If I had a hammer.
Blowin in the Wind.
Where have all the flowers gone.
Sitting in my local coffee house this morning.
The music playing overhead was right out of 1967: Joan Baez.
Peter, Paul, and Mary. Kingston
Trio. Jim Croce. Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
I had to stop and reflect on human arrogance. We always seem to think that we are so much
more civilized than previous generations, that we have it all figured out. No matter what side of the political coin we
are on, we are absolutely positive that we are right. We are quick to judge the motives and
ideologies of others, and assume that they are wrong, evil, or malicious.
It seems every generation, political ideology, and movement believes,
“It’s us against them.”
“We have truth on our side.”
“We have the right reasons.”
“We have facts on our side.”
“We have pure motives.”
“We mean well.”
“Therefore, anything we do, is acceptable.”
It seems to me, that any large movement in this line of
thinking becomes a steamroller that ends up squashing people who don’t agree
with them, smearing those who dissent, attacking those who dare to believe
differently:
From the 60s protests to the War on Terrorism.
From the black berets of the Black Panthers to the white
sheets of the KKK.
From shameful signs of Westboro Baptist to the shaming
smears of GLAAD.
From the Moral Majority to the affirmative action for
minorities.
From the Border Guard to the Derechos Humanos Coalition
When groups become so assured of their righteousness on a single
issue, they begin to see all others as their enemy, and that isn’t healthy for
any of us.
Our culture claims to value diversity. It champions tolerance and equality. But the truth remains that diversity rarely
includes opposition. Tolerance doesn’t
tolerate dissension, and everyone is equal unless they are on the other side.
Will history judge us for the choices we made today? Is there a way to bridge beliefs, to cross
boundaries, to befriend those who are radically different from us?
I believe there is, but it doesn’t come from a big movement.
It comes from the individual actions of people who care
enough to sit down with those who are against us, to have real conversations,
meals together, and intentional outreaches.
It comes from those who are willing to say that I sorely disagree with
you on this one issue, but we can come together in a dozen other places. It comes from those who are willing to be
humble and value others above themselves.
One on one, we can build relationships that can stand
through anything.
That’s the theory.
Now, comes the time to put it into practice. Can you swallow your pride and reach out to
that family member who is in that other political party? Can you invite that guy from the office out
to lunch who always talks about that one issue?
Can you be the humble one and reach out to the friend on Facebook who
has strong opinions?
Thanksgiving is coming. What better time to sit down and make peace?
Someone has to make the first step.
Will you?
Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value
others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests but
each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians
2:3-4
