All Lives Matter

All Lives Matter

Is this statement truth? We’ve been talking about ‘Black Lives Matter’ and yet, we as a society are struggling to stand hand in hand with our African-Americans counterparts, supporting their rights to live in freedom in America. If indeed all lives truly matter, this incident would not be blasted on our media today.

Baltimore Riots

https://youtu.be/w_c4MAIATY8

 

Recently Baltimore was on the news again. I felt disturbed while the media focused on the ongoing riots over the death of the 25-year-old, Freddie Gray. 6 of the Baltimore policemen and policewoman were formally charged and arrested with a range of crimes including  murder and manslaughter in the arrest and fatal injury of Freddie Gray. If you are keen to know more about the news, click here on the Story Link. The riots instigated from excessive use of brutality force by the police in Baltimore while arresting people mainly black young men. A scene so commonly seen way back in the 1960’s. Horrific to learn that it’s happening in 2015. Racism is surfacing out of proportion in our time. So, what happened? Why should our young black men have to live in fear for their lives simply because of their skin color? Have we not addressed this issue way back in the 60’s?

All  Lives Matter

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All lives matter, not just red, yellow, white or black. Should our worth depend on or limited by our skin colors? The truth is, we have no control over our skin colors. What is given is a gift from God. If  the colors of our skin decide our worth, shouldn’t God be the judge? Should we then consider each other as equal? Shouldn’t we in turn treat each other with similar decency and respect. Regardless whether we are of the greatest or the minority. Does this make sense? Every Americans should have the equal opportunity to fulfill their dream as long as they are willing to work hard and earn a decent living. Isn’t this what America is all about? People from various nations migrate to the United States with their families in the hope to pursue and build an American dream and why does it matter where they come from? America is a free nation, really.. is it? If freedom matters so much to us, why aren’t we free?

In 1865, slavery abolished in America. Are the African-Americans truly freed today in 2015? Do they have the equal rights as the rest? If we fight so hard to help another nation in the name of freedom, why do we neglect our very own? Most Americans speak up against the injustice of the caste system in India. Why does it bother us? Our future should never be based on our ascribed status, is it true? Why is it that many of our young African-Americans are fearful for their lives while they are out on the street? Are they targeted by the law enforcement instead of protected by them? Yet, one thing that puzzled me today when I was looking through the faces of the 6 police officers arrested. 3 out of the 6 are African-Americans.  This entire picture does not add up.. more truth will be out soon. We need to get to the bottom of the truth.

We need reform in so many areas. If the Baltimore police officers use excessive force and abusing their authority, then independent investigations will help in making new changes to stop the abusive behavior. The police department has to open to change for the safety and rebuilding the trust that was lost among the people.

We Need Positive Changes And Eliminate Racism

Racial discrimination is a thing of the past, yet we as a society are struggling to understand the impact of it. We will not become a better people if we continue in this path. Progress depends on how we treat each other. If we wish for a better and happier world, we need to make positive changes and ultimately end racism. We may have various skin colors, if we see beyond that, we are in so many ways alike. God created us different and unique not so for us to rule over others rather to see the beauty in our differences and appreciate our uniqueness. Simply because to God all lives matter. Even Jesus did not consider Himself above all. He made Himself a slave to all. The Bible says in Philippians 2:3-7  The Message (MSG)

He Took on the Status of a Slave

 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

If Jesus took on the status of a slave, if you are to follow His example, should you not do likewise? He gave up His rights as the Son of God to serve others. You need that same attitude to see a new change that transpires beyond your means. A change that your future generations will get to enjoy and live in and through your legacy. An important message to all that all lives matter.