Rev. Barber: “We Must Stand Against Political Violence”

We have allowed the very framework of our public debate to be more about the harshest insults than straightforward conversation about the issues that most impact everyday people, especially the poor, low-wage workers, marginalized neighbors, sick folks, and immigrants—the treatment of whom Jesus said every nation will be judged.

We must refocus beyond the notion of left versus right, where you choose sides and set out to tear down the other side. We must repent and move to state our position that this or that issue is wrong or detrimental in our opinion—or based on data and research or past experience—but without declaring that the person who challenges us is less than human, is a conspirator, is going to destroy the nation.

The truth is that if the nation is weakened or democracy is eroded, it will not be because of one person, but because of the complicit participation of citizens who went along with the destructive attitudes and actions from which we refused to repent—and who thus pushed the collective to an ultimate breaking point.

And we must connect all of these attacks, for instance, from Congresswoman Gabby Giffords to Congressman Steve Scalise to Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul, to Vice President Mike Pence to all the threats President Obama, Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and others have received, to this most recent assassination attempt against Trump.

We must look deep in our history and in ourselves to tell a better and truer story about what ails us and why it comes to the forefront in certain moments. We cannot be about just one moment. We must repent of what we’ve continued to be.

Every media group that for corporate profit has fed this demonization of neighbors must repent.

Every preacher who has declared that a person or a political candidate is our savior must repent.

Every person who claims our goal is to “go back” to some places in our history, as though violence is a recent occurrence, must reconsider and turn instead toward God’s peace.

We must be true to what we have said on paper and ensure in our practice that fulfilling the preamble of the Constitution is our framework for public dialogue: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…”

This is why we engage in public life. Truth in love is the only way to debate issues.

The presidential candidates should certainly lead in this serious repentance and lament. It is time to become statesmen and agree together on a truth-in-love model going forward. Stand together and commit to real debate on issues. This is not a weak position; truth-in-love can strengthen our democracy.

But I don’t know if people who have depended on division to build power can shake its stronghold listen. So, we as moral and religious servant leaders must try with the Spirit’s help to embrace and embody what ought to be.

I seem to hear now what the ancient prophet heard as he sought to challenge the violence within the DNA of his society’s political experience.

He said: “Son of man, I’m sending you to the family of Israel, a rebellious nation if there ever was one. They and their ancestors have fomented rebellion right up to the present. They’re a hard case, these people to whom I’m sending you—hardened in their sin. Tell them, ‘This is the Message of God, the Master.’ They are a defiant bunch. Whether or not they listen, at least they’ll know that a prophet’s been here. But don’t be afraid of them, son of man, and don’t be afraid of anything they say. Don’t be afraid when living among them is like stepping on thorns or finding scorpions in your bed. Don’t be afraid of their mean words or their hard looks. They’re a bunch of rebels. Your job is to speak to them. Whether they listen is not your concern.”

I pray for the sake our ourselves and our children that America can find the strength to listen and learn together what it means to be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”