Monday, February 4, 2013

And Justice For All

Psalm 99

I just read a blog from one of my friends who found a way to link the singing of America the Beautiful by the Sandy Hook Elementary children at yesterday's Super Bowl to the gun control debate. It took me a couple of reads but I think I understand where he may be coming from. In his opinion we, as Americans, understand that we are able to sing patriotic songs and celebrate the flag and all it represents because of the freedoms allotted by our Constitution.

My only argument with his reasoning is how the rights to own any kind of weapon one wishes promotes freedom, but those are his thoughts and as long as his actions don't impede on the safety of himself, others, or society he is entitled to think and say what his beliefs are. Another right guaranteed by our Constitution.

As Americans we sometimes forget that what we consider to be our "rights" may in fact be "wrongs" to another. We take a stand and sometimes refuse to listen to other's thoughts and opinions. One sees this refusal to compromise to some degree or another in all aspects of our lives. Where to eat lunch, how to raise children, what television show or movie to watch, and so much more is affected by people's decisions and refusal to compromise.

Then there are the events in and around the world that truly impede on our rights as individuals. Whether a woman has the right to keep an unwanted child, gender marriage choices, who should be allowed to carry guns and what kind of guns they are allowed to carry are all the current arguments that Americans, and others around the world, are entrenched in at the moment.

A quick reminder that at some point in our history women could not vote, African-Americans had little to no rights, people with disabilities were unable to hold jobs or gain easy access to restaurants, and gender equality was a term people only spoke if they wanted to be hung to a fence. Humanity has come a long way, but we still have a way to go. As a woman of African-American descent said recently in a commercial on equality, "It's only when we no longer speak of having equal rights that equality for all is truly achieved."

God wants nothing more than all of creation to live in harmony with one another. Let's start doing our part by taking care of each other and respecting our earth.

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