One way to confront injustice is
to confront it. This fact was made clear in an outreach meeting I attended a
week ago after the events that took place in South Carolina. If any of you
don't remember the events I am talking about, I am happy to remind us about
it.
On June
19, 2015, eight people died on the scene at the Emanuel African
Methodist Episcopal Church and one person
was pronounced dead at a hospital after a white male about 21 years old, shot
them in cold blood just because they were black. Church members were shot
as they took part in shot at bible study. Read details here. http://www.vibe.com/2015/06/charleston-south-carolina-shooting-facts/.
The
main issue later on became the promotion of hatred in South Carolina due to
issues related to race. As the discussion continued, soon symbols of hatred had
to be revisited. Thus the confederate flag became part of the discussion since
the flag has long been viewed as a symbol of hatred between whites and blacks.
While the confederate flag has a heritage history for the whites in the nation,
it is also symbolic of hatred of the whites for the blacks. As a symbol, it
continues to connote hatred based on racism and has been used by extreme
individuals like the shooter to commit acts of violence against innocent
blacks.
At
WISO, we are non-partisan and all we seek is social justice for all and
advocate respect of other human rights of all human beings. However, we feel
obliged to comment on acts of justice as justice for one equals to justice for
all. We believe in some kind of action however minute it may be, to advocate,
and promote social justice. it is for this reason that we applaud the South
Carolina people for making sure that justice is not only upheld, but for
ensuring that symbols of hatred are not allowed to continue to divide
people.
Symbols
are powerful. It is for this reason that symbols of injustice should be
confronted. I hope and wish that this attitude can be displayed elsewhere.
Let's not language that is hurtful to others. Let’s not use graffiti that is
offensive to others. Let's not dress in such a way that we invoke other
people's anger. Let us act in ways that display our humanity.
While
we are at it, let us treat women in our lives in a human way. They are our
mothers, sisters and daughters. Let us not abuse them in the name of anything,
especially in the name of religion. God loves us all and will be happy if we
extended the same love to all in our lives. Let us confront abuse by resisting it and speaking out. Let's confront abuse by rejecting all forms of family violence or sexual assault. Let's reject human trafficking as this is dehumanizing to fellow human beings. Let us stand on the side of social justice.
Remember
to visit us at www.wiso2011.org to like us on Facebook, and follow us on
twitter. Be in peace.
