On a daily basis, the astute observer sees signs that America must heal. Gun violence has escalated, racial injustice is rampant and leadership in the Republican Party is at an all time low. What is at the core of this upheaval? What it has been for 400 years . . . wealth, superiority and inferiority. One group believing that in spite of our diverse culture, one group is superior to everyone else.

WEALTH IS KING

Attitudes of the privileged wealthy, systemic racism, corruption and lack of moral values are at the heart of “what’s wrong in America.” Too many citizens do not have a clue and do not wish to get a clue how other groups of people in America think and live. They live in their own respective worlds, seemingly, unmoved by the storms circling around them. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer and discrimination grows. They ask, “Why would anyone feel America must heal? Keep America great!“

MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO

Four hundred years of maintaining the states quo, the wealthy has generated many tactics to keep the machine well-oiled and working. They have a three-pronged human mechanism: Poor whites, as was done during slavery, are kept in line by the use of hatred for blacks and other people of color; when blacks “get out of line,” they are given policies, rules and laws that require the status quo to enforce (which they have little or no intention of doing) to pull them back in line, and a third group whose moral compass becomes unraveled, but chooses to become the “silent majority.” After all, they benefit financially from the status quo. So…they bury their heads in the sand, hold their noses and say nothing.

SILENCE YIELDS PRISON PRIVATIZATION

 Privatization of prisons elevated racism . . . if blacks are not killed by police and other “legal ways” (stand your ground laws) a concerted effort is made to imprison people of color. It is reported that many large corporations and financial institutions entice the poor and middle class to purchase their products while they covertly fund systemic racism and inequality. The writer recognizes that many wealthy and large institutions support social programs that encourage equality and fairness, but too many support the status quo. Others pay lip service to equality, but their actions say the opposite. Also . . . this article is “America Must Heal,” so more attention is given to the ills of the nation.

THE ILLS OF AMERICA

The images below are examples of maintaining the “status quo.” This is today’s America! These images represent systemic racism and greed.

GUN VIOLENCE

We run . . . we weep . . . we bury our dead. What we don’t do is adopt laws to help quell the violence. Most of the people who are murdered are just ordinary people trying to make a life for themselves and their families. Wealth does not sit on their doorsteps. What about Christianity?

WHITE MINISTERS ARE SILENT ON RACISM

Change begins with thoughts and beliefs, and beliefs and thoughts are changed when the moral fiber of our nation changes. A white minister, lamenting the lack of spirituality being taught in white churches, stated white ministers are silent on the racial and inequalities of the country when they speak from their pulpits and on the microphones of the world.

How is the Christ being defined in our hearts? How could we have elected a leader we all knew did not represent equality, human decency and lawfulness? What do we treasure? Is money that important? Where is man’s humanity to man? Where is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?

AMERICA MUST HEAL: WE CAN . . .TOGETHER

Many whites highlighted the looting in cities (which should never have taken place) during the protests, but say nothing about white crimes that loot the country. Even the country’s attorney general is seeking to free a white man who confessed to “ripping off America.” America, America …where is our sense of goodness, mercy and love? There are many kind and loving people: black, white, red and yellow, and we see change taking place. That change must grow until our culture values all of its people and the contributions each person makes to America.

Working together, we can represent, “All men are created equal.” As the old hymn says, “We (were) lost, but now (we’re) found.” Let’s heal . . .together.