Justice and The Cycle
Now that the police officer has been found guilty, justice would be complete by bringing the ones responsible for the deaths and hospitalization of black police officers Chris Beaty, Patrick Underwood, David Dorn and Max Brewer.
Are they to be nothing more than justifiable outcomes of people expressing their ‘voices’? What about their lives, their families, their voices? There can’t be any healing until this is addressed.
When the Muslim US military officer killed and wounded many at an Amry installation, Obama minimized it as ‘ . . . just psychological issues’ not wanting to go down the Jihad road. Then what was the mental condition of this police officer? What conditions, in working the streets day after day, year after year, contributed to his actions on that sad day? Why the selective understanding?
This 'cycle' will continue until, like MLK and Gandhi lived and taught, we fundamentally change ourselves. The critics want others to change, when they need it the most. All the selective self-righteousness, protests, riots, raised fists, mandates, laws and verdicts, meetings and conferences, empty rhetoric has not and will not ever bring lasting peace. If you want to bring light into the world, you must bring it to yourself first.
MLK:
On forgiveness: Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.
On evolving: “Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”
On violence: "Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results. Nations have frequently won their independence in battle. But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace."
The cure for the ills of society lie within each soul. Dive deep there and you will discover Spirit. Finding Him within, you will find Him without and know divine love. Then it will be impossible to behave inimicaly towards anyone and you will see mankind, everyone as a blood-brother, “. . . for love is indispensable”.
A Prayer for Inner Guidance
Lord, I take a sacred vow to never let myself sink into the pit of negative emotions. That I only manifest the Christ qualities of fearlessness, courage, forgiveness, love and understanding.