It is admiral when people stand up to social injustice and propose a change to complicated issues like poverty, sexism, racism, ageism, income inequality, fair housing, child abuse, and affordable healthcare.
Change is hard to come by.
These wrongs did not start yesterday but evolved and developed through many generations of our ancestors.
Recently, I attended a presentation at the Johnson County Kansas Historical Museum. College professors from Johnson County Community College instructed us on some of the reasons why society is struggling with injustice right now. The focus was on the effects of redlining and racism, but I learned much more. A sociology professor summed it up very simply.
This is a capitalistic society, he said, and we need poor people for it to work.
Sadly, I can take it a step further and say our world operates on the backs of the poor, as well.
I vividly remember the day I realized there were poor children starving in Africa. I just couldn’t wrap my head around it.
The world I knew would never allow anyone to go hungry - even for a minute.
My father, nearby when I had this realization, told me something that I did not understand at the time, but is becoming clear.
He said, “Paula - all I can do is look after my family and myself. I can't solve the
world's problems."
I think dad had seen enough injustice growing up during the Great Depression, through his time in World War II, and literally watching the Vietnam War on TV to know that injustice is a powerful engine and it is best to keep your head down, work hard, protect yourself and stay out of its way.
I am starting to understand my father more. He has always been an enigma to me, but after researching his bravery during the war in the Philippines, thinking about how he lived his life and as I grow older with my own family to protect, his mysteriousness is starting to evaporate.
My father, quietly and gently, navigated the injustices of the world as a "manly Christian" at the request of his grandfather - Reverand William Riley Nelson.
It seemed to work for him.
I am going to give it a try.
P.S.
I have a Bible that was given to my father by his grandfather (Rev. William Riley Nelson a Methodist minister) and the inscription reads:
Nelson-
My prayer is that you may always be devoted
to Christ according to the teachings found in
this Bible; and that you may live a
manly Christian life.
With love,
Wm Riley Nelson
https://www.chrf.org/blog/meals-delivered-to-east-africa-refugees/
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