I thought much about the events that have been surrounding media coverage recently. About systemic racism, about how horribly we’ve not only historically treated 13% of the population, but how terribly we do today. It’s very simple people, just cease. Stop looking at people as lesser, or holding them to a different set of standards than you hold yourself or the people around you. Because that’s what happens. You have to realize there’s an entire system in place to keep certain people in a certain “place” in society. You buy into that system, whether you know it or not. That system is fed, and it feeds certain thoughts and feelings, and some people act out in a way that is contrary to human decency because they are led to believe that some people matter more than others, that some people’s lives are worth less. Too many people have these feelings, too many people promote these feelings, even if they don’t see it or even feel it themselves. I don’t know any of the people involved in the Charleston Terror Attack, but my heart is broken once again over needless death and destruction caused by a society that just does not seem to want to really face the issues causing these things. We are all culpable for feeding a system that allows this to happen on a regular basis, and not demanding action to stop it.
\nthe Make Yes Happen virtual race sent an email at every mile marker. It gave a word, a victim’s name, and a meme with a quote pertinent to that word. I will share them all with you:<\/p>\n
Mile 1:
\nLove
\nThe Rev. Clementa Pinckney
\n“Where there is love, there is life” -M. Gandhi<\/p>\n
Mile 2:
\nJoy
\nCynthia Hurd
\n“Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and intelligence aglow.” -Helen Keller<\/p>\n
Mile 3:
\nFaithfulness
\nThe Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton
\n“Show me thy faith without thy works, and I shall show you my faith by my works” -James 2:18<\/p>\n
Mile 4:
\nPeace
\nTywanza Sanders
\n“Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” -unknown<\/p>\n
Mile 5:
\nPatience
\nEhtel Lance
\n“Patience with others is love, patience with self is hope, patience with God is faith.” -iliketoquote.com<\/p>\n
Mile 6:
\nGentleness
\nSusie Jackson
\n“The greatest strength is gentleness.” -Iroquois Proverb<\/p>\n
Mile 7:
\nGoodness
\nDepayne Middleton Doctor
\n“Evil forges a tornado. But goodness battles in a straight line.” -Caris Roane<\/p>\n
Mile 8:
\nSelf-Control
\nThe Rev. Daniel Simmons
\n“He is not strong and powerful who throws people down; but he is strong who withholds himself from anger.” -unknown<\/p>\n
Mile 9:
\nKindness
\nMyra Thompson
\n“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” -Mother Teresa<\/p>\n