Bullies

Friends,

I feel compelled this evening to try to express my horror/terror about ICE’s governmentally sanctioned masked thuggery that is occurring now in my own country in Minneapolis. This is not an oppressive situation in a faraway, despotic regime that is illegally arresting and bullying people on the basis of race or ethnicity. It’s my own government. I have always been disgusted by bullies, but this goes so much deeper, more heartbreaking because the level of violence is primarily, intentionally fomented by our government itself through a brutal, criminally liable, so far unaccountable, full frontal attack on all democratic principles.

A bully’s ideal advantage would be to be fully armed, anonymously masked, told to randomly harass, arrest, manhandle women and other undefended, unarmed innocent people, and then continue to feel no hesitation to also bully anyone who dares to object to their behavior. I would hope the situation can eventually be resolved nonviolently, but I am afraid if the situation escalates we are heading toward eventual counter violence. From my pacifist’s perspective I am deeply discouraged when I realize that similar historical events dealing with other entrenched oppressive governments have involved incredibly courageous, dangerous, sacrificial nonviolent direct action that could likely result in a number of deaths. I am profoundly grateful and impressed that the good people in Minneapolis have so far only responded creatively and nonviolently. 

I have now vented, but I feel no relief other than a profound sadness about the conduct of my government. But perhaps just as profoundly, I am saddened by my loss of respect, honor and love for my country itself. I so want to believe I am a citizen of a nation guided by the idealism of our founding documents that honors a commitment to human dignity and human rights. Clearly we are betraying that sacred commitment.  

I want to be clear I don’t want to excuse or in any way condone the ICE operation in Minneapolis. But I also need to add that ICE operates out of our nation’s systemic cultural violence. Starting with the attitude and behavior of our belligerent and erratic president, through Congressional tolerance and support of a  budget that favors the Pentagon at the expense of the poor. The sanctioned violence in Minneapolis is a prime example of the far deeper toxicity of violence in our current American culture. Naming it can hopefully help lead us to acknowledge and address it as difficult and unwelcome as that may be.

In the meantime, we need to quell the violence and the governmentally created fearfulness that now plagues Minneapolis and the rest of the nation. The situation in Minneapolis represents a decisive historical moment that will have a major influence on our nation’s commitment to the rule of law and whether the nation’s future leadership will honor and follow it.  

I am deeply committed to not leaving my readers with my current sadness and despair. But neither do I want to express my wishful thinking that things will just turn out right on their own in Minneapolis. I will again rely on my bedrock faith in the overall goodness of people and my faith that rests on the ultimate expression of “the force more powerful,” that of the power of love from God and creation itself. In times of despair like this I need to recommit to that faith. From my prophetic faith, I believe vengeance and retribution are ultimately only for God’s judgement, but we do have the responsibility and obligation to call out and hold accountable all who so grievously bully us and betray our humanity with acts of such brutal traumatic harm in Minneapolis.

In sadness but in hope,

Tom