Let’s Hold America Accountable

25 Mar 2022 1 Comment

by Visible Unity, Inc. in Activist, America, Churches, Community Organizing, Diversity, Equity & Social Justice, Faith Communities, Hospitality, Minorities, Missions, Social Justice, Spiritual Life, Uncategorized, Working and Preparing, Workshops Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

When there are no consequences with children for their bad deeds and decisions, they never learn. They will do worse or just keep repeating the same bad deeds and making the same bad decisions. The US has never had to be held accountable for its bad deeds and decisions in regards to slavery and Jim Crow. Yes, I am comparing our country to a child. In many ways, the US acts like a spoiled child that thinks they don’t have to play by the rules, they can bully those who don’t agree, or do what they want to get their way. It’s the same with the Police, but that’s another post all by itself.

To Hispanics, I say,

If the US had paid reparations for slavery and Jim Crow, they would have thought twice before separating your families at the border. They are repeating the same bad deeds.

To other oppressed groups and poor whites, I say,

If we don’t collectively help to unite all Americans and hold America accountable for previous and current misdeeds, there are any number of afflictions that will come your way as the upper echelons seek to narrow who is worthy. The manipulation of who is allowed to vote is just the beginning. Historically, voter suppression inhibited the black vote but also the voting of poor whites and all women. Through voter suppression they can pass the laws they want to and that benefits them.

To everyone, I say,

Let’s all do our part to make America a true Democracy, where all are united in the midst of our glorious diversity. Oh, how beautiful we will be when we come together and value the contributions of one another and each is allowed to thrive and grow. How marvelous it will be when all can use their gifts and talents to help make our country better and all children can realize their potential. It breaks my heart to see all this division, hate, judgment, and criticism.

If you’re not sure where to start, contact me. I’ll be glad to have a conversation with you to explore what it is you can do with your gifts and talents.

I Implore You!

04 Mar 2022 1 Comment

by Visible Unity, Inc. in Activist, America, Churches, Community Organizing, Diversity, Equity & Social Justice, Faith Communities, Hospitality, Minorities, Missions, Social Justice, Spiritual Life, Uncategorized, Working and Preparing, Workshops Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

People fleeing Ukraine were told women and children first. What they really should have said was, ‘Caucasian women and children first.’ When African women and children boarded the trains that would take them to safety, soldiers removed them. Apparently, their lives were not valuable enough to be equated with ‘real’ Ukrainians. In a time of war, it seems amazing that we would still take the time to allow our prejudice, devaluing, and hate to impact who gets safe passage and who does not.

Some of the Africans were immigrants, some were students, and some were residents of Ukraine – but none have a way out of the country. As I was listening to this story, someone said, “Black people are always expected to care about and feel compassion for everyone else, but no one cares about or feels compassion for us. Yes, we would like to help the Ukrainians, the Afghans, Asians, LGBTQ, and everyone else. However, it gets harder and harder to even want to help others and feel compassion for them when they won’t help those who look like us.

There is always a group that is placed before us – women, LGBTQ, other BIPOC, etc. Sometimes this is okay depending upon the circumstances. However, it never becomes our turn. Please know that I am not saying that we shouldn’t help others. We should definitely fight for all who need help. We have been doing this but when we ask for others to fight for us – for our liberties and opportunities, to be treated as people who belong and are valued, to be treated with compassion and grace – it is always limited and done misguidedly.

Learn more about this crisis within the crisis of war.

Get involved with helping this new crisis for Ukraine.

Then, get involved with a social justice group to end racism and racist policies here in the United States. An internet search will reveal a plethora of organizations and options for getting involved. Visible Unity is always open to all and will encourage all. I implore you to get involved. It will change things and you.

Peace, Love, & Unity

Pam

People Unite!

25 Feb 2022 Leave a comment

by Visible Unity, Inc. in Activist, America, Churches, Community Organizing, Diversity, Equity & Social Justice, Faith Communities, Hospitality, Minorities, Missions, Social Justice, Spiritual Life, Uncategorized, Working and Preparing, Workshops Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

I was cleaning out my room and ran across words I wrote (don’t know when). They are still pertinent today, with only minor modifications.

I’m here to say – God says enough! My people unite!

Look at the racial chaos in our world. God is calling us to love and heal his world. In America, the belief that whites are superior to all others is destroying our country. The new and developing chaos with Russia and Ukraine is also based on the erroneous belief that some people are superior to others.

We are all human beings and equal in that fact. Our skills and talents vary, just like our personalities and strength of character varies. These are meant to strengthen the society, not weaken it. When there is an atmosphere of diversity, unity and inclusion, the growth and productivity of society increases. Harvard did a study that proved this point about businesses, and I carry it out to the societal level. If we want America to be great, we need to embrace all Americans. If we want our global society to be great, we need to embrace all global citizens. We cannot afford to leave even one person behind. Our collective survival depends upon it.

Believers, do something every day towards racial reconciliation and peace building. Reach out to someone of a different culture. Do or try something new with someone new. So, I encourage you to reach out, engage others, be a voice, be an opportunity provider. I say, ‘opportunity provider,’ because sometimes we don’t need anyone to speak for us. We just need the opportunity, and we will speak for ourselves.

Once you have engaged others, share their stories (if they agree) with others so that all can begin to understand and know the daily lived experiences of others.

As always, contact Visible Unity for more questions, some answers, and lots of opportunities.

Peace, Love, & Unity

Pam

Escalation

23 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

by Visible Unity, Inc. in Activist, America, Churches, Community Organizing, Diversity, Equity & Social Justice, Faith Communities, Hospitality, Minorities, Missions, Social Justice, Uncategorized, Working and Preparing Tags: , , , , ,

We are beginning to see the escalation of acts of rage and hate that began toward Black people. We have been telling you about the interconnectedness of all of humanity.

There were examples for us to see: Swine Flu, West Nile, Ebola, Covid 19.

It may begin in one place, with one group, but it will eventually spread. With our US violence, it began with the relaxing of gun laws. Actually, it began with genocide and slavery followed by hundreds of years of instilling hate and fear of black people and other minority groups. Then, came the relaxing of gun laws. With Trump, the escalation of the hate and rage were encouraged. First, police were getting away with killing black people. Then, ordinary white citizens were getting away with it. Police departments, who are supposed to serve and protect, have now become militarized and infused with people full of hate and rage towards black people. White racists have become emboldened to take the country back. We are beginning to see violence turned towards anyone who is seen as against them.

It is not too late to stop this escalation. But we have to act now.

We have to elect politicians who will pass the laws to fix a lot of this. For suggested laws and policies, you can go to any website that is promoting justice, diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion.

We must learn to show respect, and dignity to all of humanity. We must also embrace and value all of humanity.

As the holiday season approaches, take some time to reflect on this and what else you and yours can do.

I’d love to hear from you.

Blessings!

International Day of Peace 9-21-2021

21 Sep 2021 Leave a comment

by Visible Unity, Inc. in Activist, America, Churches, Community Organizing, Diversity, Equity & Social Justice, Faith Communities, Hospitality, Minorities, Missions, Social Justice, Spiritual Life, Uncategorized, Working and Preparing, Workshops Tags: , , ,

Song Lyrics

Let There Be Peace On Earth

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let There Be Peace on Earth
The peace that was meant to be

With God as our Father
Brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry step I take
Let this be my solemn vow

To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me

Songwriters: Jill Jackson / Sy Miller
Let There Be Peace on Earth lyrics © Music Copyright Consultant Grp

Prayer

Lord, everywhere around the world there is violence and chaos. Homes are disrupted. Lives are torn apart. Lord, help us to turn to the way of peace, to the way of you, O God. There are some already working. Let more become involved as fitting for themselves and their context. Help us to be the peace we want to usher into this world. Help us to model peace and a peaceful presence.

Hear us I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Action Steps

First, I would encourage everyone to read, “A Global Security System: An Alternative to War, 5th Edition” by World Beyond War.

Second, determine what role you can play in helping get to a world without war.

Third, study and learn more about the issue worldwide. There are some countries who don’t have a military and others who are doing great things to move their country toward peace.

Go to: https://worldbeyondwar.org/alternative/ to get the book and to learn more.

Choose Ye This Day

23 Apr 2021 Leave a comment

by Visible Unity, Inc. in Activist, America, Churches, Community Organizing, Diversity, Equity & Social Justice, Faith Communities, Hospitality, Minorities, Missions, Social Justice, Spiritual Life, Working and Preparing, Workshops Tags:

A friend shared a news feed with me where people were rejecting reality-based curriculum being taught in schools.

Reality, Truth, Facts – It’s not always pretty but Truth is necessary for healing. Looking at the reality of our society, the truth, and facts – We are a structurally racist society that was founded on the principle of white supremacy.

As I scrolled down the post trying to get to the end of the comments, I gave up. A feed like that, where people go down a rabbit hole of positive and negative comments, is not productive. It is not even dialogue even though there is a back and forth.

My questions:

  • When did reality and truth become a bad thing?
  • When we had a president who consistently lied and incited hate and violence? Being confronted with this bad behavior for a president, there were not calls from every neighborhood and state for his removal from office.
  • When we saw him push his racist agenda forward and hope became embedded in his lies? The hope of fellow racists, insurrectionists, ‘patriots’ and other white supremacists to take their country back from all the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) who have flooded this land; this land that does not belong to them anyway.

The bible that I read says, the truth shall set you free. I believe in this word of scripture; thus, I believe we are way past the time of telling the truth about OUR country. It is more imperative now as we balance precariously between the way of truth and all that is good for our country and the way of lies and a reversal of all the accomplishments made for justice and peace.

We need to teach not only our children but also the numerous adults who do not know of the atrocities, obstructions, and oppressions in US history. We need to expose them and receive healing as a nation. We also need to expose the myriad of ways from slavery and even into present day where the system has been and continues to be infused with racism and oppression toward BIPOC, especially Blacks.

We need to know these things so we can understand why there are calls for equity and justice in every aspect of society. In Joshua 24:15 it says, ‘Choose ye this day!’ Today, I choose peace and justice!

What do you choose?

Talking to Family and Friends About Racism

05 Mar 2021 Leave a comment

by Visible Unity, Inc. in Activist, America, Churches, Community Organizing, Diversity, Equity & Social Justice, Faith Communities, Hospitality, Minorities, Missions, Social Justice, Spiritual Life, Workshops Tags: , ,

Talking with family and friends about racism is one of the hardest things to do if you are on opposite sides of the issue. There is a myriad of ways this can be done. Contact us at Visible Unity for more information or to participate in our programs to learn more.

  • Begin by sharing a personal experience of yourself or a friend of color
  • Ask them what they think about what you shared – Listen to their answer carefully and seek to understand their point of view (This isn’t the time for debate, even if they are in left field.)
  • That may be all you do the first time. You might have to do this a few times. If they would be able to handle it, you could also invite a person of color to come and share their experiences.
  • Then next time, ask their thoughts about something that is going on in your area (another shooting or killing, insurrection, etc.)
  • Respond with a question that seeks to point out issues they are not seeing or not informed about.
    • Do you realize that….
    • Did you know that…
    • How did you arrive at …
  • Just remember, we are all socialized on a racist platform. Plus, depending on one’s life experiences, their racist thinking may be entrenched. So, patience and grace are needed.

Note:

  • Be a Non-Anxious Presence.
  • Be open and honest. You still stumble and they will too.
  • Allow for questions.

Later on, add:

  • Talk about the taboo words, their original intent and current use today.
  • Have books to expand views and lives of others.

Peace on Earth

27 Jul 2017 1 Comment

by Visible Unity, Inc. in Activist, America, Churches, Community Organizing, Diversity, Equity & Social Justice, Faith Communities, Hospitality, Minorities, Missions, Social Justice, Spiritual Life, Uncategorized, Working and Preparing, Workshops Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I was anguishing about the state of this world and how there is chaos and violence everywhere you look. I wished there was more that I could do. While I know that relationship building, reconciliation and peace making are crucial, they sometimes don’t feel like enough. Visible Unity had a Weekend for Peace recently that brought together diverse people to pray, sing, view and discuss film clips around racism and integrate a worship service. A song came to me and our diverse group of peace minded people joined together at a police station and prayed for peace and sang the lyrics of the song – ‘Let There Be Peace On Earth.’

Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me

Let There Be Peace on Earth, The peace that was meant to be

With God as our Father, Brothers all are we

Let me walk with my brother, In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, Let this be the moment now

With ev’ry step I take, Let this be my solemn vow

To take each moment and live, Each moment in peace eternally

Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me

The peace that was meant to be, living in perfect harmony, and beginning with each one of us, should give us pause.  Not long after this, one of the board members of Visible Unity, Inc. sent me a link to a commentary on John 15:12-13 – ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’. The commentator suggests four things from this passage. The Obligation, the Sufficiency, the Pattern, and the Motive of Christian love. (http://biblehub.com/commentaries/john/15-12.htm)

The Obligation – cherishing a kindly and loving regard to all others; such an attitude is the only fitting expression of the mutual relation of Christians, through their common relation to Jesus; However unlike any two Christian people are to each other in character, in culture, in circumstances, the bond that knits those who have the same relations to Jesus Christ one to another is far deeper, far more real, and ought to be far closer, than the bond that knits either of them to the men or women to whom they are likest in all these other respects.

I like this focus on the obligation of Christians because I feel if we can get this right, then we will have a head start in loving non-Christians. I also like this because I think Christians may be lagging more so than other faiths in loving their brothers and sisters. In Christ, we are all one family.

The Sufficiency – Love will soften the tones, will instinctively teach what we ought to be and do; will take the bitterness out of opposition and diversity, will make even rebuke, when needful, only a form of expressing itself. The ‘one thing needful’ was that they should be knit together as true participators of His life. Love was sufficient as their law and as their guide.

Love is sufficient. What else is there to say?

The Pattern – Now He says, ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ There stand the three, as it were, the Father, the Son, the disciple. The Son in the midst receives and transmits the Father’s love to the disciple, and the disciple is to love his fellows, in some deep and august sense, as the Father loved the Son. Christ’s love nailed Him to the Cross, and led Him down from the throne, and shut for a time the gates of the glory behind Him. And He says, ‘That is your pattern!’ ‘If He had never died for His enemies’ says one of the old fathers, ‘He would never have possessed His friends.’ The way by which we are to meet even alienation and hostility is by pouring upon it the treasures of an unselfish, self-sacrificing affection which will conquer at the last.

Enemies are future friends when love is involved and seeks relationship. Christians, we have our model. Turn to Christ’s love and allow it to infuse you that you feel compelled, obligated and equipped to love others.

The Motive – The novelty of Christian morality lies here, that in its law there is a self-fulfilling force. We have not to look to one place for the knowledge of our duty, and somewhere else for the strength to do it, but both are given to us in the one thing, the gift of the dying Christ and His immortal love. And so, brethren, if we would know the blessedness and the sweetness of victory over these miserable, selfish hearts of ours, and to walk in the liberty of love, we can only get it by keeping close to Jesus Christ.

From this passage, we should be motivated to reach out in love to all of our brothers and sisters. LOVE IS THE WAY TO RECONCILIATION!!!  LOVE IS THE WAY TO RELATIONSHIP BUILDING!!!  LOVE IS THE WAY TO PEACE!!!  If you have the desire but are unsure of how, please contact me. I will be happy to discuss with you possible avenues of reaching out to those different from you.

Weekend for Peace

10 Jul 2017 1 Comment

by Visible Unity, Inc. in Activist, America, Churches, Community Organizing, Diversity, Equity & Social Justice, Faith Communities, Hospitality, Minorities, Missions, Social Justice, Spiritual Life, Uncategorized, Working and Preparing, Workshops Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This past weekend Visible Unity, Inc. declared a ‘Weekend for Peace.’

Friday evening was ‘Prayers for Peace’ where we met at the Southwest Dallas Police Substation and engaged in prayer, singing and talking.  Seeking to be fortified as we begin or continue in the work of bringing peace into our spheres of influence.

Saturday afternoon we gathered at the Meadows Conference Center for the I/Eye Perspective.  We watched film clips from the movie, ‘I Am Not Your Negro’ and a clip of the self-introduction of ‘Tim Wise.’  We watched these clips with our eyes (Eye Perspective) and then had excellent discussion about race from each of our own personal perspectives (I).

Sunday morning (the most segregated hour) was the Integrated Hour of Worship, where a diverse group attended services at First United Methodist Church in downtown Dallas, Dr. Andy Stoker pastor.

We are in a war.  Yes, a war is going on in our country.  And with all wars people tend to forget that the enemy is also human and has family and friends who love them and who has hopes and dreams for the future.  People also tend to focus on destroying the other.  There is no desire to try and come together and talk things over.  Hate is the focus, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to kill.  Lastly, people tend to believe all the propaganda about the other side.  That they are not human, good or worthy.  They are a bane to society and so on.  This provides the ammunition needed to keep the war going.  It helps people to believe they are doing the right thing, the good and necessary thing.

In his sermon, Dr. Stoker remarked that we have a tendency to turn practice into truth.  I would add that in the history of the US, there has been a practice of devaluing people of color and this practice has turned into a truth.  A truth that has to be dismantled.  A truth that is founded upon ignorance and mainly, fear.  James Baldwin, when talking about the nature of the rage between Black and White, said that, ‘The root of the black man’s hatred is rage.  Blacks don’t hate whites.  It’s more rage; they just want them out of their way and more importantly, out of their children’s way.  The root of the white man’s hatred is terror.  A bottomless, unnameless terror which focuses on this dread figure and entity which lives only in his mind.’

The way past this terror and this unfounded truth is through relationships, relationships across cultures and divides, relationships across gender and economic divides, relationships across faiths.  Visible Unity can help you with this.  Contact us and join us in peace-building and relationship building.

 

 

Co-Dependent not Independent

05 Jul 2017 1 Comment

by Visible Unity, Inc. in America, Churches, Community Organizing, Diversity, Equity & Social Justice, Faith Communities, Hospitality, Minorities, Missions, Social Justice, Spiritual Life, Uncategorized, Working and Preparing Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

For believers, independence should not be the goal. The definition of independent is ‘free from outside control; not depending on another’s authority or on another for livelihood or subsistence.’ No, we should strive for co-dependency; a word often used in psychological analysis around addiction. However, for true followers of Christ, it is appropriate. We depend upon the Triune God for our subsistence and our addiction is to Them alone. We also depend upon our fellow sojourners for support, accountability and to be brothers and sisters in the struggle together. We are not intended to be in this journey alone and to do ministry by ourselves. The entire body of believers are to work together regardless of race, age, gender, faith and any other things we use to divide ourselves and keep us from collectively working together for the kingdom.

I encourage you today, having just celebrated America’s Independence Day, to break from the individualism of the US and seek unity amongst as many diverse people that are in your midst. Seek out those different from you in your community and strive to build relationships; relationships of peace and unity. We have gotten off track. Let us move back towards the model of the Trinity; distinct yet equal, separate yet unified. If you need help getting started, give me a call or shoot me an email.

Blessings

Pam

Previous Older Entries