By Rodney Beard
We are in the midst of the most significant transition that our generation will ever see in this society. It is called typically, “The Browning of America.” I am sure that I don’t have to explain this because you already know, but I want to put the idea into a bit of a different context as an illustration.
We use to describe the “coloring” of America as a soup, if you will, of various ethnicities and groups. The problem with that definition was that some ingredients may not be clearly identifiable, being lost in the mixture of others. But actually, the thing that makes the soup…is the broth. It’s the foundation that brings all of the ingredients together, flavoring them all, collectively. If the broth is not right, the soup can’t be good and it doesn’t matter how much you add, the broth is the catalyst to make it good.
I would say that right now, we are more like a salad, which is vivid and obvious…more of a mélange than a soup. With a salad each ingredient is clearly seen, known, and can be enjoyed individually as well as collectively, making them all viable in the experience. I remember back in the day, a salad was only lettuce, tomatoes and possibly cucumbers a simple dressing of vinegar and oil, to be fancy you added a little mayo, shook it up and poured it all over everything else. It connected incongruous elements into a tasty delight.
So, just as the broth flavors the soup from the inside-out, the dressing flavors the mélange from the outside-in. I guess our society is more like soup AND salad. If we use that as an analogy in humanity, the flavor enhancer should be social justice, which operates from both distinctions.
What is social justice? Social justice is (or should be) that part of basic human development and existence wherein a rational and just society is responsible for the development and maintenance of institutions that promote fairness, equity, proper distribution of resources, legal justice, protection of human rights, defense against discrimination, and equal opportunity for all, while promoting diversity.
Social justice requires that we all live in an environment where the general welfare of all people should be guarded, protected and promoted, and that all human beings have a right to enjoy what just society should afford and provide. A truly just society strengthens its middle-class, provides for education, creates good jobs, healthcare, stands for labor rights, fair wages, social security, Medicaid expansion, immigration rights, civil liberties, aids the poor, allows religious freedom, and an opportunity for all to have fulfilling lives. Furthermore, a just society will not allow racism and embraces every ethnicity…period.
Do we live in a just society? All one would have to do is read and observe, that while there has been progress, we cannot say that we do actually live in a society where human justice prevails. So if that is the case what should we do? The answer: Come together, and let His Love be our base and covering!
There are more of us who believe in a just society than those who would deny, deprive, and delay freedom for all. Think about it this way. They are basically the 1%…1%! We could be the 99% if we all came together. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain if we remain complacent, uninformed, and uninvolved. They know that if we don’t stand up for social justice and diversity, we will fall into the trap that is set…already. They win by having a plan and being united around a common policy, plan, and prediction in their minds that we will fail, and they will prevail.
In a few short years White/Anglo-Saxons in this country, who have been the ruling majority and dominating factor of control, economics, and power, will become the minority and they are painfully aware of this fact. They are in panic mode, spending vast amounts of billions of dollars to remain in the power that we now actually possess. It will ultimately be to no avail. No amount of money can overcome the will of “We the people” but only, if we come together.
Here’s what all of us need to do if we really believe in social justice:
Get off the sidelines and into the cause. We should educate our children to the threat of basic (not to mention spiritual) human and moral decency; join a local or national organization that is purposeful, proactive, powerful, and peaceful. We need to support community endeavors that have the most impact spiritually, socially, politically, culturally and guard our own special interests. The powers that be have no interest in preserving anything for you…it’s our responsibility.
And please do this. No matter what color his suit, the covenant he made to uphold an imperfect constitution, his cautious and discerning nature, and being the most threatened President of all time (30 per day); I think Our President deserves our fervent prayers. I know he has over 250 successes already, but there are so many more we can achieve, if we all do it together. Join the cause. Please. What do you think?
I say enough is enough.
Rodney Beard…pastorbeard@comcast.net