It has been awhile since I have written, but I have something to say given what we have been experiencing and feel like I can no longer remain silent. Therefore, I do not need to tell anyone that we live in difficult times that have polarized this country, inculcating chaos into our midst. But I also firmly believe that if we choose we can over come this time for a better tomorrow.
Personal freedoms that have been ensconced
in American life have been taken away or redirected. Albeit reproduction rights regarding
abortion, or merely going to the zoo in safety, let alone the market, a mall, a parade,
school or places of worship; my gosh is anywhere safe! Then there was the striking down of a state
law for gun control, which happened in New York State, and now private
schools can benefit from government funds (and ours) or the ability to openly
pray in public schools that can be embraced as manipulative. The Supreme Court is beginning to make choses
that can dramatically impact both state and personal freedoms which seem to project
as narrow. If the Supreme Court can strike
down an individual states mandate on gun control then can they over turn a state’s
choice on how to handle abortion?
Likewise, will constitutional freedoms continue to protect our religious
diversity if choices from “on high” (Supreme Court) overlook or dismiss that
same diversity, in affect taking away those same freedoms?
I appreciated a recent sermon given by Rabbi David
Wolpe who championed the Jewish value of abortion while at the same time recognizing
that for many it was their view of honoring life (the fetus), it was not bad people
verses good people more so that it was different human values that simultaneously
coexist. Of course Rabbi Wolpe has
earned the credibility to make such a statement and highlights just how
complicated this situation is. I personally
am saddened that the Supreme Court has been given the ultimate power to make a singular
choice about our diversity of opinion, robbing people of their deeply held convictions
about life and death. Likewise, how can
the court stand in the way of gun control laws based on what we have recently experienced,
mass shootings that are now a common trend and particular to our society in frequency;
one that I am sure none of us want to call
normal. It is a scary prospect what may happen,
what people will tolerate till they have had enough, and what about those politicians who we elect and get paid to represent
all Americans regardless of the color of their skin, religious choices, sexual persuasion,
economic standing or political affiliation (to name just a few). I am concerned about the continued divide that
is only growing amongst us, ripping apart the relational fabric of our
society. What can we do as people, what
should we do as Jews?
Last week in reading Parashat Korach, I was reminded about two particular things. First, we have lost the art of self-assessment
and gained the right of entitlement.
When Korach approached Moses he felt entitled to have more than he was
given, intent to get what he wanted instead of seeking collaboration for the
best outcome. In response we read “when Moses heard that he fell on his face,”
something our tradition said he did “because
of this dispute” that will impact the community. But he also fell on his face to assess, after
all he was accused of hording power and nepotism, wanting to make sure that his
own actions and motives were pure. I am fairly
confident that that type of self-assessment did not factor into recent choices
that are failing to unite and validate all Americans. If we become entitled instead of collaborating,
I am afraid that what happened with the divided community of Moses and Korach
can happen today, hence civil dispute and disruption can destroy our way of
life. The second thing that stood out to
me was Aaron running into the plague to preserve life, hence “and he stood between death and between life,
and the plague was stopped.” How do
we stand between “death and life,”
how do we make a difference? We too must
assess this situation and how to proceed, and violence and hate, illegal
protest and vengeance is not what that means and in the end will not be helpful.
Standing in between “death and life” is fostering change,
again something not easy but right. We
need to vote in more balanced politicians who have both sides of the aisle in their
interest, let alone the moderate’s out there who are feeling more and more like
a choice for one side or the other has to be made. We need to push for new laws on the ballet
this November and seek constitutional protection over the diversity of our
country while honoring life in the process, making sure those protests do it right to impower a desired outcome and not fan the flames of more chaos. We have to have politician’s who value life but protect 2nd amendment rights, honoring those
freedom’s but placing a safe life above a person's rights to own a gun if a questionable background can be a danger to
innocent people; let alone raising the age to own a gun and intensify the
background check before taking procession.
I am sure there are folks out that they may disagree, but that is oaky since
at the end of the day I know you agree with me about the value of life and our
need to preserve and protect it.
It is time to have people lead this country who can
fix our divisions and celebrate our diversity, because that is what America is,
a land of diversity and not bad people vs. good people. Starting with myself, I call on us as people to stop the fighting, the hateful speech and the blanket insults, instead aspiring to find commonalties and solutions.
We Read in Micha 6:8, “Has it not been told of you,, O man, what is good? or what does the Lord require, but to
do justice, and love mercy, and be ready to walk with the Lord thy God?”
If we don’t have justice in our society can gun violence ever be stooped? If we don’t have mercy for each other, can we ever accept the diversity of our neighbor? If we have no standards can we truly walk with our God if we pull the preverbal rug from under the feet of those who do not agree with us although they too are created in the image of God? When will we have enough?
