When Doves Cry: The Difference Maker
Where are the voices, where are the difference makers? Are they being silenced by the pressure to conform or from the fear of being classified as radical or culturally deviant? Difference makers find peace between the factions of society. They have proven track records of empathy, peacemaking, and reconciliation because of their relationships across the ethnic/cultural divide. Difference makers … Continue reading
Human Nature, Part II: Harmony
“ “Why, why, tell ‘em that it’s human nature? Why, why, does he do it that way?” In the midst of another episode of racism, racial profiling and racial bias, we are faced with human nature’s dark side – hatred and dissention. The Trayvon Martin tragedy, in which a 17 year old African American boy … Continue reading
Human Nature Revisited
The late Michael Jackson sang, “Why, why, tell ’em that it’s human nature? Why, why, does he do it that way?” Human nature is sometimes used to excuse ourselves from being responsible for our actions or feelings. It is easy to make ourselves victims of fate. When practicing prejudice, stereotyping or scapegoating, we may say, … Continue reading
The Devil is in the details II, The Sacrifice
Rush Limbaugh’s labeling of legal student Sandra Fluke this past week created a firestorm of verbal attacks and deceptive reasoning. Ms. Fluke was simply exercising her right to speak out at a congressional hearing. In the sad commentary that followed, many people presenting themselves as living on the moral high ground nearly condoned this reckless … Continue reading
The Devil is in the details
In the midst of this so-called post-racial era, including the current multiethnic church trend, all of humanity seems to be at peace with the imagery displayed in diversity photos, courses, workshops and those moving multicultural church services. However, when we dig a little deeper into the actual relationships outside of these orchestrated settings, we find that the Devil … Continue reading
The Language of Reconciliation
1 The Language of Reconciliation is one that must be spoken with the Accent of Peace. Reconciliation among ethnic groups cannot be achieved unless those on all sides are willing to recognize the language spoken beyond the accent or the variables of dialect (cultural framework) in which it is spoken. Language is when gestures & … Continue reading
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