Letter to the Editor: We all ‘bleed the same’

I would prefer to hide inside my small bubble of silence and privacy. However, Colin Roberts’ article on tolerance made me reflect on a song that keeps replaying inside my head.  Mandisa, a well-known gospel artist, is often on the radio, sharing music that resonates and uplifts the soul. Her latest song delivers a powerful message, and it reads something like this:

BLEED THE SAME by Mandisa; featuring TobyMac and Kirk Franklin

Woke up today

Another headline

Another innocent life is taken

In the name of hatred

So hard to take

And if we think that it’s all good

Then we’re mistaken

Cause my heart is breaking

Are you left?

Are you right?

Pointing fingers, taking sides

When are we going to realize?

Tell me, who are we

To judge someone

By the kind of clothes they’re wearing

Or the color of their skin?

Are you black?

Are you white?

Aren’t we all the same inside?

Father, open our eyes to see!

Only love can drive out all the darkness

What are we fighting for?

We were made to carry one another

We were made for more

We all bleed the same

We’re more beautiful when we come together

Let’s stand united!

We all bleed the same

So tell me why

We’re divided

If we’re going to fight

Let’s fight for each other

If we’re going to shout

Let love be the cry

So Father God, I pray

That our families will come together right now

And seek Your face

You will forgive our sins

And You will heal our incredible land

In the name of the only Savior, Jesus Christ

Amen

We appear to be living in a world where we tolerate everything, yet we are intolerant of everything we tolerate.  When people digest hate, our world becomes more and more desperate for peace.  However, people often hesitate to speak out because it is as though we are all balancing on a fault line between tolerance and intolerance, with a grave fear of falling into a deep, black hole of becoming the hated.

It is almost like a juggling act to speak your opinions without offense or attack. To say nothing, however, is to do nothing.  Who or what you are, or who or what you are not, should never give birth to hate and violence.  After all, don’t we all bleed the same?

God bless everyone.

My letter is not an attention-seeking endeavor; rather, I hope for a future of togetherness, one of peace and harmony for all.

Sincerely,

Amie Calvert

Employee and Labor Relations