In this week of another assassination, assumed to be for political motives, most voices state concern about the rise in political violence except for one whose comments have helped to foment this violence over the past ten years. Also in this past week other items of importance, easily buried, need our concern and attention, such as the looming debt limit vote, increasing militarization of immigration enforcement, just to name two.
There’s also the Supreme Court’s decision permitting ICE stops based on “reasonable suspicion.” Now that includes speaking English with an accent, notably Spanish, or working at a car wash, even standing at my local Home Depot. This is to be for “brief immigration questioning,” but the videos show that ICE doesn’t do that but a lot more.
Take the case of a mother and her child surrounded by ICE, guns pointed, both pulled out of their car, treated toughly, only to learn they are US citizens. After terrorizing them, they treated it like a joke. Mom didn’t think it was funny. She’s filed a lawsuit. Treating people, no matter who they are, is also part of the American experiment, one that holds violence against anyone is wrong.
Prayer for the Day
On this day, in this time, O God, we cry out to you,
Needing to reduce violence and increase tolerance;
On this day, in this time, O Lord, grant us your peace,
The peace that we need to share with others.
Transform us, O Holy One, into a people who reflect your way,
The way of justice and lovingkindness towards all.
In the name of the One who shows us the way,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the day
This is certainly about the tragic death, political assassination of Charlie Kirk. But it is also much bigger than an attack on an individual. It is an attack on all of us. It is an attack on the American experiment. It is an attack on our ideals. This cuts to the very foundation of who we are, of who we have been, and who we could be in better times.
Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah on the assassination of Kirk
We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job. Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent.
Sonya Sotomayor, dissent in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the body
Proverbs 16:24