This past Sunday Pastor Janice delivered a lovely sermon based on Psalm 137. “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.  We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.  For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.  How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?”  Psalm 137: 1-4   KJV

The scripture is referring to the removal of the Israelites from their native land by their cruel enemies.

I wonder how often the oppressed peoples of our Earth feel just as the Israelites felt so many years ago?  How did our African American brothers and sisters feel when our ancestors took them by force from their homeland..in bondage and chains…to a new land for slavery and degradation?

What of the Syrian people who are fleeing their country under the combined threat of Assad and ISIS?  As they seek refuge and shelter and food…a friendly…peaceful…kind human… to help them in their extreme suffering.

What of our Policemen and Policewomen?  How do they feel when their colleagues are being murdered in Dallas and Baton Rouge, and all, many of them want to do is provide for the Public Safety…and return home to their family’s and live their life…and worship their God?

How do we all feel when the potential is great that the focus of our Country…The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave…may be changing dramatically?

Are all of the inclusive loving and caring…’opportunity for all’ tenets…now realigned to a pragmatic doctrine that excludes many groups of people on the basis of the color of their skin or their religion or their gender?

Often I have heard individuals say that they want to take their country back!  While this statement appears to be a worthy cause…what are they wanting to take their country back to?

During World War II our soldiers fought valiantly for our country!  My wife’s uncle Merle is buried at Fort Bliss.  After visiting his grave we walked throughout the cemetery of uniform white grave stones.  Proudly engraved on the hallowed stone monuments are the; Muslim Crescent and Star, the Jewish Star of David, and the Christian Cross…among others.  All of these brave heroes of our Land…did not hang their harps on the willow trees!

Emma Lazarus famous poem is ‘graven on a tablet on a pedestal’ on which the Statue of Liberty stands.

“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,  With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, who’s flame is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles.  From her beacon-hand Glows world wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air bridged harbor that twin cities frame.  ‘Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!’  cries she With silent lips.  ‘Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled massed yearning to  breathe free, The Wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Thursday afternoon shortly after 4:00 pm Mary Jane and I were watching CNN when Breaking News flashed on the television screen that there had been a large refrigeration truck drive through a massive group of people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France.  The nineteen ton white truck sped down the Promenade des Anglais swerving to the left and right in order to strike and run over and kill as many of the people, who were returning from the fireworks show, as possible.

We were fear stricken as our dear friends Margo and Jeff live in Nice!  We immediately began to email and text them both and were so relieved to hear that Margo was just ahead of the massacre and had been able, along with many others, to run into one of the restaurants for safe shelter.  She was shaken by the incident but safe!

Jeff was in the United Kingdom working with his business at the time of the heinous act…but rushed to be by Margo’s side as quickly as possible.

Two years ago this past June we were with Margo and Jeff in Nice.  Nice is a lovely, peaceful, friendly city.  We walked along the Promenade des Anglais at least once a day for the week that we were there.

I thought of the sweet people in the Hat Store where Mary Jane and I both purchased a hat.  I thought of the lovely people that we met in the various restaurants that we ate in.  The great group of authors that we met at a meeting that Margo invited us to…they were so kind…and caring.

It makes a difference when you have actually been to a geographical location that later experiences tragedy.

Across our planet we have a growing affinity with violence.  It is thought by many that, “The only way to fight fire is with fire.”

Certainly the swiftest prosecution of murderers and those who support terrorism is necessary and appropriate.  But there has to be a deeper answer for the Cancer that is growing across the Globe.

I wonder if we all work to create more love and understanding with those who are demonized and set apart…and disenfranchised…can we make a difference in our generation?

There is no rationale or reasoning that will cause me to understand how anyone can cavalierly murder innocent people, including children.  The dramatic turn to bloodshed has frozen societies…politics…and religions into a grudging acceptance of what until recently was beyond imagination.  I think we must all ask God for answers…and work to promote healing among those we come in contact with.

“An eye for an eye will make the world blind.”

I am politically an Independent.  In the 1980s I voted for Ronald Reagan.  I also voted for George H. W.  Bush.  At the time I thought they were both wonderful!

Over three separate interviews this past week Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has voiced her views regarding the presumptive Republican Nominee for President of the United States.  In an interview with the New York Times the Justice said, “I can’t imagine what the country would be-with Donald Trump as our President.”  In an interview with the Associated Press Justice Ginsburg stated when asked about a possible Trump victory, “I don’t want to think about that possibility, but if it should be, then everything is up for grabs.”  In an interview with CNN on Monday she said, Trump was, “A faker who has no consistency about him.”

Justice Ginsburg has been almost universally condemned for what is considered an inappropriate comment coming from a sitting member of the highest court in the land.  Condemnations range from, how can she be viewed as impartial when and if a case comes before the Supreme Court regarding a Trump Presidency to her casting a cloud over the entire Court.

Presumptive Republican Nominee Donald Trump responded by tweet on Twitter, “Justice Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court has embarrassed us all by making very dumb political statements about me.  Her mind is shot-resign!”

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the daughter of Russian/Jewish immigrants.

I watched the CNN Town hall with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.  On more than one occasion during the hour event Speaker Ryan was asked how he could support Donald Trump who has demonstrated extremely candid misogynistic, racist, xenophobic statements and opinions?  The Speaker replied that it was a binary decision and thus he could accept Trump rather than Clinton.  That is probably the appropriate stand for the Republican Speaker of the House to take as he is the Chairman of the Republican National Convention that begins on Monday…but what about the excluding of the entire Muslim faith and people from the United States?  What about  referring to Mexicans as rapist?  Is it apparently more political expedient to disregard fifty-one percent of the residents of the United States and to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the most egregious demeaning comments about women…so we can win an election?  Is it now acceptable to make fun of disabled people?  What about being slow to disavow and nonplus about the Ku Klux Klan?

Republican questioners in the Town Hall audience looked like “deer caught in the headlights” when the Speaker of the House of Representatives basically informed them that he was able to look over all of their concerns…just to place a Republican in the White House.

What comes after the election?  What shall we be willing to accept?

An Elder in our Church, Peter Alexander, delivered a thought provoking message this morning centered on Psalm 67.  Contained in his remarks was the question; “what can I do to save the world?”  This timely question was birthed from the agony of the horrendous violence that has occurred over the past week. From Baton Rouge, Louisiana to St. Paul, Minnesota to Dallas Texas… there has been almost a daily terrible dose of tragedy and senseless killing.

Have you ever felt marginalized?  Were you ever bullied in school?  Did anyone ever treat you differently because of some obscure reason that they concocted in their “poor self esteem psyche?”

What can I do, perhaps not to save the world, but to begin healing the racial wounds of our society…that are so deep and gaping that the healing appears hopeless?  What can I do to bridge the cultural chasm between the white race and the black race?  What can I do that will demonstrate by deed and action that I want to know my African American brothers and sisters?  How can I show the members of the Muslim Community that I value them and that I want to work…study…and live with them with the honor of them feeling that I am their equal and their friend?

My African American colleague Jewel Thompson had  Christmas dinner on Campus many years ago that she graciously invited me to.  She made me so welcome!  The food was good and the fellowship was great!  She played Nat King Cole Christmas Carols…and I felt like I was home!  Of Christmas events during my over thirty-two year career…none made more of an indelible impression of me.

A few weeks ago my former supervisor and the Director of Plant and Service Operations retired and invited me to his retirement party.  As Mary Jane and I and Jonathon, who now works for the Physical Plant, were eating…a few people greeted me…but many seemed not to recognize me or remember me.  Suddenly Alfie a

Former student staff member in my office came up to me and greeted me and hugged  me.  Alfie is an African American of Muslim faith.  I told those setting nearby that, “Alfie was my son…he just would not  call me Daddy.”  Alfie exclaimed, “That he would call me Daddy.”

My first supervisor who greeted me on October 10th, 1978 was Jim Walls.  Jim was a nearly 70 year old African American gentleman who smoked the most delightfully scented cigars!  No one knew me…but soon Jim began telling everyone how proud he was of the work that I was performing.  It was not long that by Jim’s efforts, I had a good name throughout the department.  A crew boss…as I was a janitor at that time…cursed me one night on an overtime shift…and I told him that if he did that again that I would leave the job.  The next evening I mentioned the occurrence to Jim.  The next time that I worked for the person that I had experienced the altercation with…I had no more that arrived for the beginning of the overtime shift and Joe and I had entered the first building that we were to clean…we heard an old van drive up…and in came my cigar smoking supervisor and friend.  He entered the door and asked Joe, “Do you realize that Brooks is my son…he just won’t call me Daddy?”

I think that for everyone that desires healing and understanding of others…seek one person who is of a different race and begin communicating with them.  Not with the noble idea that you will enrich them…but with the humble desire that they will accept you.

The last week has been an onslaught of tragedy for our country and our lives.  Mr. Alton Sterling, an African American man was standing in a parking lot selling CD’s in Baton Rouge, Louisiana this past Tuesday night.  A homeless man is reported to have called 911 stating that Sterling showed him a gun in response to him asking Sterling for money.  A video taken of the incident appears to show that Mr. Sterling’s gun never left his pocket…yet police shot him to death. Police refused to comment whether Mr. Sterling had a gun.

Mr. Philando Castile was stopped by police outside St. Paul, Minnesota.  Before Castile reached for his wallet to present his identification he told the officer that he had a gun and was licensed to carry it.  Mr. Castile was shot dead by the officer.

Last night twelve police officers in Dallas, Texas were shot and five have died.  These officers were assigned to ensure the safety of the protest regarding the two men who were killed by police on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The pain and hurt and lack of trust and fear by many members of the African Community is justified in light of what not only is the video evidence of these shootings but also what countless of them have experienced at the hands of bigoted police officers.

At one time in my life I was the manager of a large housekeeping organization at a major university.  One night I was telephoned by one of my supervisors to please come to his building quickly as one of his crew was being questioned by the police regarding the theft of money from a professor’s office.  When I arrived two white police officers were questioning the African American custodial employee.  After observing one of the officers screaming at my employee…I asked how he was a prime suspect when he was entering offices at my request and with master keys that I provided him and the accusing professor had left her purse on her desk with the door open…and she was not present.  The officers convinced my employee to subject himself to a strip search…where they found no money…and he was exonerated.  One of the officers told me that I had hurt their interrogation of my staff member…who was and still is a respected member of our community…and that if I had not been there…he would have confessed.

Police are often wonderful people.  The key word is what a friend told me many years ago…a policeman is a man.  Also, a policewoman is  a woman.  For someone to shoot and kill police men and women to some how avenge wrongs done that the people being shot had nothing to do with…is insanity!

The next time you are in trouble…afraid…perhaps for you life…there will be a policeman or policewoman that you will call upon.  They will come to your assistance…often at the risk of their own life.  They deserve our thanks!

The bigoted racist culture of signaling out African Americans for additional traffic stops…shadowing in department stores…or the deadly irreversible assumption that lethal force is the first solution…is chilling and frightening!

There is a truth that is as old as humanity.  We are all first human beings.  We love our families…we want the best for our children…we want to succeed and create a decent life for our loved ones…and we want the respect of our common humanity.

We must begin now…to talk together and forget the color of our skin…but rather listen and listen and listen…and see the person who is communicating with us as Dr. Martin Luther King extolled us, “by the content of their character.”