Bad Direction

America is an experiment that is failing…badly. The “melting pot” is melting. People who were once strangers in a new land are treating strangers as if they don’t belong here. The notion that God set aside this land called America for one particular race to dominate is, at its best, ludicrous. Yet, that is what we hear from political leaders to religious leaders, and none of them quote any scriptures to support those ideas. Nevertheless, that’s what the founders envisioned even, as we are told by some political leaders who talk as if they heard it firsthand, though none of them are known by any fire and brimstone speeches to walk the straight and narrow. When European settlers began settling in the “new world” they knew that there were already people living in America. They also knew the people already living here did not look like them. For the most part, those settlers were welcomed. As a matter of fact, if it weren’t for the Native Americans who were here before the settlers, many of them would not have survived in a land where there weren’t houses, castles, cities, and towns to welcome them. Now as we flash forward to 2023, there are those who haven’t learned anything from history on how to treat people that find themselves in a strange land. Perhaps the people that must have felt out of place in a strange land had to be African people. Those European settlers came over in ships however they could to escape tyrannical governments so they could be free. Black people, on the other hand, had no such choice. Those cultivated, religious settlers needed someone to “help” build the new land cheaply, and African people fit the bill. European settlers gained the freedom to live their lives, but African people were denied that dignity. Now remember, these were supposed to be people who were escaping from “state persecution” and turned around and did the same thing to the African people. No rights, no freedom, just being the property of another man for him to do as he pleases. Again, these were people who were, as we are told, strong believers in God.

If this nation was founded on religious principles, why are there so many problems that still plague America almost two hundred fifty years later? Compound that with what appears to be “open season”, as some people say, just about anything that comes to mind. It doesn’t seem to matter anymore, as civility is rapidly taking a backseat to words that are harsh in tone. Take, for example, a Republican congressman from Arizona, in a speech in the halls of Congress called Black people “colored people” in an all-out attack against diversity. Eli Crane is not an individual that came up doing the civil rights movement, having not seen the “for colored only” signs that greeted millions of Black people in stores. Obviously, he must have heard the word “colored” and knew that it referred to Black people. The term is hardly used anymore by the old generation, but it is not surprising to hear some younger, supposedly more mature(intelligent?) people use it. People elected to public office should be above using that kind of rhetoric, and no amount of apologizing will “make up”, which is why they should write what they plan to say before making a speech. The environment is toxic in many places where people gather to speak on issues that further divide the nation. Nothing is dividing this nation more than race, whether it comes from affirmative action being overturned, CRT teaching, or police accountability against Black people and the never-ending opportunities to keep Black people from voting in huge numbers.

Black people didn’t start the fire. It was already burning. Black people just came over on the boat against their will. The pot is melting, but Black people are not stirring or turning up the heat. Black people and others not of European descent just want to belong in a land big enough for everyone. One can mix certain chemicals to create a better product or outcome. The same can be said of people, but it all depends on what’s in their hearts. If this nation were really founded on religious principles that really put God first, then there would be a better nation. However, the direction in which the nation is heading is about being the “excepted one”. One that got a blink and a nod from God so we can do as we please, because, after all, who is going to stop us? In the world of science, one can do an experiment several times over until the desired results are achieved. We have used different social experiments to make the nation better. Some have worked. Then as mentioned earlier, those who are turning up the heat under the melting pot will end up with a ruined meal (nation). That is unless we turn down the heat and enjoy what we have. Remember, the world is watching. So is God.