Reflections on the Way to Work

The end of June and beginning of July 2016 were dark days in the history of America.  I struggled to find a sentiment for a reflection that was not already expressed or shared but finally my thoughts came together.  

First, and foremost my thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of those whose lives were lost in Texas, Louisiana and Minnesota.  Second, kudos to Dallas Police Chief David Brown!  Few could have exhibited the leadership, professionalism and calm as Chief Brown did under circumstances that were as fluid, stressful and emotional as they were the evening of July 7, 2016 and the early morning of July 8th, and for that matter, the days and week following the incident. 

If there is one person the leaders and politicians in America should call upon to lead a task force to bridge the divide and work towards a long term plan to heal and overcome the differences and discord created by race and/or other social injustices, and/or between the police and the African-American community, it is Dallas Police Chief David Brown.

I grew up in a period post the Martin Luther King movement and it was a period of time where peace, love and unity were the prevailing message.  It is not to say that racial divides didn’t exist, I am sure they did but more people tried to live harmoniously with each other.  It is extremely sad to see where we are today as a country. We have come so far and yet the divide seems greater than ever.  Where we are today is a complicated matter that is a result of many factors that include socio-economic issues,  prejudices, biases, trust, or lack thereof, guns, fear and most of all lack of respect for each other. 

I am reminded of the lyrics in Michael Jackson’s song, “Black or White”.  Every radio station should be playing this now because it had a very meaningful message for today, which is that it doesn’t matter if you are Black or White, there is no room for racism.  Everyone should be treated as equals, in particular when it comes to racism but also when it comes to other forms of discrimination too.

I wish Michael was alive today because I believe he would be a force to help change the sentiment that exists.  In his absence I call upon other artists, actors, politicians and leaders to rally a movement for “Peace Across America” on Labor Day this year.  In 1986, America did “Hands Across America” to fight hunger.  Today, we are at a crossroad in America where we need to  join hands across America for peace, mutual respect, co-existence and tolerance.  At “Peace Across America” we can rally together you by joining hands and singing an array of songs that include:  “Imagine”;  “What the World Needs Now is Love”; “I Would Like to Teach the World to Sing”; “Let There Be Peace on Earth”; “This Land is Your Land”;  Wonderful World; and “God Bless America”.  We need to be unifying not dividing, healing not hurtful.

Given all the external threats to the United States, Americans should be standing shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm, in peace and united in pride for the freedoms we have that so many before us lost their lives for.  We should not be killing each other but rather finding ways to respect the differences we have and coexist together.  As Cameron Sterling suggested, “people should come together as one united family.  Everyone should be together not against each other.”

I end this reflection with one last sentiment.  I am reminded of Robert Frost’s poem, “Mending Wall”.    The “wall” is a metaphor representing both the physical and the mental barriers.  The mental or  man-made barriers are the barriers we are experiencing today between groups that include race, profession,  religion, economics, and gender.   The poem uses the  stone wall that was meant to separate as a tool to try and bring together; neighbors with the intent to “mend” the wall, a symbol of goodwill and trust.  However, while one neighbor sees it as a “wall”, the other  neighbor sees the “wall” as a “fence”.  The neighbor that sees it as a “fence”, says good fences make good neighbors.    The “fence”  serves as a barrier that sets limits and defines the rights of each individual.  

It is 2016,  so many years have passed since this poem was written and the symbolism the poem portrays of man-made barriers still exist as does the inability to trust, communicate and unify people, irrespective of their race, color, profession, religion or socio-economic stature in society.  It is incumbent upon each of us to begin the process of breaking down the “walls”  that exist in our own circles and be the force that starts the healing process.   To quote the Dalai Lama, “We may sometimes feel that we can’t do much as individuals, but humanity is made up of individuals; we can make a difference.”

“Hands Across America” was an incredible, unifying, purposeful experience and I call upon our musical artists, athletes, politicians and leaders to take the initiative to try and organize a “Peace Across America” as a starting point in trying to turn the tide of the sentiment that exists today into a movement to bring mutual respect, love, kindness and peace to the streets of America.  It will not solve the underlying issues, those will take time and hard work by each of us individually and collectively through community task forces that address the complicated issues.  However, “Peace Across America” can be a first step in building trust across the invisible and visible human “walls.”