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Together…Not Against

Together…Not Against

By Chris Pepple – 2017

 

When did it become

if…then?

When did it become

forcing me to choose

between

you

them or

me?

When did we divide

our allegiances into terms

that say if you love them,

you can’t love me…

or if I speak for them

then I must not be able

to speak also for you?

Where’s the us

in it together?

Where’s the global humanity

that’s biblical and moral and just?

Where’s the understanding

that I can love them

and love you and

call people back

together as us?

Races…

Religions…

Professions…

Callings…

Identities…

By raising my voice for one,

I am not raising my voice

against another…

Hear the call that

all can be healed

all can be whole

all can have justice

all can be loved

…it’s not about choosing

which people to stand with…

I’m just standing and helping all

rise up and stand…

It’s together…not against

©2017 Chris Pepple

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The Sounds

candle

The Sounds

by Chris Pepple – 2017

The sounds of the words of hate

came first—

the name calling

the threats both aloud and

whispered to a passerby…

Then it was the fighting

in the streets—

the fist fights among

different groups

then knives

then guns…

Then it became real,

turning hate into a war—

winner keeps all…

The shelling came next…

the bombs rocked our houses

and our schools and places of worship…

No place was safe…

Then came the cries of children

and mothers calling out the names

of children who would

never answer again…

and husbands and brothers and

and wives and sisters

and best friends and lovers…

Then the weeping before

the enormity of our pain

devoured our ability

to feel much less grieve…

So there was silence

as if we were already dead—

dead to those who claimed victory,

worthless to those who didn’t want

to touch our wounds or

caress our shoulders weighted

with unimaginable memories

of the sounds of the places we left—

the places we once called home…

©2017 Chris Pepple

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Dear Christians…

Dear Christians, we have a long and complicated history of those of us claiming this name. I don’t think there has ever been a time when we all agreed. Even Paul and Barnabas had their disagreements. We all have to look to Scripture to find Truth, but that can be complicated because of the many ways to interpret some things. So we have to stay in community to discuss together what Truth looks like. And we look back to history and tradition to see when we have gotten it right and when we have gotten it wrong.

I keep reading posts quoting preachers like Franklin Graham that seem to justify seeking our own comfort and safety over the lives of others. I have a lot of respect for the Graham family. Don’t get me wrong on that—I am not calling them evil or intending disrespect to any of their ministries. But just like you and I are flawed, are sinners, so are ministers. They can get it wrong at times and history is very clear about that in the following examples that I think you will agree with:

First, look at who Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote the Letter from the Birmingham Jail to—Christian ministers and leaders. It was his response to a public statement of concern and caution issued by eight white religious leaders of the South. They wanted to keep their churches safe and their white members out of harm’s way. Outside of that, these were respected ministers doing very good work in other areas. Look at the wording—the ministers were calling the Civil Rights Movement “unwise and untimely.” They were also calling for a ban of the “outsiders” (King and his colleagues) coming in to their communities. Sound familiar?

“Just as the eighth-century prophets left their little villages and carried their ‘thus saith the Lord’ far beyond the boundaries of their hometowns; and just as the Apostle Paul left his little village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to practically every hamlet and city of the Greco-Roman world, I too am compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my particular hometown. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid. Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial ‘outside agitator’ idea.” –Dr. Martin Luther King—History has proven this minister right and the other ministers of that day wrong.

And then there’s Dietrich Bonhoeffer—another minister like King who got it so right. He was a German minister and theologian who came to America to study. While here, Hitler began his rise to power. Bonhoeffer could have stayed safely in America and lived out the rest of his life here. Instead, he returned to Germany and spoke out against the injustices towards the Jews and eventually was executed for his stand. While alive, he begged Christian churches to hear the cries of the Jews and take a stand.

“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes. There is his commission, his work. ‘The kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ; he wants to be among friends, to sit among roses and lilies, not with the bad people but the devout people. O you blasphemers and betrayers of Christ! If Christ had done what you are doing who would ever have been spared’ (Luther).”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community

We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.

Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.

Christianity stands or falls with its revolutionary protest against violence, arbitrariness, and pride of power, and with its plea for the weak. Christians are doing too little to make these points clear … Christendom adjusts itself far too easily to the worship of power. Christians should give more offense, shock the world far more, than they are doing now.

There is no way to peace along the way to safety. For peace must be dared. It is the great venture.—Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship

 Let’s be clear:  If you read the Bible from front to back as a whole, you will see that there is nothing logical or safe about Christianity. Every call to follow God’s will through the entire Bible calls for actions that don’t fall into line with human reason and logic. Nothing Jesus did was logical. Nothing tells us to worry about ourselves first. And if we put our nation above God’s will, that is idolatry. True Christians throughout history risked their lives for others in Jesus’s name–hiding Jews in their homes at great personal risk. The white Christians who finally stood with Dr. King.  Think of all of the heroes of our faith. Think of Corrie Ten Boom. Think of the people whose names we will never know. Read about Rahab who hid the spies in her house. Read about the wise men who refused to return to Herod and tell him the location of the child. Read about the people who brought Paul into their homes all of the times the authorities wanted him dead. Think of the person who hid the disciples in his upper room when everyone was sure Romans and Jews would kill any sympathizers. That is Biblical. Think of the displaced Americans on 9/11/01–their planes had to land in Canada when our airports closed. It’s a beautiful story of 7,000 stranded, unvetted travelers who landed and the people of a small town who took them in and fed them and cared for them not knowing if some of the travelers were ones who might cause harm.

Some people will confuse the facts about who is a refugee—a refugee has that name because he/she has proven to be persecuted because of faith, race or location of their home. They are wanted dead by those who hate them not because of the refugee’s actions but because of the hate in the heart of the hunter. These people undergo extensive vetting. These are not people seeking a visa to get a job. None have attacked us. None caused 9/11. These are people trying not to be killed just because of who they are. Tell me you don’t really think Jesus would say, “Now, you people over here be safe. Let somebody else help if they want to.” And Jesus never told us to just send money. He said go. He said heal. He said love above all else. He said put your life on the line, Peter, Paul, John…Christians. He said take up your cross. It may kill you, but I will reward you. That’s Biblical.

I love you and am glad we are on this journey together.

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To the daughter of Mary (a blogger)

To the daughter of Mary (a blogger whose post is being passed around):
Your mother wrote that when you grow up, she has a lot to teach you. I’m glad that she cares about you and wants the best for you. I have two daughters, and I love them very much, too.

Your mother wrote that she didn’t march for you because there was no need to–that everything is fine for women in the United States. Her quote was, “I’m writing this letter to tell you that what some people are yelling very loudly today (and will continue to yell very loudly for years to come) are lies.”

Oh, Sweet Girl, I wish that was true. I wish you and my daughters both lived in a wonderful world with no pain, no abuse, no harassment, no rapes. She is right about some things in her post–men can be abused, too, especially young boys. But the march was about stopping all abuse and bringing abuse into the light so we can work to end it together. None of us want anyone to be abused, but if we don’t talk about it, how will we end it?

But here’s what someone besides your mother will have to teach you. If you or your friends are ever raped on a college campus, you as a woman will find justice hard to come by if things stay as they are right now, Your mother would know that if she friended young rape victims or just listened to their stories that have been proven true.

Here are some stats:
11.2% of all students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation (among all graduate and undergraduate students).
Among graduate and professional students, 8.8% of females and 2.2% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.
Among undergraduate students, 23.1% of females and 5.4% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.
4.2% of students have experienced stalking since entering college.

Here are some links to articles that show that women on campuses struggle to find justice:

http://www.latimes.com/…/la-me-ln-berkeley-students-complai…

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26263171

There are many others sources you can find. Until both men and women can be safe on our campuses, all of us must speak out. It’s the just, loving thing to do.

Also, let’s talk about domestic abuse against both men and women. It’s time we bring reality into the light. I can tell you my story if you want to know it, but let me just say that I fought the legal system for 11 years. As a woman, I was told over and over again that his wishes mattered more than my rights. I raised my daughters to understand that the Circuit Court system needed to be revised to hear the voices of all people, (A male judge asked me once when my abuser was $96,000 behind on child support: “His lawyer is a nice guy. Why don’y you just make a deal with them and let’s end this?” It’s all in the court record–very provable.)

Maybe your mother will take the time to volunteer at a rape crisis center or get to know women struggling to leave domestic abuse. Maybe she will get to know impoverished children whose mother struggles to get them fed and cared for. Maybe your mother will have lunch with a survivor of traumatic abuse and hear her story.

It’s easy to say, “My life is good so people are crazy if their life isn’t good.” It’s harder to see that Jesus understood. He walked with the outcasts, not with the privileged. Jesus believed and cared about and healed the bleeding woman, the woman at the well, the blind beggar, the lepers…God put their stories in Holy Scripture.

Read the Bible yourself and see that God tells us to feed the hungry, be a voice to the hurting, love the outcasts. To one wealthy questioner, He answered: Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21).

Please honor your mother. She is your mother. But hear the voices of those she is calling a liar. Get to know people and you will see what God sees–the tears of His people, the scared rape victims, to beaten wives and children (and beaten men).

You blog, too, one day, but use your voice to end suffering. When we listen, we grow in our understanding of the lives of others and the realities in this world that we may have never experienced. When I read social media posts, I see the pain that so many people experience when their stories aren’t heard. People try to tell their stories so we can try to understand what it’s like for them as cancer patients, as people with special needs, as people who grieve over a loss, as people who face hate or violence of all types, as people who struggle with depression or addictions or pain of so many types.

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Dear Refugees…

Dear Refugees,

I can’t imagine what you must think about Americans right now, much less American Christians. You must be tempted to hate us, though we both know that hate solves nothing. You must be weeping tonight because lies and fear are putting you in harm’s way—keeping you from family members who are already here in America—keeping you in war zones where your children go to bed crying every night wondering if they will die or if they will waken to find that they have been orphaned.

Our nation—the same one who just held a march about being pro-life—have said through our actions that your life doesn’t really matters as much as our comfort. We know the odds are that you will die of disease in a refugee camp or be killed by a bomb set off by someone who hates you just for the sake of hate. But our nation just declared that you are somebody else’s problem. My faith tradition tells me that my Savior said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40). But my nation, my fellow Christians, just said that we will see if somebody else will help. It’s not going to be us. I am so sorry. I love you and would do anything I could to save your life. I know what it is like to be scared.

The Scriptures of my faith tradition, God’s Holy Bible, says “fear not” to us 103 times in the King James Version. There are more than 300 passages that don’t use those exact words, but still tell me the same message: just do my will without fear or worry. Walk on water. Have my Son. Lead my people. Cross the Red Sea. Stand up to Pharaoh. Take up your cross. Heal in my name. Go where you have never gone before. Yet today we allowed fear to win and rule our nation. People decided they should fear you—young mother, small child, worried father, aging grandmother, lost brother, wandering sister—because some people have done wrong. Many American men beat their wives daily, but we are more afraid of you according to people I hear declaring that you will be an outcast forever. I know your pain. I know what it is like to have no voice, to be ignored. I love you. I hear you. I am sorry.

My faith tradition reads our Bible each Sunday—the Bible that says this about love in I Corinthians 13…If I speak in the tongues] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal… If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing….Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love… But many people have chosen not to love you even though our Savior declared that He gave us a new command to love as He loved (John 13:34). He died for us. I’m pretty sure I’m not going to die because I love you enough to grant you safety, but even if I do, it is what I was asked to do by the One who died for me. If I believe Him, I must choose to love you enough to help you find life. It’s my turn to return the love I have been granted. I am sorry so many are refusing to love you. I love you. I will do my best to show you.

My faith tradition tells me to go into the world, to embrace you and tell you that Jesus loves you. How can I tell you Jesus loves you if I don’t show you? Jesus didn’t just tell me—He showed me. It’s what we are called to do.

We have Americanized our faith to believe that God wants us to feel safe and happy I can’t find those words in my Bible. My faith never asked me to pledge allegiance to my nation (but I do love my nation). My faith asks me to love, to go, to heal, to be among you, to embrace all people, to fear not, to walk on water and just do what I truly know is right.

I’m sorry many in my Church have ignored your pain and your tears, have labelled you evil instead of called you a child of God (even if you don’t know you are yet), have chosen our desire for comfort and happiness over your need for life. I love you. Hear that. I will be your voice as much as I can. I would swim to your rescue if I had a way. I would fly you to safety if I owned a plane. If you make it here, I will call you friend. I will pray with you. Just know many of us are trying to pray you to a new life until we can find more practical ways of helping.

 

 

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I’m Not Going to Church Because…

In the last two weeks, the hashtag #ImNotGoingToChurchBecause has been very popular. The hurting world is talking to us, Church. They are telling us why they can’t hear us. Some of the comments are just meant to be funny (stale crackers at Communion, etc.). But most of the comments are very honest. If your church is not growing, if your community is hurting and the church is not part of the healing, maybe you should read some of these.

I wondered if what they said was true, so I looked harder at what church members/Christians are saying on Facebook and other social media. I see your comments and so does the hurting world. The hurting world is seeing your words, judgments, jokes, “I don’t care” statements–you who are called out to be loving, to be like Jesus, to be a voice to the hurting, a light to those in darkness. You have dimmed your own light to them with your comments. You who say, “Well ‘they’ did it first, so I’m just answering.” That’s not Biblical.

And there is no ‘they.’ There is only all of us–everyone. Jesus never tried to gain political influence. Ever. He just tried to love a hurting world. When his own people didn’t get it, he turned to the world to find voices to speak his love.

Jesus has embraced all outcasts in our world and all people who love the way he intended. Who hurt because another is hurting. Who weep because people are dying without medical care in our own nation. Who cry because women are still beaten in their own homes–young girls are raped daily on college campuses.

Instead of saying, “Shame on you,” why don’t we say, “hi, want to chat over a cup of coffee?”

Instead of saying, “I don’t understand,” why don’t we say, “I’m trying to listen. Let’s talk more.”

You aren’t hurting, so what’s the problem? Really? That means you are a person of privilege who is part of why the hashtag exists.

Can you really picture Jesus saying the things you have posted on social media? Read your own comments then read those from the hashtag. Read them. They are speaking from their own hurts and experiences. They are responding to our comments. #IReallyWantYoutoKnowILoveYou That’s my answer

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Dear Mexico…

Dear Mexico,

I’m sorry for all of the challenges you face in your nation. I know that many in your nation face daily struggles that I cannot imagine. I think of the Biblical stories from my faith tradition where Jesus reached out to the neighboring areas with love and compassion. Know that some of us in America care about your people. We are all part of this global community–in the struggle together. My faith tradition tells me that God created the world–not just America.

I am sorry you are being bullied with a tough choice–take money desperately needed by those in your own community–needed for education or help with the drug wars or help with healthcare–the choice to use billions of dollars to help your nation or build a wall because some people here have been misled by fear and prejudice.

I hear your struggles. Please know I will pray for your nation and will also look for practical ways to make us both healthier nations–more loving, more peaceful, more just and merciful.

I hope you can #resist the bullying and know that at least some of us care.

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Domestic Abuse: An open letter to judges, lawyers and anyone who will listen

This month is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. I want to write to tell you a few facts that many people don’t know. Most people wonder why victims struggle so much trying to leave abuse. Finances play a huge role in a person’s ability to move on from domestic abuse and truly survive and raise children. Here’s what I would like for you to know:

Only 41 percent of single mothers receive the child support they are owed! Only 41 percent according to the Pew Research Center. Judges, courts, legal system…why is this true? Please tell me we can do better than this and reform our system, fighting for people who don’t have the resources to fight for their own rights.

According to a Huffington Post 2015 article, the number of American troops killed in Afghanistan and Iraq between 2001 and 2012 was 6,488. The number of American women who were murdered by current or ex male partners during that time was 11,766. That’s nearly double the number of casualties lost during war.

Women are held captive in domestic abuse through physical abuse, financial abuse, emotional abuse or a combination of all three.

Relating to financial abuse, Ludy Green (in her book Ending Domestic Violence Captivity: A Guide to Economic Freedom) talks about the overwhelming power of financial abuse. Part of that continues through attempting to get child support.

Here’s one woman’s documented journey through trying to get child support:

Upon the divorce, this woman was awarded custody and child support of a set amount per month for two children who both had special medical needs. Her domestic abuser (DA) was to also pay half of their medical expenses and for their dental insurance. The dental insurance never happened, so she added them on hers. Half of the medical expenses never happened. Since she was the one taking them in and signing them in for medical appointments, the doctors and medical technicians loaded all of the debt onto her since she brought them in and signed the form saying she understood they had to be paid if insurance did not cover the cost. So she took on medical debt.

The child support amount was only paid for a month or two—would have to look at her court records to be exact, but it soon stopped.

So, she had to pay a lawyer in 2005 to try to recover child support. She scraped together money and paid a large hourly fee and the court filing cost. She was awarded on paper several thousand dollars for back support, but on paper only because Circuit Court in her state does not automatically build in a way for collections. It is just assumed the defendant will pay. He didn’t even show up for court, much less pay. But technically she won quite a bit on paper. She didn’t know she had to file to request garnishment each and every time he switched jobs due to quitting or being fired. How would she have known that and why should she pay a fee to request what is legally owed for child support—to take care of children? And why should she have to track him and his jobs? You have access to his social security number—in five minutes you could track it and find him if you, as the court, chose to.

Now remember, retainer fees for lawyers can range between $2500 and $7500. Hourly fees can run between $250 and $500 per hour. Picking a cheaper attorney, however, can be costly, because if the attorney is inexperienced in handling abusers, the DA (domestic abuser) can come across as a great person to the attorney, and the attorney may go easy on the abuser or may not know how to get to the truth through the manipulation.

Through the years, she threatened to go back to court and would get small amounts paid, but never what was supposed to be paid and never on any regular schedule. She would often be forced to come pick it up. Mostly, nothing was paid. She never had the funds to pursue court action.

This woman saved up again the minimum needed to legally file, and eleven years later she is still in court. She was awarded on paper almost $100,000. Wow! But again, the Circuit Court judges in her state don’t automatically supply any means for that to actually be collected. To have wages garnished, she had to come up with lawyer fees again and court costs to file. Then, a DA can drag it out with modification requests and stalling tactics to run up the other party’s legal bill with the lawyer. The lawyer charges every time he/she has to talk to the opposing attorney or go to court or read material sent. It’s easy for a DA to run up the legal fees for the original victim of abuse, keeping them financially in debt and still not receiving child support owed. It happens daily.

A person has to pay court costs to get a contempt of court charge for failure to pay child support.

Things actually heard by women in court from the referees or judges:

“You don’t really want him to go to jail, do you?”

“Let’s wait and hear what he has to say about why he isn’t in court.  Let’s just see what happens.” (But the Circuit Court Judge never forced this DA to come to court—he just never had a consequence—no warrant—no forced follow up).

“Since you are trying to file without a lawyer this time, why don’t you just make a deal with his lawyer? His lawyer is a really nice guy and a reputable member of the bar.”

Since his last contempt of court thirteen months prior, this woman’s abuser has paid zero child support. She has paid attorney and court filing fees to change that. But he asks for continuances and modifications which stall out the process and allow him to continue to deny his children access to funds that they desperately need.

What are we doing to help children get the child support they deserve? What are we doing to stop domestic abusers from continuing their financial abuse? When will we listen? When will we actively work to stop the abuse the endangers children and kills more women than our wars?

Goals:

Community groups/churches/nonprofit organizations need to have funds established to help provide financial support to pay legal fees for people leaving domestic abuse and people seeking child support enforcement. There’s no excuse for child support to not be received due to an inability to pay the legal fees.

Courts need to build in an automatic enforcement clause with every child support case awarded.

Voters need to bring up these topics in the public forums and question judges about options.

Listen. Please, please, listen. Stop blaming the victims and making excuses. Listen. Hear. Make a difference.

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Because we don’t really want it…Peace

I have spent a lot of time volunteering in and out of community organizations and churches, time listening to people of diverse backgrounds, time “people watching,” time reading blogs and news stories. I truly wanted to think and pray about the events going on around us in this world and decide what my beliefs and opinions are concerning a wide range of topics—everything from kids playing sports to world peace options. I am still undecided on a variety of topics, but here’s one thing I have discovered—very few people are totally honest about what they really, truly deeply want. We are conditioned to “give the right answer” and say what we are supposed to say in certain situations. (After all, who really wants to admit they don’t want world peace?) Why did I come to this conclusion? Because I truly believe that we have the resources to make almost anything possible, but we choose not to use those resources for the goals we proclaim to work for.

Let’s take saying we want peace in our nation. Do you really want that as you proclaim, or do you stop working towards peace when you have peace in your family and in the neighborhood you moved to? Because peace in our nation is a totally reachable goal. Let me give you some examples:

Peace requires “fighting fair” with our words (and posts). Many of us know what that means. We teach it to our kids; we talk about it in marriage counseling. Therapists and teachers lecture about it. Here are just a few of the rules we hold as important:

  • Remain calm. Don’t overreact.
  • No hitting below the belt at all. This creates distrust and anger. Don’t make fun of anyone—nothing demeaning can be said about their personal traits, their clothing, their family, their disabilities, etc.
  • Avoid accusations. This puts everyone in a defensive mode. Instead of accusing, talk about how you feel in a situation.
  • Don’t generalize and say words like always or never. These statements don’t usually reflect facts.
  • Avoid falsehoods/make believe. Don’t exaggerate to make your point. Stick with provable facts by only reputable sources or witnesses.
  • Stick to one issue at a time.

If we know these rules that we say we live by and we tell our children to live by in schools, then we must examine every comment we make on social media, every post, every hashtag used and see if we are playing by the rules. If not, then we need to say that we don’t really care about peace—we want lots of likes on our pages or we want things to go our way, but we really don’t want peace. You can’t have peace and break the rules at the same time.

  1. Peace in a democracy requires that all people feel that they can be represented. We won’t all get our way all of the time, just like no child gets their way all of the time; no employee gets their way all of the time. Sometimes I will ask for a street light on my block and be told it’s not possible at this time (just throwing out a goofy example—haven’t asked for a street light). Sometimes I will be denied a permit or turned down on a request, but I will know why and will accept the answer or fight fair and see if the answer can be changed. It’s a democracy, so I can speak up without being hated.
  2. If we want all people to be a part of the peace and a part of the democracy, as we say it was intended by our founders, then we must listen fairly. We have to hear the opinions of others and decide how we both can possibly reach our goals without harming the other or impeding the goals of another. (There are many times when both people/groups can reach their goals—you can get your hopes reached and so can others.) That means we have to drop our assumptions and listen. (Note: If someone breaks the rules and starts being abusive to us, we can stop listening and move on to the next person who is willing to talk respectfully to help us bring about peace.) If you are unwilling to sit at a table and listen, then you cannot help bring about peace.
  3. Peace requires being willing to be open to many possibilities without being required to change the core of who you are. For example, maybe there are solutions that make sense for all people involved. If we each can honestly say what we are willing to compromise on and what we are not willing to compromise on, we start finding areas where we can each bring our gifts to the table to end our conflicts.
  4. We must be honest about honesty if we want peace. It saddens me to see so many sources listed as news that are just written by bloggers with an agenda. Go to the sources. Find the truth mixed in with opinion. I feel we should stop patronizing sites that are not based on all of the facts. Stop picking out partial truths and running with them. We criticize people who tell half-truths about us, so we must be the ones to stop the problem. If we know we are not fact-checking info, we aren’t working towards peace.  If we are only reporting truths about ALL people and ALL circumstances (not just people we like), then we are working towards peace.
  5. We have to ask ourselves if we are blaming the lack of peace on everyone else. We have to start with admitting where we erred. Admit it if we break certain laws (speeding, driving rules, medication rules, etc.), but are apt to hold others more accountable if they break a law. We will have a harder road to peace if we don’t also examine our own posts, our own words, our own actions, our own tongues. Blaming perpetuates conflict. Online retaliation and breaking the rules just because someone else did will make peace much more unachievable. Being personally responsible is the first step towards peace.

I am not naïve. I do not think that just because you and I start being nice then every person will be nice. I don’t think immediate peace in this nation will come about in a day or a week or even a month. But we will honestly be working towards peace in our nation—a true peace that will help us set the stage for working towards world peace. But it starts with us—one person, one family, one city, one state, one nation…