March 24, 2013:

All Our Sons

A little remembered play by Arthur Miller entitled “All My Sons” was set in the Second World War. A corrupt manufacturer of defective airplane parts — resulting in the death of several young pilots — was confronted by his son who had discovered the truth. His father says, “Son, I was doing it all for you!“ To which his son replies, “Dad, they were all your sons.”

I thought of those seering words when I heard in the news this morning the story of another young Black man killed by police in Brooklyn. I don’t know what the entire truth of the matter is, but I do know for so many years we as a nation have been suffering a Holocaust of Black young men. Some were killed as a result of quarrels that should never have led to someone being shot. Some were killed in gang warfare. I was appalled to hear someone say, “Well, at least they’re killing each other and not us.” What breathtaking insensitivity! These and all the other young Black men killed by police and vigilantes were someone’s children. They were all our sons.

Today’s story of Palm Sunday recalls Jesus weeping over the city of Jerusalem and saying, “If you had only recognized the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” Jesus anticipated a destruction for his nation because of their insensitivity and blindness. I believe America is now facing that same challenge. The shootings and killings of children and young people, Black and White, is a disgrace to any nation that wants to be called civilized, let alone a “Christian nation” that some think we are.

Yes, I know. The problem of gun violence is pervasive and difficult. It cannot be remedied quickly even when we try as we must. But there is something all of us can do now, we can see in these tragic young Black men our own sons. We should all be in tears.

Love,
Dave