While waiting in a line I could not but overhear a despicable and ignorant conversation happening between two men waiting in the same line. The conversation started just fine but quickly degenerated. It began with the observation that Thanksgiving and Hanukkah overlap this year and this would not happen again for 76,000 years. Just then a Muslim woman with her head scarf walked past our line. Then it started.
“Why do we allow those people to be here? Don’t people know this is a Christian country?”
The irony of those ignorant remarks came on top of the Hanukkah remarks. How interesting that this conversation was occurring in Massachusetts populated by the Puritans with their biased exclusivity. Fortunately Massachusetts moved on from that, though we still have blue laws.
Religious liberty has been the hallmark of America. This remarkable idea, rare in the world, made us different and set a standard that many other nations have since emulated. It is amazing this concept took root here and grew when one looks at human nature. It is natural for us to see others as “them” and ourselves as “us.” “Them and Us” is the root of suspicion, exclusiveness, dislike and ultimately hate that bears its ugly fruit in pogroms and war.
Our self-love wants the best for “Us” and second best for “Others.” One of the ultimate goals of character building is to become someone who sees others as “Us” and to want for others what we want for ourselves.
Jesus understood when He said, “Love ‘others’ as we love ourselves.” Paul understood this when He wrote “While we were God’s enemies He died for us.” It is easy to love “Us.” Our goal as Christians is not to love “Them” but for there to be no “Them.”
Written by Roger Bothwell on November 28, 2013
Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA94574
Rogerbothwell.org