One question struck me arguably most during this week’s debate: “Do black lives matter? OR… do all lives matter?”
We have had some excellent conversations regarding the #BlackLivesMatter movement, the sensitivity of the issue, and the difficulty of those from varied vantage points seeing any other side. I have grown and learned much in these discussions about this challenging, controversial issue.
I have also sincerely appreciated those who have respectfully proclaimed the validity of the #BlackLivesMatter movement because for so long — and sometimes still — persons of diverse creed and color have felt that their lives did not matter… or… that their lives somehow mattered less.
Friends, no life matters less than another…
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Amen. Agreed. We are all created equal. We are created with diverse skills and unique gifting, but we each have certain, unalienable rights. And while the Intramuralist previously expressed discomfort at the inability to propose that other lives actually also matter, I empathetically understand the respectfully-articulated passion of the person who feels there is valid reason to at this time, in this season, promote the value of only black lives.
What struck me about the question in Tuesday night’s debate, no less, was not whether or not at this time, in this season, it’s appropriate to promote the mattering of only one kind of life; what struck me was the word “or.” I was astounded that the two “types” of life were juxtaposed squarely against one another. A candidate could only answer one.
“Do black lives matter? OR… do all lives matter?”
In other words — what I heard — perhaps wrongly — is that only one can be true.
Follow me here… I’m concerned…
I learned much last August from the respectful dialogue surrounding a post after the innocent policeman was shot and killed in Houston, Texas simply while pumping gas; we published the quote from his county sheriff, in which the officer said in response, “We’ve heard black lives matter; all lives matter. Well, cops’ lives matter, too.”
What I heard in response then from several respectful dissenters — who I believe stated their opinions incredibly, logically and compassionately well — was that “of course all lives matter”… “of course cops’ lives matter.” And that just because persons are passionately proclaiming “black lives matter,” that does not mean that other lives do not.
But for the first time Tuesday night, I didn’t hear any “of course.” I didn’t hear an “or.” I heard “we can only pick one.”
Friends, if our society has digressed to a point where we must omit the “of course” — where we have to choose which lives matter and which lives don’t — my strong sense is that we are treading on nothing less than treacherous waters.
Let’s be clear; the #BlackLivesMatter movement has validity. Black lives matter and that’s ok to be shouted from the rooftops. I also have no problem with similar shouts of significance proclaimed by others who perceive unfairness and/or oppression… the police… Christians… the disabled… the unborn… the elderly. Each has a right to passionately, respectfully, and nonviolently proclaim their uniqueness — in addition to their unmistakable worth, endowed by our Creator.
The problem arises when we are encouraged to pick only one.
There is no such thing as only one life mattering. There is no such thing as one life mattering more than another. There is no such thing as the “or.” There is such a time to shout the meaning of one life. But when we pit lives against one another, trumping one over the other, making people choose — we are advocating for oppression comparable to what we cry out against.
Of course, all lives matter. None of us should have to deny that.
Respectfully…
AR