Compassion for Hypocrites

My reference to “you” is the collective use of the word, not personal to you or any specific person.
I have reflected on this my entire life. The truth described is obvious. But not so simple. It is hard to hug someone holding an AK 47 while calling you hateful names and threatening to harm you. It is hard to listen to someone who thinks you are a cockroach to be stamped out. it is hard to love someone as they actively destroy whatever you need to survive. For too long we white people have watched such behavior silently, or with comment and shakes of our heads. Praising ourselves for our compassion and sensitivity. And meanwhile the violent words have become so acceptable, so forgivable that the violence becomes inevitable. The liars who say the right thing but would allow the mob to rape or lynch me while they prayed for my soul and cried over me are of no comfort to me. I have had enough of the hypocrisy. I have had enough of the lies. I have had enough of the silent acceptance and remorse. We are so worried about the suffering of white supremacists who fear a loss of power they never really had, but seized as their right, does not appeal to me. My sense of justice falls into the “tough love” category. Sorry, you are afraid. Buck up. We are all afraid of something. Face your fear. Find its source within yourself, where all fear resides. Handle it within you. Stop blaming others for it. Do not expect anyone else to solve your fears. Want help? Sure, Glad to help you work through it. Want to admit your wrongs and seek reconciliation? I am all ears. Want to become a more loving member of the larger community? I will join with you. Need someone to vent to with honesty and contrition? I can handle that. This reminds me of the suggestion that God gives us all the grace we need to carry our cross; but only enough to carry our own cross. Need a reminder you are given the grace to change? I shall remind you. Want to lift up your cross and carry it forward? I shall walk beside you. Sometimes, finger pointing is absolutely necessary.