Living In Fear: Tear Down Walls to let in the Light

As a nation we struggle to understand what happened February 26 in a neighborhood in Florida. A 17-year-old calling his girlfriend, afraid of the man following him. Another man, armed, fearful and calling police because of the young man in a hoodie in his neighborhood. Driven by fear, one is dead and the other’s life is forever changed by the events that night. We try to believe it can't happen in our neighborhood.

As an individual, I struggle to understand the conversation Rosie O’Donnell had on national television during which she described her fear of “little people.”  Her language about human beings of short stature portrayed these people, of which I am one, as if they were a different species, totally unrelated to her. She found human interaction and employment foreign ideas for people affected by dwarfism, yet has advocated on behalf of those discriminated against for being open about affectional preference. I am baffled by the de-humanization of people among reasonably intelligent individuals. 

Our social structures tend to focus on building walls that isolate us, one from the other. Who is isolated varies with geography, race, religion, ethnicity, social and economic position. Yet we seem so bent on maintaining the walls. This year the walls include the divide between Democrat, Republican and Independent; between liberal and conservative. The oppressed fear the power and burden of the oppressors; the oppressors fear the rebellion of the oppressed. The tension explodes in outbursts of violence around the world as we try to replace Oppressors but fail to create a level playing field that is the real end to oppression. 

Perhaps the real danger lies in our unwillingness to listen to each other. When we embrace our shared humanity and acknowledge the dreams and longings we each have, we have opened a door. To do this, we must overcome the perceived safety in leaving the door shut and sitting in ignorance. It is less personal to act in hurtful ways towards people we do not know. To identify faces, to know the grandmothers and brothers, and to understand the needs of the people we fear puts cracks in our armor. It nudges the door open and allows in just enough light to see there are consequences to our hatred and pain in our words and acts of violence. In the light there are shades of gray to all of our black and white philosophy. In the light are the solutions to the challenges faced in the borough of Emmaus, in the state of Pennsylvania, the nation of the United States and in every borough and nation around the world. 

In John 13:34 it is written, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.”  I don’t see the part that says, “love the people who look like you and worship as you do”; or the part that says, “love the people who love you.” It is a fairly simple concept: “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew, Mark and Luke).  Simple does not imply always easy. Yet as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” 

Begin at home. Invite the light into your relationships and perceptions. Examine what you teach your children and grandchildren by your words, your actions and your friends. We cannot change the world if we are unwilling to listen to each other and embrace our common humanity.