Tuesday, June 27, 2006
I Wonder.....
As Neeraj talked about disparities last night, I thought about this piece I wrote last week - driving 'cross town - back to work - after going to North High.........
Drivin' today from my 'hood -
- to the other
Reflectin' on a memorial
- for a slain brother
At a school, where just 7 days before
He completed high school & expected much more!
In my 'hood, the grief is thick -
I wonder,
- in the other,
do they even give a lick?
I'm not tryin' to start somethin'
- I know some do care
But considerin' the reactions
- It jus' ain't fair
In my 'hood, the fear is real -
I wonder,
- in the other,
do they even feel?
In up,
and downtown
Two white brothers die -
A Tragedy.
It captures
the whole public eye.
But let a black or brown brother
Die in my 'hood -
Life goes on
- in the other
as if - alls good
In my hood,
boys and girls,
- also have dreams
I wonder,
- in the other,
can they even hear the screams?
Dedicated to the memory of Brian ColeA good kid, "in the wrong place at the wrong time""Accidental" victim of drive-by shootingJune 17, 2006
Drivin' today from my 'hood -
- to the other
Reflectin' on a memorial
- for a slain brother
At a school, where just 7 days before
He completed high school & expected much more!
In my 'hood, the grief is thick -
I wonder,
- in the other,
do they even give a lick?
I'm not tryin' to start somethin'
- I know some do care
But considerin' the reactions
- It jus' ain't fair
In my 'hood, the fear is real -
I wonder,
- in the other,
do they even feel?
In up,
and downtown
Two white brothers die -
A Tragedy.
It captures
the whole public eye.
But let a black or brown brother
Die in my 'hood -
Life goes on
- in the other
as if - alls good
In my hood,
boys and girls,
- also have dreams
I wonder,
- in the other,
can they even hear the screams?
Dedicated to the memory of Brian ColeA good kid, "in the wrong place at the wrong time""Accidental" victim of drive-by shootingJune 17, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
We Begin...
Tonight, we begin to meet.
How can this become less a class and more an initiation?
How do we move from a relatively passive disseminating and absorbing of information to a state where that information transforms and empowers us?
As I was jogging this morning around my neighborhood I thought about LOVE.
1 John 4: 18 - 21 reads...
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
So - how much of my inactivity in the community - our inactivity - is due to fear?
Fear of violence, fear of rejection, fear of having my comfortable world disturbed?
Does the verse in 1 John say if I understand God's love for me and for others, I will act out of love and not fear??
What do you think?
How can this become less a class and more an initiation?
How do we move from a relatively passive disseminating and absorbing of information to a state where that information transforms and empowers us?
As I was jogging this morning around my neighborhood I thought about LOVE.
1 John 4: 18 - 21 reads...
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
So - how much of my inactivity in the community - our inactivity - is due to fear?
Fear of violence, fear of rejection, fear of having my comfortable world disturbed?
Does the verse in 1 John say if I understand God's love for me and for others, I will act out of love and not fear??
What do you think?
