‘Determined to divide’

Pastor Rasheed Baaith
Pastor Rasheed Baaith

‘Determined to divide’

By Pastor Rasheed Z. Baaith

“Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.”                   (Proverbs 26: 24 – 25)

First of all, the protest was never about disrespecting those in the armed services, those who were and are first responders or even the police for that matter.  The protest birthed by Colin Kaepernick was to bring attention to the unequal and unfair treatment of Black people and other people of color by some but not all police.

It wasn’t even about the second stanza of the Star Bangled Banner which definitely has some racist lyrics. The protest was not an incitement to violence, was not noisy, did not compel participation. Nor was it started by a man accused of cheating in a Super Bowl or of domestic violence or of having an immoral character.

But President Trump has obscured all of that. In his constant determination to divide America in every way he can, he has changed the optics to one not of those exercising their Constitutional right to protest but to an us versus them dynamic.  The “us” are patriots who love America and the “them” are those who are not patriotic and who hate America.  And “they” hate America despite how good America has been to them. Even more they are “sons of bitches.”

The question becomes why would the President of the United States continue to play wedge politics in this manner, why would he insult the mothers of men he disagreed with and why would he stoke an already hot social fire?

The month of September, 2017 has already been one to remember.  It has had weather that has been unpredictable everywhere but in the Bible, a war of words between two of the most unstable leaders in the world, and a United Nations visit by President Trump that bought anything but unity.

The Florida Keys has been devastated by a hurricane, the Carribbean will never be the same and Puerto Rico has no communications, no water, and no infrastructure. But what is in the mind of the President? He is consumed by the NFL players taking a knee during the National Anthem because it is their right to do so.  Surely there are other things he should be more concerned about.  Like healthcare.

Trump’s desire to keep America divided by race, gender, class, education and political perspective is his daily agenda.  He does not care what effect this nihilistic destructive thinking has on the country.  He and those with him, this group of 21st century Nazis want a country where everyone looks the same, thinks the same and behaves the same.  They want a country where truth is defined by what is they say truth is.  And by them alone.

Yet here is the national reality: while the majority of Americans did not vote to put this coarse, uncultured, insensitive man in the highest office in the land, enough Americans did.  They wanted someone as angry, unreasoning and frightened as they were.  They got him.

Still, there’s hope. The back lash against the President’s vulgar and deceptive remarks has come from every direction. And I believe the response has to come from the people because the political apparatus is proving to be incapable of saying what needs to be said.

All we can hope is the next fire the President lights doesn’t burn this country down.

 

About Carma Henry 24481 Articles
Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

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