The Beat Goes On

All the craziness going on in the world has brought out the amateur psychiatrist in me trying to understand how we got to this point of societal dysfunction. I do not consider myself to be racist in the least, but I find myself feeling a certain disdain for all the demonstrations taking place at every place or event where people can draw attention to themselves. They seem to believe if you are not causing a disruption, you are not showing concern. In other words, the left seems to be telling us if you are not causing a problem, you are part of the problem. So, here goes my little self-analysis. 

Certain behaviors, good or bad, are observed, either firsthand or documented in the media, and are perceived by the observer as either favorable or unfavorable, depending on the preconceived beliefs (or viewpoint) of the observer. When behaviors are repeated by groups or individuals sharing common characteristics, perceptions are reinforced causing those groups or individuals to earn a reputation. Particularly when that reputation is unfavorable, it often becomes stereotypically applied to groups or individuals. When those groups or individuals are encountered, it affects the behavior of those making the encounter, and the cycle repeats. 

These experiences build on one another forming a spiral effect that can move either upward or downward. People seize on behaviors that support their beliefs and opinions and show contempt for the rest. Hence a situation may improve or deteriorate depending on the perception of the observed behavior. As if assisted by some gravitational pull, the downward spiral seems to occur in society with much greater ease. 

We must look upward on the spiral to find where the present downward spin originated. It’s easy to point at systemic racism as the cause of our problems today. As I have stated before, I do not believe most people are racist beyond the natural tendency to favor similar characteristics. Instead, we behave in reaction to the behavior of others. So, the question becomes what caused the behavior to which we are reacting. And when are we over-reacting? 

Going back to when George Floyd died with a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck, the natural reaction is empathy for Mr. Floyd and his family and disdain for the police officer. When subsequent events occur under comparable circumstances, reputations develop and stereotypes follow. Is it fair? Usually not, but those with an agenda seize the opportunity to perpetuate the stereotype with behaviors that create new reputations and new stereotypes. Reactive behaviors that involve vandalism, blocking traffic, and looting adversely affect those who may have originally been sympathetic to the cause. 

As a white man living in an area where I see Chicago television news every day, I can understand why a police officer would be very apprehensive about making an apprehension in certain neighborhoods. There are daily shootings among young black men who have no regard for human life. Police officers get frustrated too when they find themselves arresting the same thugs time after time. Taking out some frustration on a perpetrator should not happen, but it easily can happen in the heat of the moment. What if black society held itself to a higher standard than white society? 

What if black neighborhoods were safer than white neighborhoods. How would this affect so-called systematic racism? We as Catholics hold ourselves to a higher standard than other Christians. We share our faith by setting a good example. On the other hand, when Catholics exhibit bad behavior, they do damage to the Church and our reputation. 

The same holds true for people of color. The difference is that we don’t always know whether the observed behavior is coming from a Catholic whereas the behavior by the person of color is more obvious. That is why we Catholics disassociate ourselves with Catholics such as Joe Biden who support intrinsic evil behaviors, and why African-Americans would be well advised to disassociate themselves with rioters and looters. 

Are police officers overly aggressive when detaining black males more so than when detaining white males? What observed behavior may have triggered them to use excessive force? Was this reaction learned in the police academy or during their experience working on the streets, or a combination of both? Are the police justified in being overly cautious when detaining a black man? Is anger frequently a factor? 

A police officer who witnesses black on black violence in certain neighborhoods on a daily basis is bound to fearful when attempting to make an arrest. Is it true that fear and anger are incompatible? I once heard that a person cannot be afraid and angry at the same time. If so, do police officers naturally compensate for their fear by replacing it with anger? Any time we allow anger to enter the equation, reactions are apt to become excessive. I’m not saying this is the case, but is it a possibility? 

If a disproportionate amount of fear is present in inner city black neighborhoods because a disproportionate number of armed black males are committing violent crimes in those neighborhoods, why is this so? A report cited on dailysignal.com says that 70 percent of black children were born to single mothers in 2018, compared to 20 percent in 1960. For white children, the numbers were 29 percent in 2018, compared to 1 percent in 1960. Can we trace racial inequality to a disproportionate number of young black males growing up in households with no positive male role models in the family? If so, we need to direct our attention to finding what has caused the deterioration of the American family. 

All of this adds up to a volatile situation in a year wrought with wrath and anger. While our black brethren have a right to protest their concern with the way they are treated in society, riots and looting just exacerbate the situation. As I write this today, we are seeing reports of a group of protesters shouting “Death to the police” outside the hospital emergency room where a 31-year-old female Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy and her 24-year-old male partner were undergoing surgery after being ambushed while sitting in their patrol car. What kind of people do this? We must address the hatred that permeates humanity. While we have certainly been made aware of racial injustice in 2020, I’m afraid race relations have been set back about fifty years.  

 

Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the LORD’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the LORD? Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself, can he seek pardon for his own sins? If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults. (Sirach 27:30-28:7)

The Insanity continues

Unplanned circumstances allowed me to spend the past twenty days with my grandchildren. Ranging in age from 2 to 9, they kept grandma and grandpa hopping while our son recuperated from gall bladder surgery. Now the house is quiet as we all return to some semblance of the new normal. 

 In the world outside, the new normal continues to be riddled with insanity. Some Seattle protestors filed a lawsuit claiming that poorer protestors are deprived of the right to protest because the cost of gas masks, helmets and other gear to protect them from the police is expensive. If they were protesting as law-abiding citizens rather than law-breaking citizens, they would not need gas masks and helmets. 

 I confess that my meager vocabulary did not include the word gentrification until today when I saw it in an article about protestors in Seattle upset that white people are now living in formerly black neighborhoods. Merriam Webster defines gentrification as the process of repairing and rebuilding homes and businesses in a deteriorating area (such as an urban neighborhood) accompanied by an influx of middle-class or affluent people and that often results in the displacement of earlier, usually poorer residents.

The claim is that improvements in the neighborhood cause property values to increase thereby making it more difficult for poor people to live there. Seems like they want poor people to continue to live in blighted areas so they remain affordable. So, if we try to improve living conditions for the impoverished, we are actually doing them harm? Sometimes I wonder if we Americans have ever done anything that we don’t need to feel guilty about. 

There will always be poor people. Poor is a relative term. Poor people in the United States are rich compared to some in other parts of the world. We need to make sure everyone has an opportunity to better themselves. Those opportunities abound in this country. Some take advantage and some do not. We assist those who are unable to help themselves. I have heard it said that poor people exist so that rich people can get to heaven. That may be true, but asking people to give up their homes to the less fortunate is not a practical answer. 

When I see such prevalent stupidity permeating our society these days, I fear for the future. Protestors provoke confrontations so they can claim they were assaulted by the police. The same police have to protect the protestors from the counter-protestors. Elected leadership, apparently not wanting to lose any voters, allows this all to happen. Look at our public office-holders today and the candidates from which we must choose in the upcoming election. Were these people chosen because there was no viable alternative, or has our societal IQ sunk so low that we do not know any better? How refreshing it would be to find a mature, respectful, intelligent man or woman with common sense, unconcerned with political posturing, to lead responsibly. I’m afraid those days are gone. 

 In the upcoming presidential election, the majority of Americans will cast their vote against a certain candidate rather than finding one to be favorable. It’s not that we want THIS guy to win. We just want to make sure the other guy doesn’t. Our choice will be based on a lack of choice. We have to vote for so-and-so, because we can’t stand the other so-and-so. How sad is that? 

Meanwhile, our society continues to deteriorate. We have governments defunding law enforcement while businesses are being looted and lives destroyed. Some people in public office are actually defending this behavior as some sort of reparation. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised as intrinsic evils have become accepted and promoted all over the world including here at home. 

In Texas, eight-year-old James Younger is caught in a custody battle between his parents. His mother wants to transition him to a girl and a judge this week took away parental rights from his father which allows the mother to register him for school as a girl named Luna, and have him undergo transgender medical procedures. He is eight years old! This is child abuse at the highest level. Please pray for this child and for an end to the insanity that engulfs our nation.

Calming the Storm

The world has gone crazy.  I can think of no other explanation.  Maybe the virus has affected people’s brains.  Yes, we have problems and some people are treated unfairly.  It’s nothing new.  So, what do we do about it?  Let’s just point out every little thing someone might find offensive and eliminate it.  Maybe the problem isn’t the color of the skin, but the lack of thickness.

Does any reasonable person think Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben or Mrs. Butterworth were degrading to African Americans?  Are Eskimo Pies derogatory?  Land O Lakes butter removed the image of the native American girl from their packaging.  As the currently circulating meme ironically points out, they got rid of the Indian and kept the Land in typical American fashion. 

In Ohio, the City of Columbus removed the statue of Columbus!  Father Junipero Serra, St. Louis, John Wayne, even Abraham Lincoln of all people, have come under attack.  People want to blow up Mount Rushmore because two of the presidents depicted once own slaves.  The NFL team in our nation’s capital may be forced to not only stop using the name Redskins, but also the name Washington!  Realtor.com will no longer use the word master to describe the main bedroom.  L’Oreal is replacing the word whitening on some of their products.  How long before we change the name of the White House?

How far do we push the issue?  The Roman rulers had slaves.  Should we rename July and August?  I live in Indiana and have been called a Hoosier.  While the origin of the word is unclear, some use the term to refer to a yokel or white trash.  Should we ban the word Hoosier?  None of this makes any sense.  Equality is impossible for anyone who insists on playing the victim. 

Destroying monuments, statues, and memorials will not erase history.  If anything, they serve as reminders of our wayward past.  Destruction only perpetuates anger and division.   Any idiot can use social media to push a cause that will be adopted by other idiots and the national media will pick it up giving the movement credibility.  The Boston Art Commission voted to remove their copy of the Emancipation Memorial which depicts a freed slave at the feet of Abraham Lincoln.  Meanwhile, the statue of Margaret Sanger, author of “The Negro Project”, remains in Boston’s Old South Meeting House.  Inconsistencies lead to lost credibility. 

I wonder if we would be experiencing so much craziness if the corona virus had not made its appearance this year.  Most of our summertime distractions are on hold. Sports, festivals, concerts, vacations, even movies have been cancelled leaving many people with too much time on their hands.  Of particular concern are the subversives who seem hellbent on causing havoc and the extent to which it has been allowed to go on.  What if they had something more enticing to occupy their time?  I doubt that many of them are truly concerned with social justice or they would be acting is a more responsible manner.

We once relied on the silent majority to maintain an even keel.  Has the silent majority become a silent minority?  Tunnel vision in maintaining strict political correctness has blinded people from addressing the real causes of strife in our society.  Words must be chosen carefully to avoid becoming a target, thereby inhibiting open discussion of the issues.  The climate for beneficial change is not good right now.  Making matters worse, the anarchists have gained a foothold in many larger communities where mob rule goes unchecked. 

Now Catholic churches are being set on fire, statues of the Virgin Mary destroyed or defaced to serve what purpose?  As a result, we hear angry reactions from the pulpits where empathy for social justice would normally be preached.  Everyone needs to take a step back and think.  Is what I am about to say going to foster healing or further division?  Is the information I spread fair and accurate.   Every day, I see well-meaning people sharing social media posts that are totally fabricated by someone with their own personal agenda.  Realize you are bearing false witness when you do so.  Check your sources carefully.  Don’t contribute to the insanity.  Be responsible or be quiet.

The Best and Worst of Times

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair …, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way …”

~Charles Dickens, A tale of two cities

In trying to describe my emotions here in June 2020, Charles Dickens said it better than I ever could.  At the Vigil of Pentecost, we brought a beautiful family into our Catholic faith.  The children were baptized, the parents confirmed in the Holy Spirit. Indeed, it was the best of times, the age of wisdom, and the epoch of belief as they made their profession of faith. 

Though the liturgy was subdued by the Covid-19 Coronavirus limitations, there was no limit to the joy we all experienced seeing this couple receive Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist for the very first time.  The mood of the world around us, however, was much different.  It was the worst of times.  If a worldwide pandemic wasn’t bad enough, the senseless death of a black man caused by an abusive police officer in Minneapolis brought darkness and despair to our communities across the nation. 

Peaceful protests took place all across the nation.  Soon the message was overshadowed by violence, stores looted and burned, innocent people assaulted, and more deaths.  Racism was again on the forefront.

Of course, the controversy became a political battle in the media.  Many people in the public eye issued statements denouncing the treatment of black men by law enforcement.  Individuals and organizations who remained silent were sometimes accused of being racist, They were often questioned in the media for a response to the unrest.  Words had to be chosen carefully as they would be picked apart by those looking to promote more conflict. 

Fearing backlash, companies distanced themselves from anyone in their organization who publicly attracted controversy.  A longtime professional sports announcer lost his job because he replied that “all lives matter” when questioned about the Black lives matter movement.  Apparently that answer somehow diminishes the issues particularly relevant in the black community today.  From my point of view, saying all lives matter is unifying.  We are all the same.  Finding fault with that statement seems to foster division, but I understand that black lives are the ones currently being targeted.

The problem is that NOT all lives matter in our society today.  Certainly the lives of the unborn do not matter to some. The fact that abortion is legal in our country shows that we do not regard human life as infinitely valuable.  Black women are reportedly five times more likely to have an abortion than white women.  If we can no longer even see God’s creation in an unborn baby, how does that blindness disaffect our respect for all human life?

I have a hard time believing anyone is truly racist, meaning prejudiced against a person simply because of their race.  How could anyone be so irrational as to exhibit hatred toward someone simply based on skin color?  I do however believe everyone has a bias.  It is only natural to favor those with whom we share common traits and interests.  When ranking those commonalities, skin color would be way down the list.  So, why do we have this racial divide?  Or is it really a manifestation of class warfare or social structure?  I doubt that much racism exists among those in the same tax bracket. 

In trying to understand the mentality that determines our racial relationships, I can only try to self-analyze my own personal view toward black people.  First of all, I need to acknowledge that I live in a small-town white, moderate to low income community, and my exposure to African Americans is mostly limited to what I see in the media.  When I do encounter a black man or woman in our town, I go out of my way to offer a smile and friendly hello when possible.  I do this knowing they may be conscious of the fact they are in a rural white area with southern roots and a redneck reputation. In my mind, the responsibility of improving relations lies primarily with the white community extending a friendly hand. 

Having said that, I also feel that black society over the past twenty years or so has somewhat disassociated itself from white society through differences in music, fashion, and attitude.  The gangsta mentality comes through in the frequent news interviews we get from the city streets where violent exchanges take place on a daily basis.  We see black women on social media display an over reactive attitude with the least provocation.  Yes, we have plenty of white women like that also.  I guess the current craze is to call them Karens!

Unfortunately, when one’s primary view of the black community comes through big city media, the impression is not normally favorable and that is where our stereotypes are reinforced.  We see black people portrayed in a good light, but it’s the stories of crime and violence among blacks that leaves a bad impression.  If I had to choose between walking through a white neighborhood or a black neighborhood in Chicago at night, there is no doubt what my choice would be.  Sadly, that choice might be tougher for a black person to make. 

I can understand why police officers might overreact in a pressure situation.  After all, they want to go home to their families when the shift is over. The job is dangerous.  If you have ever watched Live PD on the A&E Network, you get an idea of what they go every day.  While watching the show, I have occasionally wondered if the force they use dragging someone out of car is always necessary.  They are obviously trained to overcome any resistance they may face, but when does it become unnecessarily aggressive?  Yet, when deciding how much force a police officer should be allowed to use during an arrest, the goal shouldn’t be to make it a fair fight.  

Hiding the symbols or symptoms of racial injustice is a desperate attempt to pacify the protesters and protect self-interests.  Mainstream and social media has made us so afraid of backlash that we resort to nonsensical ways to show our concern.  Removing Aunt Jemima or Uncle Ben from advertising is counterproductive and does nothing to solve the problem of racial injustice.  Would everyone be happy if we replaced them with white models?  The whole notion is ridiculous.  Maybe someday we will have a museum of political incorrectness where we can see all the statues, advertisements, and portrayals that were deemed offensive during the twenty-first century period of misplaced activism. 

Stereotyping and profiling aren’t going to go away by a mere act of the will.  They are part of our fallen human psyche.  We must look deeper into the root causes of the attitudes we have toward others. We can reduce the hatred that poisons any attempts to better relations.  There are bad apples in every orchard.  Some people cannot be helped.  God will deal with them later.  A strong faith and structured family environment would go a long way to making this a better world. 

Covid Conundrums

As I write this in May, we are still under the COVID-19 virus restrictions, but beginning to see some relief in sight.  It has been around sixty-five years since I have gone this long without attending Mass in person.  Starting soon, we will be resuming limited public Masses with certain mandatory precautions in place.  Social distancing of six feet between bodies will need to be maintained.  Face masks will be required.  Communion received in hand only, and the obligation to attend Mass will remain suspended until the Feast of the Assumption on August 15. 

How all of this will be implemented and enforced is still to be determined.   Even getting the word out to all parishioners will be a challenge.  Our congregation is elderly and not everyone has Internet access.  People over the age of 65 are still considered high risk and are encouraged to stay at home for the time being.  That would encompass most of our parish, including me. 

Our diocese has issued directives for reopening the churches, including calculations to determine permitted occupancy.  Certain pews have been roped off and markings placed at measured intervals to maintain proper distancing.  No communal singing for now, partly due to mouths being covered and also because Masses will continue to be live-streamed while our parish does not have the required license for broadcast.

While being isolated may have protected our physical well-being, it seems to have taken a toll on our mental health.  Strange thoughts can enter minds that have been idled too long.  Friends who I would normally not consider to be paranoid are now posting odd conspiracy theories about the virus and the response being orchestrated for nefarious intents. 

Folks in this country do not like to be told what they can and cannot do.  People will tolerate a certain amount of governmental interference when intended for their personal safety, but there are limits.  As the weather warms, people are tired of being confined.  Signs of a revolt are taking place judging from public protests and comments online.  Even the magisterial authority of the Church has been criticized by some for kowtowing to civil authority. 

Our parish is planning to bring an entire family into the Catholic faith at the Vigil of Pentecost.  How this will be done with masks and social distancing should be interesting.  I am excited for the family, but saddened that such a normally joyous celebration will be curtailed by circumstances. 

A Viral Holy Week

A little more than three months ago, we were all wishing one another a Happy New Year.  Who knew that by March the entire world would seemingly come to a standstill?  If a prophet had stood up on New Years Eve and told us that before Easter all schools will be closed, Sunday Masses suspended, and people confined to their homes, we would have wondered what kind of catastrophe we were facing.  I would have thought maybe nuclear war or an asteroid hitting the earth.  Instead, it’s a little microscopic germ that has brought us to our knees.  If only we had such concern for the many more lives lost to abortion.

It was Christmas Eve when I was contacted by a Protestant family who felt they were being called to the Catholic Church.  As we got to know them and help them on their journey, the exciting anticipation of the Easter Vigil took a sudden turn when COVID-19 reared its ugly head.  Now, the timing of their reception into the Catholic Church is uncertain.  Even our RCIA sessions have been disrupted.  We have tried to maintain a connection but it has been difficult. 

Watching Sunday Mass being live streamed from our parish has been a new experience.  We say the responses, follow along with the readings, and stand at the proper times.  Kneeling before the television just doesn’t seem right so we don’t.  Sitting on a comfortable chair while listening to a homily at home is equally disconcerting.  I catch myself sitting back, putting my feet up and being far too relaxed.  Having this happen at the holiest time of the liturgical year just exacerbates the awkwardness.

I keep thinking of the Crucifixion scene in Ben Hur when the sky darkens and the storm ensues with lightning flashes illuminating Jesus hanging on the Cross. We see the rain washing the blood and water down Calvary hill and the lepers suddenly realizing they have been cured.  How would the world react if the Covid-19 virus suddenly disappeared on Good Friday at 3 o’clock?