There have always been adversarial behaviour and attitudes
within the human species. It erupts in
violence more often than we would like to think. Yet, here we are, little skirmishes and great
wars on our plates day in and day out, in this, the 21st Century,
when this should be a time when we come to know harmony among all people.
Let’s take a historical look at our own development to get
some perspective on this concept. When
the great American experiment of blending many nationalities and cultures
began, the common feud was regarding employment. To be sure, no one wanted to be displaced
from a job, lose his social position, have his livelihood taken away. But more people kept coming from more places
and they all needed work, food, housing and so forth. Prejudice became an accepted form of dealing
with the competition. Hatred and
violence were the manner in which power was gained: power to succeed, power to meet the needs of
the people in one’s cultural group.
Over time, acceptance of certain groups grew as
reconciliation of goals were established.
Often, joining forces was the lesser of evils to defeat a common
enemy. The key was to retain power in
whatever manner it could be achieved.
Whichever group was viewed as having less power, having weaknesses, was
usually selected as the common enemy, taken advantage of, violated, given the
lesser quality of life, less pay, less food, lesser housing. These groups have shifted over the years, as
public outcry for equality and respect brought about a cautious balance. Allied groups accepted each other and the
intermarriage of cultural groups has taken place, such that the lines between
nationalities and cultures have become blurred.
This resulted in the transference of prejudice to a different group of
people.
Today, shots are taken at people based on sexual
orientation, disability, advanced age and gender. Race is still a factor for many people, as
well. It all boils down to an individual’s
need to feel superior, to excuse why he or she has the right to have more, do
more, be more free, or merely to be right. If someone can say, “I am right and they are
wrong,” they feel entitled to more power.
And here we have the crux of the situation: entitlement.
If I am better than others in some way, my life is worth more, I deserve
more, and my family is higher on the scale of power than others. For shame!
The truth of the matter is, no one life is more important than any
other. NO ONE is more important than any other. Every life is of equal value. That is true whether one lives in the highest
circles of society in the wealthiest nation on earth, or whether one heats his
home with cattle dung in the poorest nation on earth. It is true regardless of religion, political
affiliation, sexual orientation, health condition, disability, age, education,
beliefs, whether or not you carry a gun, or any other variable you can
consider.
There should never be an US
vs. THEM situation. There should be a
desire on the part of all people to raise up those who have less or at least
have greater needs. Why? Because when we do this, our entire society
improves, appreciates, grows, and picks itself up by the bootstraps. Not only does the power of one group grow, but
the power of the society as a whole is enhanced.
Now let’s extrapolate this to include the entire world. Our diversity with other nations causes more
violence, more destruction, more hatred than we may have ever imagined. We may believe that we should police the
differences between various factions in less powerful countries so as not to
disrupt the power structure and economic well-being of the so-called civilized world. For shame!
We would not tolerate such intrusion into our own affairs; why do we think it is acceptable to intrude
into the affairs of other countries?
Power. Greed. Entitlement.
Do you think that because the United
States claims to be a Christian nation that
it is entitled to have more power than others?
Should we be wealthier because we’re right? Are we entitled to have the most say in how
others should run their countries? These
are certainly not Christian values, nor are they Christian attitudes. I say to anyone who disagrees, that it is
time to clean up your own back yard.
Jesus healed the lepers rather than segregating them. He said, “Let him who is without sin cast the
first stone.” He said, “Whatever ye do
to the least of these, ye do also unto me.”
I wonder why the Christians do not believe their own Messiah.
Let us consider the greatest crisis that our world is facing
at the present moment, the terrorist threat of the group known as ISIS. I do not like that moniker, as Isis
was the mother goddess of Ancient Egypt, revered and blessed. But times change. Our current challenge is to understand what
these people are trying to say, with their actions brought about, no doubt, by
being at their wits end to be recognized for their beliefs and
differences. We cannot claim to respect
all people if we are not willing to accept that there is reasoning behind their
violence. I am not saying I agree with
their acts of terrorism, their hatred, or their violence. However, on some level, they are trying to
get the world’s attention and recognition of their right to exist and believe
as they wish. They may not be willing to
be forthcoming as to the truth of their beliefs and the bottom line of what
they want. But can we not listen? Who has ears to hear?
The greatest trouble of our time is the result of feelings
of entitlement and power. What horrible
fear it would bring to place each person on an equal footing with every other
person on the planet. We would all have
the same rights, the same access to food, clothing, shelter, health care,
education, jobs, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And perhaps, just perhaps, that happiness
would not require that we take it from someone else.
May you be richly blessed!
