river said:
No it's not about which book you read. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone. I am asking questions trying to get people to think. I'm not depriving anyone of the right to make a choice. But I ask how can your choice be personal--I mean truly your own choice--if you have no knowledge about the thing you are choosing? We are where we are today--in poverty, killing each other, on drugs, self hatred--because of the influence of those who urge us to make choices based on our feelings rather than our knowledge. I can't imagine that our ancestors who now know the truth more intimately than I or any of us on Earth does would feel disrespected at me for bringing light to what has proven itself to be a lie.
If it weren't for slavery most of us would probably be caught up in the genocide that's ravaging Africa right now and our children would never be born. Shall I then out of respect for my ancestors who went through slavery not speak out against it ? Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us--so many songs that have helped us to follow God were born because of this dark past. Could the things that made our past dark have bneen that bad?
The christianity practiced today is nothing like the christianity practiced in it's original form. Our ancestors in Ethiopia knew nothing of the Paulianity that developed in Rome. The christianity we practice today was given to us by our slavemasters and there is nothing a slavemaster will give you that is designed to set you free. They don't even worship the same Jesus they gave us.
I understand that some people get tired of hearing the truth. Nobody likes to be told there is a hole in the back of their pants after they've been walking around all day not knowing it. But so many of our would be warriors are sitting by the wayside because they've been led to believe that it will all be better in the sweet by and by. Empowerment is more than a good feeling. Am I a disrespectful hypocrit because I want people to know that?
Sister River ... i never said you were pointing fingers at anyone, or that you were a hypocrite. I spoke only of myself, and how i would consider myself, based on my doing or not doing these things.
For you to suggest that folk are making choices with no knowledge, is a bit arrogant, as you can't fully assess another's knowledge based on posts on a discussion forum ... and truly ... it would be quite easy for someone to say the same about you, with no more information about the knowledge you possess, as you have about others.
We are here today, suffering all that you mentioned, not just because of choices made based on feeling, but due to a combination of all the weapons of mass destruction put upon our people, and our continual perpetuation of them.
No one faults you for sharing what you believe is truth ... in my opinion, the fault lies in the presentation of that truth ... there is a proper and balanced way to do all things ... and if you must tear down another Brother or Sister ... make them feel bad for being a victim of the weapons of mass destruction that all of us have suffered ... then this might be a clue that there is a better way, and we should seek it. This thread speaks directly to Christians (Sisters and Brothers), not to Christianity.
Sister River ... if our Ancestors had not been enslaved, we would be caught up in genocide in Africa ... ?? ... Sister ... how can you make such a claim? Who amongst us is qualified to say what would have been, if ... ??
I understand your analogy, but would like to offer you this one in its stead ... rather than a hole in the back of our pants, we have a gaping wound in our torso, blood pouring out, and you come along and vigorously pound your truth into the hole, to plug it up ... causing the pain to double for the injured ... never asking how they feel, never acknowledging their fear and pain ... but simply wanting to get your truth in them. That's how i liken this situation. Yes, i acknowledge that many of our people are sitting by the wayside, not sure which way to go ... but the best and proper way, in my opinion, to get them off the sidelines, is to love them through whatever and wherever they are ... allowing them to make the same informed choices, travel their journey, as we all must do. Not out of guilt and shame heaped upon them, but because the truth was presented in the best of manners, with living examples of how to interact and love those most in need, most injured ... and they be moved in their Spirit, and follow.
To me, that is God.
Destee
