Letter to the Editor: We all ‘bleed the same’
February 19, 2018
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