THE KNEE THAT CRUSHED GEORGE FLOYD'S NECK IS A KNEE THAT MANY APPARENTLY SWEET CITIZENS HAVE
It is chilling to observe, that amidst the rage being expressed across the world, about Derek Chauvin's inhumane act of killing George Floyd, there are many who remain silent. A proportion remain quiet, because they know only too well, the vile crushing of the innocent by the wicked, and have spent a lifetime in resistance to corruption and campaigning for the afflicted. Now, they consider carefully how best to channel the tumultuous anger into a systematic and consistent pressure for reform.
However one of the immense challenges good people face, is the many who remain silent, because they harbour the same vile sentiments that led to the murder, by police, of this innocent man.
As Joe Biden said, that 'killing knee' has been pressing on too many necks for too long.
Self seeking politicians, ruthless capitalists, sadistic leaders, corrupt officials, callous judges and violent police all form a mendacious cohort, masquerading as the worthy, while infecting our global and national life.
Yet, there is an additional sinister quarry of contamination from which human hearts are too often hewn. The 'respectable' citizen, who goes about their everyday life, playing their part in the body politic and posting to social media, speaking politely and chatting sweetly, but whose knee is ready to press that neck.
The means and methods may be far more subtle:
- the odd remark, the chosen silence, the decision not to comment or protest, the glance, the choice to lie, deceive, frame and betray, the use of advantage and power to damage and discriminate, the choice of friend or partner or reaction to another's choice, the frowns, jokes, quips and laughter, the attitude towards, the comments about, the lack of offence, the willingness to continue the status quo, the desire to return everything to 'normality' and the apparently attractive refrain of "let the courts deal with it", the collusion with the systems, institutions, approaches, cultures, traditions and religions that have perpetuated this devastating cancer that rots civilisation.
This is not the time for silence.
It is the time for a deafening roar of rage that shakes the foundations of all that is and requires the ultimate metamorphosis, whereby we finally behold every other person of the world as we regard ourselves, that we love them as we love ourselves, that we treat them as we would want to be treated, and that we afford them the same honour, dignity, understanding, care and compassion as we would our very own.
As the North Carolina police knelt before the protesters, in solidarity with them over Floyd's murder, so Trump should kneel and so should we all kneel. By our actions and our comments we all should show we are kneeling at this volatile and significant moment, when we could help change the world for the better, in true honour and memory of George Floyd and all those who have suffered similarly.
ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN BLAKE - MY LIFE - PART ONE
ARCHBISHOP JONATHAN BLAKE - MY LIFE - PART TWO
I AM PROUD OF MY WRITING, FOR JESUS’S SAKE, THAT HAS HAD ME FOUND INNOCENT IN HEAVEN, BUT TWICE A CRIMINAL ON THE EARTH. THE FIRST IN 1990 WHEN I WROTE A BIBLICAL TEXT ON THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT IN PEACEFUL PROTEST ABOUT THE BOMBING OF YOUNG IRAQI RECRUITS DURING THE FIRST GULF WAR. THE SECOND, IN 2016 WHEN I WROTE ON MY BLOG, TO ALERT THE PUBLIC ABOUT A PAEDOPHILE, AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN FORCING THE AUTHORITIES TO STOP HIM HAVING ACCESS TO CHILDREN. THERE WAS ALMOST A THIRD! IN 1997, WHEN I WAS ARRESTED FOR NAILING MY PROPOSALS FOR REFORM OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND ON THE DOOR OF CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL. WORDS ARE POWERFUL MESSAGES THAT CHALLENGE CORRUPTION, CONFRONT THE WICKED AND CREATE A BETTER WORLD. JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE CALLED TO COMMUNICATE HIS WORDS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE COST.
"You brave, courageous and wonderful man. To stand up for the truth in the face of suppression and oppression is truly an act of a pure heart."
posted by Bishop Jonathan Blake | 2:12 PM
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