new church life: november/december 2017
teachable moments
Beyond the ravages of nature is growing turmoil in our culture. Just one
example is the trend of professional athletes kneeling in protest against their
flag and country during the pre-game playing of the National Anthem. Raising
consciences about perceived injustice, racial oppression and police brutality
is legitimate. More effective is getting involved in real solutions, and some
individuals and teams do noble work in their communities.
For example, the Baltimore Ravens met as a team with law enforcement
officials to explore ways to work together. Chris Long of the Philadelphia
Eagles, who grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, and attended the University
of Virginia there – where tensions had erupted earlier this year – is donating
his entire million-dollar salary this year for education. He and his wife are
passionate about education as a gateway for upward mobility and equality.
But the movement has gotten out of hand – filtering into colleges, high
schools and even elementary schools. A third-grade football team took to their
knees during the Anthem to “show solidarity” with the protests. Obviously
these eight-year -olds did not decide this on their own. Their coach said he
took advantage of a “teachable moment” to enlighten and encourage them.
What coaches, teachers and parents should be educating their children
about is that yes, protest is part of our freedom. But with freedom also comes
opportunity and responsibility to address our grievances in positive ways.
The most important words in the Constitution that underlies American
freedom are the first: “We the people.” This makes clear that we are a
“government of the people, by the people, for the people.” It is up to us to make
this country what we want it to be. That is true of any free democracy. With
our values and our actions we define what our nation stands for.
No nation ever achieves all of its goals or completely realizes its vision, but
it is the mutual striving and commitment that make the difference.
When the Constitutional Convention completed its work in Philadelphia
in 1787, a woman passing by asked Benjamin Franklin: “Well, Doctor, what
have we got – a Republic or a Monarchy?” He famously answered: “A Republic
– if you can keep it.”
It was up to the people if this noble experiment could survive. It still is –
and it is a never-ending process and challenge.
French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville toured this infant nation in the
early 1800s and his observations in Democracy in America still resonate. He
found an idealism here which recognized that the country – and its government
– would always be in a state of improvement and of rising to challenges. That
is still the calling to free citizens everywhere – to recognize that each of us has
both opportunity and obligation to make things better, whether it be for our
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