President George W. Bush says the following in a statement about George Floyd, a black man, who was murdered by a white police officer on May 25. Floyd, 46, died in Minneapolis, Minnesota after Derek Chauvin, knelt on Floyd’s neck for almost eight to nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed face down in the street.
“Laura and I are anguished by the brutal suffocation of George Floyd and disturbed by the injustice and fear that suffocate our country.”
Additionally, Bush adds, America’s most significant challenge has long been to “unite people of very different backgrounds into a single nation of justice and opportunity.” The answer is “living up to American ideals—to the fundamental truth that all human beings are created equal and endowed by God with certain rights.”
Floyd’s death also follows, Ahmaud Arbery, Philando Castile, Breonna Taylor, and many others. These gross-injustices occur too frequently. A swift implementation of a national policy is required to shield the black community. All human beings are created equal as Bush reminds us, but human nature — and people deviate from this truth.
I have never experienced racial, economic, or judicial system discrimination and don’t purport to understand. All of us are “human beings,” and we are all commanded as Christians to fight against injustice.
Political factions are dividing us further. We are a nation on edge with racial tensions spilling into communities, cities and social media.
We are witnessing people/groups using hate as a weapon, inciting violence — hijacking demonstrations and protests for their agendas like far-left groups Antifa. People not affiliated with the protests are creating havoc on the streets.
Havoc is right, and Alveda King knows this all too well. She grew up in the civil rights movement led by her uncle, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Her family home in Birmingham, Alabama, was bombed, as was her father’s church office in Louisville, Kentucky. We may be on edge as a nation, but there is an opportunity for solidarity — hope.
“There is a unique opportunity for leaders of our families, our communities and our nation to open our stadiums, town halls, sanctuaries, and social media streams to invite people to stop panicking and stop fighting and breathe,” she says in an op-ed for Fox News.
We all have dignity, value and worth. As Bush says, America’s most significant difficulty has long been to “unite people of very different backgrounds into a single nation.”
Why are we not there yet in 2020? As 1 Peter 3:11 says: “They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.” We must all turn from evil — and not allow injustice to prevail. However, we are not people of violence.
It will be up to all of us as human beings to become a bridge. As we seek the Lord’s wisdom — it’s essential that we follow God’s advice and be a voice guided by the peace and presence of God.
America is a country to unite people of very different backgrounds and faiths. We are far from flawless, but fundamentally solid. That’s what makes us exceptional — we are not teaching the world this by turning on each other or allowing inequality to prevail — no matter who it is.
“The United States has provided more liberty and more freedom for more people than any country in the history of the world,” Gary L. Bauer says, who was appointed by President Trump to the U.S. Commission International Religious Freedom in 2018 and serving a second term. “[The Founding Fathers] understood that liberty doesn’t come from government, that it comes from God.” He appended that it doesn’t matter what ailments one has, or race someone is, all people have dignity, value and worth.”
We are a nation on edge and are facing a critical time in American history. We need God and His wisdom.
Here are Bible verses to reflect upon during this time of social unrest.
Peace Bible Verses:
Hebrews 12:14
Galatians 5:22
In the meantime, we can lean into God’s peace during this time of unrest in our nation — and remember the fundamental truth that all human beings are “created equal and endowed by God with certain rights.”