Love Thy Neighbor, Yeah Right?

I guess for some who claim to be Christian, Matthew 22:37-39 is one of those conditional commandments that only apply to other Christians and not to everyone.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22:37-39

It has been my understanding that love thy neighbor applies to everyone, not just your Christian neighbor.

This is what I believe many of my fellow Christians continue to misrepresent Christ, because they often use God, Jesus and the Bible to either damn people to a living hell of torment while using God, Jesus or the Bible as a proxy for their discrimination, bigotry and intolerance towards others.

Jesus did not waste his time discerning ethnicity, culture or religious beliefs in his ministry. He loved everyone the same, even when they did not love or demonstrate that love to or for him. As I know there are some who will point out an instance of Matthew 15:23 as a counter argument, but I look at their motives in making this argument while ignoring the counter arguments to their counter argument. This is often where we both get side tracked and entangled in conversations based on individual biases and preferences. So we miss the point.

Why Do I Care About Muslims?

I take this point up not to agitate or to apologize to anyone. I take this point up, because underneath the surface of this debate is an unconscious undertone of religious bigotry at work against the Islamic Center.

Some may ask the question, “As a Christian, why do I or should I care about Muslims, Islam or a building?”

I care because it is my understanding and belief as a Christian that I am to love my neighbor as I love myself. I care because I still have not found a logical or spiritual reason why I should discriminate against someone.

Unfortunately many who claims to practice Christianity as are those who claims to practice Islam has perverted the faith by distorting what is true. This is the case within any spiritual belief. There will always be some faction who may claim to be fundamentalist of the tradition, but fail to practice the fundamentals of the tradition. That is essential mutual respect of one another.

Why should I care?

I care because I know when you have had the opportunity to interact with many persons who practice Islam on an ongoing basis that interaction develops into a friendship and friendship into a kinship. That only occurs when both practice mutual respect towards each other. That’s why I care. Why don’t you should be the question?

Walk By Faith

What motivates me to speak as a Christian in defense of Muslims is first my adherence to my faith in where I sincerely strive to practice it in truth, not in perception of it or having truth. This puts another meaning to II Corinthians 5:7, because if you walk by faith and not by sight you are not concerned about being perceived to be right, true or spiritual, because it will be seen in your actions. What you defend, what you cherish, what you practice. In essence, whether you walk by faith or just concerned by being seen as walking by faith.

The Beloved Community?

Another reason why the opposition to the Islamic Center of Murfressboro attracted by attention is has nothing to do with the proxy of zoning issues that are waged, but the undertone of religious intolerance at work.

I’m not saying one side’s opinion is infallible and the other’s opinion is fallible, because both sides should be heard, but if this was a Christian organization seeking the same property in the same manner there may be similar zoning related questions or obstacles to be accounted for, but the public opposition would not be comparable if any at all. I’m sure some may not be honest enough to admit that probability, but this is why I harp on being considerate of others beyond your own understanding.

There’s a history of religious intolerance directed towards the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. January of this year the sign that read “Future Home of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro” was vandalized with the words, “Not Welcomed”. That’s a fine example of the “Love Thy Neighbor.”

So the sudden opposition demonstrated by some should not be a big surprise, nor should the claims of zoning or legalities should be considered without suspicion of bias.

Conclusion

If America is ever going to be true to its words, then we must adhere to those words we claim to cherish. We the people may be the beginning of the preamble of the constitution of the United States, but when that statement was first written and the document was complete, ‘We’ did not included ‘Me’. The same continues to be true each time we don’t consider others and fall into the comforts of only thinking about me.

Many people who say they love America only want to focus on the good of America. We cling to our guns and religion like a 2^nd Amendment militias. If we are to celebrate our religious freedoms, then stop opposing the right to religious freedom. Just because someone doesn’t believe what you believe doesn’t give you the right to oppose them for wanting to lawfully and respectfully practice what they believe.

References & Inspirations

WSMV: Nashville – 18 January 2010 “Murfreesboro Islamic Center Sign Vandalized”

Daily News Journal – 18 June 2010 “Mosque’s Approval Draws Residents’ Ire”

Daily News Journal – 17 June 2010 “Mosque Faces Challenge”

Daily News Journal – 17 June 2010 “Letter to Editor: Debate Needed on Islamic Center”

Religious Tolerance “Thomas Jefferson’s 1777 Draft of a Bill for Religious Freedom”

Religious Tolerance “An Act for Establishing Religious Freedom in Virginia 1786”

The Holy Bible (NIV) “Matthew 22” Specifically verses 23 until the end of the chapter

Islamic Center of Murfreesboro “Official Website”

Human Rights First – “2008 Hate Crime Survey Results: Violence Against Muslims”

President Obama’s Address to the Joint Session of Congress

Pres. Obama Address to Congress

Republican Response: What speech did Gov. Jindah watch?

You Just Don’t Get It Do You?

Now for anyone who is still naïve enough to believe racism and/or racial discrimination is a thing of the past let me introduce you to the latest of a string of incidents that you may not be aware of that continues to happen all around us.

You would think Rush Limbaugh would have done this, but it’s the so-called “Big Bad Liberal Media” that sneak this one in. I speak of the New York Post.

For those who are unfamiliar or oblivious to the racial connotation of a monkey and how it relates to race let me attempt to offer you a very brief history lesson of being Black in America.

This drawing from Josiah Nott and George Gliddon called “Indigenous Races of the Earth” was drawn in 1857. This drawing was the beginning of the ridiculous suggestion that Black People ranked between White People and Chimpanzees in terms of intelligence. The lie was perpetuated throughout America as truth by Whites during a time in the U.S. when racism and bigotry was socially acceptable and common place. Today we still find it, but the lie is more secluded and socially sophisticated.

Now to address why this cartoon is considered to be racist and not just insensitive towards animal rights?

It does show a level of insensitivity towards animals, but it’s the text and the known history of not only the NYPD, but the relationships between Blacks and the police. I’m more than happy to go there, but want to stick to this issue for the moment.

Now to add the text to the cartoon that reads, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill” the day after President Obama signs the Stimulus bill and the fact that he’s Black (which I could go into that for those who want to debate the “One Drop Rule” and how that relates to the President.)

Footnote: I want to add that it’s also interesting how this depiction comes almost a week after Charles Darwin’s 200^th Birthday to and how it can spark the conversation about Social Darwinism. But I’m trying to not overwhelm you with the depth of sophistication of the subtle message this image suggests in form of a cartoon.

The cartoon in today’s New York Post is telling of the silent rise in the sophisticated racial & discriminatory attacks reported since 2008. I’m still amazed of the ignorance of history that some people and institutions continue to exhibit.

Throughout American history the racially motivated reference of Blacks with monkeys has been made, most recently history in Pennsylvania at a McCain/Palin political rally.

One has to question whether the cartoonist is making a less than casual inference to this form of racism when, in the cartoon, the police say after shooting a chimpanzee, “now they will have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill.”

What the Hell is that suppose to mean? You talk about respect for authority or the Office of the President.

But this isn’t the first time a New York Post cartoonist has come under heavy fire in the past for racially tinged cartoons. Does anyone remember the cartoons depicting 2001 NYC Mayoral candidate Freddy Ferrer and Rev. Al Sharpton? And who can forget the magazine cover of the New Yorker Magazine last July.

Some will often try to ignore the racial implications out of being uncomfortable speaking about the subject or fear of being questioned. For those who have read this blog for any length of time I hope you can conclude that I tend to understand where you’re coming from and will question when it isn’t clear or objectionable.

I understand if this is you, but do not be afraid to speak out against racism or discrimination. Now some have tried to use these words against me, but it still doesn’t fit, because whenever I’ve seen discrimination I’ve always spoken up or clarified the intentions of the person accused regardless of politics, race, preferences or religion.

When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that “we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends” he wasn’t just talking about one group of people or a single issue. I invite you to chime in on your sincere thoughts, ideas and suggestions regarding this cartoon. But if I can quote King for the millionth time it would be this principle that I continues to motivate me to even share my opinion about the things I blog about. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” This may not matter to you, but your silence says more than your words if it doesn’t.

References & Inspirations

New York Post – 02/18/09 “Sean Delonas Cartoon”

Wikipedia “Scientific Racism”

Wikipedia “One Drop Rule”

Wikipedia “Ethnographic”

Wikipedia “Popular Racist Ideology”

Someone Like Me

On this day in 1870 the U.S. Congress ratified the 15th Amendment of the Constitution. This amendment gives the right of all American citizens of legal age the right to vote. It ensured that their right to vote was not to be denied or abridged by the United States or any of its states on the account of race, color or previous condition of servitude.

This amendment empowered many African-Americans (Blacks) across the country, specifically the South during Reconstruction that had political aspirations. In fact thousands of Blacks were elected to political office during that time. Congress and state legislatures began to pass radical bills  to help eliminate all race-based laws.

Many Blacks holding public office and their Republican allies saw hopeful signs of progress, while the mostly defeated White Democratic power structure saw it as an intolerable threat. Although President Grant had to send federal troops to New Orleans to dispel an angry white mob who did not like interracial government, but it was his successor, President Hayes that withdrew those troops in 1877 that ended the protection and adherence of many of the policies enacted to protect Blacks.

Black politicians were voted out, southern legislatures passed poll taxes, literacy tests and various segregation laws. Jim Crow, the son of the south was born.

It wasn’t until the efforts of the countless and far too often nameless people of the Civil Rights Movement that help get American back on track to civility. The passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a full ninety-five (95) years after the ratification of the 15th Amendment. Essentially the  struggles, fights, sacrifices and deaths that lead to President Lyndon Johnson to sign the Voting Rights Act into law was basically the re-ratification of the 15th Amendment.

Today, I can see someone like me hold elected offices and positions of power through the land. It’s still a struggle for the most part, but when I look at a Mayor such as Cory Booker (Newark, NJ) or a formal U.S. Congressman such as Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN) or J.C. Watts (R-OK), a Governor such as Duval Patrick (D-MA), a chairman of a major political party and former Lt. Governor such as Michael Steele (R-MD) and even the President of the United States Barack Obama I am appreciative and hopeful for the allies of both major political parties, Republican & Democrat can see someone like me as the constitution currently states it, equal.

Regardless of our disagreements on policies we are in this game together. Civil Rights is not some passive movement of long ago, nor is this amendment, a political party, specific top politicians or chairmans accountable to just a single group of people. February is called Black History Month, but there are many people who were not Black who helped make this history along with many Blacks. I hope we all can work to not discount the significants of each others personal triumphs and collective achievements.

I take this opportunity to congratulate one more time the Republican Party in the election of it’s new party chairman former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, Chairman Michael Steele and the Democratic Party in the election of our 44th President of the United States, President Barack Obama.

Nashvillians Say No to English-Only Amendment

This story was a little personal for me, because it’s my hometown. I’ve followed Nashville politics since I was a child. I was always fascinated by it and it’s what sparked my interest in politics in general. So when I began to hear this debate for English only vote spew out into the national media spotlight I paid closer attention. My attention was not on what I believed Nashvillians would do, but what influence from the national media may sway their vote.

You have to live in Nashville to really understand the culture of the city. It’s not what many people think of it as some cowboy hat wearing, horse riding country music listening big small town. Ofcourse you will see some cowboy hats, but its normally tourist wearing them. If you are walking down on 2^nd Avenue or even a few spots on Broadway you may hear some live country or blues music being played at night from some of the bars, but it is Music City. You will hear Gospel, Blues and even some Hip Hop too if you go to the right places.

If you want to mess everybody up, just walk into Tootsie’s (famous country music spot) wearing a Public Enemy shirt like I did back in the early 90′s. I was thirsty, but that’s another story.

Nashville has a growing immigrant population that’s has made great contributions to the culture and heritage of the city for decades. We don’t have many racially related crimes, nor does the city discourage cultural diversity. Growing up in Nashville helped form my views and experiences regarding race, but I’ll talk about that more in a few weeks.

So you may understand why I was a bit disappointed with Councilman Eric Crafton’s proposal for English-Only. I personally believe it was to raise his own political profile for his own future aspirations, but that’s hearsay.

The final vote was 32,144 for English only and 41,752 against. Obviously this was a very low voter turnout, but I’m happy for those who did turnout to vote.

The measure would have forced all Metro Nashville government business to be done in English, with the council allowed to vote on exceptions. Metro’s legal department contended early on that conflicts with federal law would enmesh Nashville in litigation for years to come.

So by defeating the measure, Nashville will not be the largest city in the nation with an English-only rule in its charter despite dogged efforts by Metro Councilman Eric Crafton, who spearheaded the amendment.

Councilman Crafton and his Nashville English First group argued that the city would save the city money in translation services and become unified as the result of more immigrants learning English.

“We have got to speak English. We would be divided as a country if we don’t. We can’t do a lot about the illegal immigrants that are here, but they won’t be able to go get government services because they won’t be able to read forms. This country is based on English.” — Kevin Ferrin

I respectfully disagree with this idea because it tends to omit the notion that we are a country of immigrants. Whatever happened to the Great Melting Pot philosophy? This country is based on many things both good and bad, but we have already seen what happens when you put up exclusive signs. You may not see a physical sign that says “English-Only”, but regardless if it’s out in the open or hidden in our hearts, the use of divisive language is harmful under any translation.

Even Councilman Crafton said he is glad the special election is over. He has been trying to get the charter amended for two years; first failing after former Mayor Bill Purcell vetoed a council vote on the issue and then failing to get it on the November ballot over a technicality in timing. Well I hope you’re happy and keep your word by not bring it up again, but I’m sure some devotee of division will raise it up once again. Perhaps we should bring back the Colored & White’s Only signs too.

I love how Maria Rodriguez, Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition used a familiar civil rights quote that was recently used in the inauguration benediction by Rev. Joseph Lowery. She said, “Voters are not duped anymore. They know when they see bad policy that is going to be costly and that’s not progressive. … I guess brown can stick around in Nashville.”

References & Inspirations:

The Tennessean – 01/23/09 “Nashville’s English-Only Measure Defeated”

The Tennessean – 01/23/09 “Quotes about English-Only Measure”