel angry and shameful. I am angry that this
kind of thing (a racially motivated attack) is still happening. I am ashamed
that it happened in our country.
I’m not
going to spend a great deal of time being angry, because I have work to do, but
we often wonder why bad things happen to good people; and I wonder why things
like this keep happening.
Yesterday, I
chose to think before acting, so I fasted, prayed and looked inside myself for
ways to do better. I realized that I knew very little about Sikhs and so I
began to read and learn. (Read more but don't stop here)
I quietly reflected on my own feelings and ways that I could make a difference and
I knew that within my own home we needed to come together to talk, feel and
pray.
I’m asking you today to start a
conversation, with yourself and others. We cannot respond to hatred and anger
with more. We must find a way to heal and help others do the same.
There is a
problem in this wonderful land of ours. We think that it’s okay to dislike
certain people. We believe that it is our right as Christians to tell others
how they should believe and worship. We believe that we have been commanded by
God to change them so we can drive old Satan away.
I feel
myself getting angry again, so I will just leave you with the words of Dr.
Martin Luther King.
“Darkness cannot drive out
darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do
that.”
“An individual has not
started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his
individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
Be you, be well, be the
change we need
Bertice Berry, PhD.
Once again, you strike the nail on the head. I feel ashamed to be a Christian at times because of the lack of tolerance and love that is there. We aren't presenting a unified front to those that need to see it the most. Jesus loved everyone and he wants us to do the same. It's something I try to do every day; no matter your race, religious beliefs, sexual preferences or personal decisions. I have too much love to give to waste my time on hating and discriminating. Thanks for your powerful words.
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