Pain in America: hearts in need of healing

Pain in America: hearts in need of healing

Last week, we celebrated America's birthday with joyful family gatherings, fireworks and waving flags. A wave of violence and pain soon followed.

I cannot rehash in detail what took place when two black men were killed by police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Falcon Heights, Minnesota. Why? Because I don't know exactly what happened. I wasn't there, and video footage only reveals a portion. People, however, have rushed to judgment -- condemning this one, exonerating that one. As I posted on social media:

"I hope we reach a place when people come to situations objectively. Too many don't do that. Instead of looking for truth, they have their minds made up already, then look for evidence to support what they already decided to believe. 'Oh, the cops are bad. Let's look for proof of that in this situation' or 'Oh, these other people who were killed smoked weed before. That's evidence that they deserved to die in this situation.' It's all so ridiculous. Does anyone care about truth -- in every single situation -- anymore? Does anyone want to step back, wait, and let the facts play out? Yes, reputation matters, and it influences perception. I'll be the first to say it. I'll be the first to say live in such a way as to place yourself above reproach. But truth matters, too. SO tired of people pushing their agendas. Innocent white folks are tired of being called racists, so some of them act like it doesn't exist. Black folks are tired of feeling like it's a crime to be black, so some of us act like every bad occurrence is a result of racism. Come on, people."

Look, reasonable people realize law-enforcement officers go out each day to serve and protect. Several innocent people caught up in the melee of the Dallas police ambush following a peaceful protest discussed the camaraderie they shared with the officers that evening. They praised police for protecting them when the shots rang out, with "no regard for their own lives," as one black woman, who was shot in the leg as she threw her body on top of her son, shared in tears. I have deep respect for the police. I thank them personally for their service, so I don't need to be lectured that all cops are not bad. That's common sense. Are some evil? Yes. Do some exercise poor judgment? Sure. Pretending this isn't true is foolish. Pretending most cops are evil is equally foolish.

Additionally, most people know not all black men are evil or thugs. That, too, is common sense. Not all are a danger at a traffic stop or in their neighborhoods. Not every black man reaching in his pocket is looking to off an officer. Are there some who are dangerous? Yes. Likewise, are there some dangerous white people? Dangerous Asian people? Dangerous any-kind-of-people? Of course.

Here's the deal: Situations occur about which we know little to nothing in their early stages. Thus, we get nowhere when we jump to conclusions without facts. And shouldn't facts matters, over our own prejudgments, over our own agendas, over even our own experiences -- which are often what forged our pre-judgements and agendas in the first place?

You can support police and still try to look at the situations in Baton Rouge and Minnesota objectively. Your heart can break for the families of the officers killed and wounded in Dallas and weep simultaneously for the families of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Unfortunately, people have politicized these tragic events to push a narrative. Folks went on the hunt almost immediately to prove their narrative -- not searching for truth, but searching for proof to support the narrative to which they were already married -- even if it was divorced from the situations at hand.

I have been heartened, however, by people who have asked for help, confessing, "You know, my lack of experience limits my understanding," "I don't know what it's like to be black" or "I can't imagine the pressure of making the split-second decisions police officers have to make." This is the kind of honesty and transparency we need if we are to engage in meaningful dialogue.

We need God to heal our land, but first, we need to permit him to heal our hearts. Many of us are full of junk -- hurts -- that won't allow us to see things objectively even if we tried, and some won't even try. Until we open up our hearts to admit God into the areas we have closed off, guarded and allowed to remain unhealed, we will never be open to reserving judgment, waiting for facts to unfold and accepting the truth when it is finally revealed.

My prayers continue for our police officers, our black communities and our nation as a whole. Please join me in doing so.

Adrienne Ross is an editor, writer, public speaker, online radio show host, former teacher and coach, Southeast Missourian editorial board member, and owner of Adrienne Ross Communications. Reach her at aross@semissourian.com.