Michael Dutton: Why aren't the clergy speaking out against gang violence?

MattB

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Oct 2, 2012, 8:56:52 PM10/2/12

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Michael Dutton: Why aren't the clergy speaking out against gang
violence?

Read more:
http://www.newstimes.com/opinion/article/Michael-Dutton-Why-aren-t-the-clergy-speaking-3913870.php

Earlier this year, George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin.
Although not all the details of the shooting were known, civil rights
leaders, politicians and media pundits all across the country
immediately called for justice and for Zimmerman to be tried for
murder, even though he claimed self-defense.

Marches were held to support Martin; impassioned speeches made on the
floor of the House of Representatives; President Barack Obama weighed
in when he said if he had a son, that son might look like Trayvon;
editorialists called for justice; and from thousands of pulpits
judgment was given.

Jesse Jackson went so far as to assert, "Targeting, arresting,
convicting blacks and ultimately killing us is big business."
Unfortunately for the protesters, there may have been mitigating
circumstances, but those circumstances were unimportant as a young
black man was killed and someone needed to be held accountable.
It is a tragedy when any young person dies needlessly. Being shot in a
needless struggle with another man only heightens the loss.

For generations, we have had the media -- and, more important, the
leaders of our congregations -- to inform us and to call us to action.
And in the case of Trayvon Martin, the call was loud and clear, as
calls for justice came from every corner of our nation. But were these
calls for "justice" or merely grandstanding by our leaders?

After 4-year-old Lloyd Morgan was murdered as he played at a Bronx
basketball court or when in New Haven a 16-year-old male was shot as
he stood outside a convenience store, did preachers express outrage
from pulpits across the country?

Earlier this year, Ashley Armstrong from Danbury was murdered in New
Haven, apparently the victim of a drive-by shooting. Her case is still
unsolved.

Those sitting in the same congregations that loudly called for justice
a few months ago will hear pins drop before calls for justice come for
these victims.

Our cities have become combat zones where the unarmed live at their
own risk, with minority populations most at risk. Yet for the past two
decades as our cities have descended into this abyss, the pulpits have
been silent.

Jesse Jackson has not called for police to rid the neighborhoods of
gangs and the violence they cultivate.

Al Sharpton is silent when young black men kill other young black men.
Indeed, Jackson could more correctly state the gangs have made
"Targeting ... blacks and ultimately killing us (a) big business."
There could be four reasons we do not hear an outcry against gang
violence:

Perhaps our religious leaders are unaware our cities are
uninhabitable. No, if anyone reads newspapers, watches television or
listens to the radio, ignorance is not an excuse.

Do they not understand the severity of the situation? Recall the
outcry aimed at Zimmerman earlier this year from thousands of pulpits.
If a single killing unleashed that reaction, why have not any of the
others mentioned elicited even a tepid response from those same
preachers?

Why would not the murder of a 4-year-old child result in a clarion
call from congregations nationwide?

If our leaders are aware of and understand the severity of our cities'
plight, then why is there no action?

Criminals rely upon intimidation to keep their victims under control.
Are our clergy being strong-armed by the gangs? That is a clear
possibility, but there is another possibility:

The drug business is very lucrative, bringing in billions of dollars
every month. Are "donations" made to keep certain voices silent?
Gangsters buying silence is hardly new; is that why we hear no calls
to end the violence and bring the gangs to justice?

Cowardice can be expected from the average politician who cares more
about the next election than the good of his constituents. We can
expect little from them.

The press is little better; ratings, profits and awards matter more
than truth.

But from the clergy, don't we deserve better? Is it not time for the
shepherds to protect the flock and not the wolves?

It is time for the pulpits to demand safe neighborhoods in our cities
for all our residents. If your pastor does not raise the cry for
bringing safety and justice for all, ask why there is silence in the
face of the tyranny of the gangs.

*****************************

If I were to guess there is no personal profit for them.

John Doe

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Oct 2, 2012, 9:17:57 PM10/2/12

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MattB <trdell1234NOSP gmail.com> wrote:

> Michael Dutton: Why aren't the clergy speaking out against gang
> violence?

> http://www.newstimes.com/opinion/article/Michael-Dutton-Why-aren-
> t-the-clergy-speaking-3913870.php

> Jesse Jackson has not called for police to rid the neighborhoods
> of gangs and the violence they cultivate.
>
> Al Sharpton is silent when young black men kill other young
> black men.

Because fatherhood is the solution, and they will take a huge hit
from ordinary women if they encourage fatherhood.

Ordinary women are bringing home a much larger portion of the wage
pie. Therefore women put much more money into the church plate.
They cannot speak for fathers' rights, or they will lose lots of
money. Church leaders who do not speak up for fatherhood are doing
a horrible disservice to the community IMO. And the ones who do
speak out for fathers rights end up being poor.

Ever-expanding government empowers ordinary women to earn much
more money. They put much more money into the church plate and the
church changes its doctrine to suit them. So now social liberal
politicians are blessed by the church. Would be interesting to
hear what churches had to say about giving women the right to
vote, back when the idea was tossed about.

Message has been deleted

MattB

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Oct 3, 2012, 2:02:45 PM10/3/12

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On Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:37:36 -0600, Yoor...@Jurgis.net wrote:

>On Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:56:52 -0700, MattB <trdell1...@gmail.com>
>wrote: