Judgement

Too many people used social media yesterday to pass judgment on what is going on in Baltimore. That is their right, I suppose. It is a right that comes from privilege. A privilege which can be blinding.

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?"

Matthew 7: 1-5

As a friend of mine said last night, "It's easy being white." Being born white into our society makes things easier for us in so many ways that it adheres to us as our armour of normalcy. And we judge the stories we hear, filtered by our armour. "Well, I wouldn't do that," I hear you say.

How could you possibly know?

Last night I saw discourse that made it abundantly clear that "being a nice person" is not enough. And I include myself in that. Because, for every day that I have not actively worked for justice, I have tacitly given my consent to maintain the status quo.

Doing nothing is consent. Silence is consent.

This is such an enormous undertaking that I fear being swallowed up by it. I fear that I lack any talents or skills to make things better. I fear my efforts would be poorly received. Me. I fear. I sit here and worry about myself in a comfortable home in Howard County where I have adequate employment, plenty of food, and excellent education for my daughter. The biggest hurdle I face is overcoming my privileged white self.

What would happen if we rose up to work for justice for those who are oppressed? What would that look like? Would it be covered on the evening news?

Will it ever happen?