Where is the peace and justice?

 

I am pondering again…. or maybe mulling. I love belonging to a “Just Peace” faith community but sometimes I wonder what it all means.

For days on end I watched and listened to the news of yet another school shooting, this one in an elementary classroom claiming the lives of small children. My horror and disbelief changed to deep grief—grief for the families and the community, grief for our country, for our society. I found the outpouring of care and compassion almost overwhelming as a nation undivided reached out to Newtown.

As time passed the questions went from “how and why” to “What can be done to stop this violence?” “How can we protect our children?” The pundits formed committees, the news media took to the streets, the questions were discussed in homes and churches and synagogues, in schools, and around the coffee tables across the country.

And out came the blame: guns, poor mental health programs, schools not active in security, television shows, video games, emergence of gang mentality, inadequate court systems, breakdown of the family, prayer isn’t allowed in school, God doesn’t like us any more. I’m not saying these things aren’t worthy of discussion…except maybe blaming God…but blaming, as we have learned, doesn’t solve anything.

Blame turned quickly to argument and from argument to polarization and protection of…me. (My rights, my possessions, my interests.)…. Protection so important that one would be willing to protest… with violence? (Of course).

Don’t get me wrong; the concerns have merit on both sides of the question. But it seems that we just get stuck in the argument…the cycle continues.

And the violence is free to continue…Boston, California, Minnesota….

So, I am confused. Where is peace? Where is justice? Where are the children?

Just pondering…

Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Pastor EvaLyn Carlson of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ.