Missed chances in DC
“Disappointment” doesn’t even begin to cover how I feel about the news lately. A man dies at the hands of police, and what could and should have been a righteous quest for justice broke out into destruction. What could have been a presidential prayer for wisdom, strength and protection became a profane misuse of a sacred text. What could have been a joyful moment in support of religious freedom devolved to a botched P.R. attempt.
This, needless to say, is a time of unrest. And one of the things that would seem to be bringing people together is the fact that black lives matter. May it be a steppingstone to a new appreciation that all lives matter, and that life is a precious gift. But when you take a look at the Black Lives Matter website, you read an agenda that isn’t quite as unifying. There’s a hostility to the nuclear family — exactly the fundamental unit that I’ve been praying has been undergoing some healing during these pandemic times. The “about” page on the website uncovers a subversive agenda hiding behind euphemisms that somewhat brilliantly — albeit dishonestly — speak to our best intentions.
And about the president’s Bible photo-op: I can only hope they didn’t think this one through in the White House. Scatter a peaceful crowd so the president could hold “a Bible” (not his, Donald Trump seemed to make clear) in front of historic St. John’s Church, which was set fire to the night before. Where was the black preacher to read from the Psalms? Where was the prayer for divine assistance? Where was the quote from Martin Luther King Jr.? So many things could have been done to help make a step toward peace, but, no. It was clear from social media that some did see it as a statement about religious freedom, but the communication wasn’t universally clear, to say the least.
If we truly believe that black lives matter and that all lives matter, we are going to have to consider what can unite us and quit being dishonest and bungling opportunities for healing. A deep breath. Actually opening a Bible to pray. These are called for. These would help.
Kathryn Jean Lopez is senior fellow at the National Review Institute, editor-at-large of National Review magazine and author of the new book “A Year With the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living.” She is also chair of Cardinal Dolan’s pro-life commission in New York. She can be contacted at klopez@ nationalreview.com.