Posted on 06/03/2020 9:37:48 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
They did this for no reason. Its not going to bring George back here. George is in a better place than we are. Last night, Im going to be honest, I wished I was where George was. ... These people are tearing up our livelihood.
This is how Stephanie Wilford, a disabled African American woman who lives in south Minneapolis, responded to the recent destruction in her community. She obviously had nothing to do with the tragic death of George Floyd, but she has become a victim of those who are perpetrating violence in response to it.
A woman threw a Molotov cocktail into an NYPD car with four police officers inside Saturday. The bottle shattered two of the vehicles windows, but the gas inside did not ignite because toilet paper was used instead of a rag.
At least 60 Secret Service officers and special agents sustained multiple injuries in three days of violent clashes near the White House. The Lincoln Memorial and National Mall World War II Memorial are among the sites defaced with graffiti. Four police officers were shot early this morning in St. Louis and were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The ongoing violence has forced store closings around the country.
In response, President Trump said late yesterday that he is taking immediate action to mobilize all available federal resources to stop looting and riots across the country.
The people are left with NO CHOICE
David French recently quoted New York Times author Michelle Goldberg, who noted that 2020 started off like 1974 (an impeachment crisis), quickly became 1918 (a pandemic), turned into 1929 (an economic crash), and is now 1968 (massive urban unrest). We could add 1992 and the images of Los Angeles burning after four police officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King.
According to U.S. historian John Baick, Whats fundamentally common for all of these things in our history is a lack of agreement of what reality isa lack of agreement about facts, about causes. When we cant agree on basic truth, we reach our greatest periods of divide.
Heres the reality upon which many are not agreeing today: violence is the wrong response to violence.
Rapper Cardi B tweeted: They looting in Minnesota and as much as I dont like this type of violence it is what it is. Too much peaceful marches, too much trending hashtags and NO SOLUTIONS! The people are left with NO CHOICE.
Slate columnist Steven W. Thrasher claimed: Property destruction for social change is as American as the Boston Tea Party and the Stonewall Riots. (I plan to discuss the Boston Tea Party analogy in tomorrows Daily Article.)
By contrast, Atlantas African American mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, denounced vandalism in her city: What I see happening on the streets of Atlanta is not Atlanta. This is not a protest. This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. This is chaos. She added: If you want change in America, go and register to vote. That is the change we need in this country.
Which view more accurately reflects reality?
Does violence effect positive change?
Dr. King: Let me say as Ive always said, and I will always continue to say, that riots are socially destructive and self-defeating. Im still convinced that nonviolence is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom and justice. I feel that violence will only create more social problems than [it] will solve.
Omar Wasow is a professor of politics at Princeton who studies protest movements and their effects on politics and elections. In a recent New Yorker interview, he cited a lot of evidence that nonviolent tactics can be effective in garnering support and sympathy for a cause. However, when a protest movement turns violent, this ends up undermining the interests of the advocates by shifting public sympathy from their cause to their victims.
Were already seeing this shift.
Americans were overwhelmingly united in collective outrage over George Floyds death. Many welcomed peaceful demonstrations calling for change. But the narrative is now less about such a movement and more about lawless violence that dishonors his name.
In the words of George Floyds brother, If his own family and blood are trying to deal with it and be positive with it, and go another route to seek justice, then why are you out here tearing up your community?
Courteney Ross, George Floyds girlfriend of three years, said, Waking up this morning to see Minneapolis on fire would be something that would devastate Floyd. She wants everyone who took to the streets to know that I understand their frustration. . . . I want people to protest in a peaceful way.
Two mutually dependent life principles
This week, were exploring Jesus teachings in the context of this crisis. What did our Lord teach about responding to violence? Consider two principles, each of which depends on the other.
One: Refuse to return violence for violence. When Peter attacked the servant of the high priest in defending Jesus, our Lord told him, Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword (Matthew 26:52). He wanted us to break the cycle of vengeance, not perpetuate it.
Two: Seek justice. Jesus described a woman who continued to seek justice against my adversary from the court (Luke 18:3). The Bible affirms our responsibility for self-defense (cf. Exodus 22:23; Proverbs 25:26; Psalm 144:1). When the proper authority prosecutes crime, it carries out Gods wrath on the wrongdoer (Romans 13:4).
Just as it is illogical to blame all police officers for the actions of some, it is illogical to blame peaceful protesters for the violence of some. But it is also illogical to honor the memory of one victim by victimizing others.
Conversely, it is logical to treat others as we wish to be treated. Just as people tend to return violence for violence and hate for hate, they tend to return grace for grace and love for love.
Whats more, this ethic is the command of our Lord (Matthew 7:12) for all people, at all times, in all places.
Including you and me today.
This piece was originally published at the Denison Forum
Now about that cleansing of the Temple Jesus did ..
Yo, Rapper Cardi B (if that's your REAL name), it's not that they have no choice, it's that they have chosen poorly.
Haven't you noticed that all these police brutality cases have taken place in cities run by demonicRATS? In states run by demonicRATS. And the cops involved are protected by the Police Unions that endorse those demonicRATS.
Also, use some of your wealth to get an education. It should be "They are looting", not "They looting".
PS and also, if attacked I will defend myself.
Ive used that before. Remember, what would Jesus do includes making a whip, beating people, and overturning tables.
And that thing about selling your robe to buy a sword.Luke 22:36
What a pantload of gobbledegook, and just what a Phd would come up with.
Do I get to defend myself? In doing so, I can ensure my family’s well-being. I cannot ensure their well-being if I am dead or injured. So this dope would have me eschew defending myself?
No thanks.
Jesus: “If you dont have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” (Luke 22:36)
Yes, but if I remember, he suggests a limit of one or two swords. That could explain why the disciples took so many boating trips. I recall a boat accident or two.
The fact is nobody actually gives a sh*t about “George.” He has become a convenient symbol and latest excuse for rioting, looting and claiming you’re being oppressed by The White Man.
Notice how quickly they dropped The Jogger narrative? That’s because it became clear pretty quickly he was in fact casing out houses to burglarize and was not just an innocent jogger.
You mean where the Pharisees were taking advantage of people coming to worship by selling them sacrificial lambs and the like at exorbitant prices.
Yeah, that’s exactly the same. Read your Bible or quit using it in arguments.
So the whipping and table tossing were just mere “oopsies” as He walked through the Temple. Got it. Thanks for pointing that out. I am truly humbled.
Read that part too but can one robe buy two swords and did they wear anything under those robes? Heavens.
His judgements soon coming upon this world will not be pleasant
Those who somehow equate Christ’s cleansing of the Temple with rioting, violence or whatever are basterdizing Holy Writ. Remember where Christ was when he “cleansed” the Temple. He wasn’t running through the streets destroying property of others...he wasn’t looting shops in the market...and he wasn’t burning down houses or shops. What was he doing? He was defending his own house. That’s a big difference. A huge difference. What did Jesus do and say? Well for one...he did not use the whip on people. He used the whip on the sheep and cattle. In John 2 it says....starting in verse 14... And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; (not people) and he poured out the changers money, and overthrew their tables;...So he used the whip on animals, not people. He did overturn the money changers’ tables and poured out their coins...but he did not attack people. And as to his right to do so... it was his house. Verse 16 says...and to them that sold the doves he said, Take these things hence; make not my Fathers house a house of merchandise. Since Christ was both Father and Son...it was his house. So when you encounter those who try to use this as justification for the rioting, looting and destruction...remind them that Christ was just defending his house...his father’s house. These two are not the same. There is no comparison.
And as to the argument that Jesus told his disciples to sell a cloak and buy a sword...taken in context...Jesus was telling them to arm themselves for self defense. They were going out on the road with a money. They were doing ministry work and the sword(s) were for protection. Not aggression.
Anyway...
Not quite sure how to take your reply, but if I got a bit snarky in my earlier reply (and I think I did), I apologize.
No worries. :) So did I.
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