There is a lot of talk recently about two things:
- What is a good movie?
- And what does it mean to love your country, to love America, to be an American?
For me, the two become one within the movie, Selma.
The symbol of the bridge. We must take a good and long look at the symbol of the bridge. The bridge where some are marching, praying, singing, crying out for freedom, for justice, for equality. The bridge where others are beating them down, seeking to continue to dominate and to oppress them. I think you can visualize that bridge.
Today, that bridge is still before us and that struggle for freedom, justice, and equality continues. On one side of the bridge there are people of color, women, LGBTQ’s, and immigrants, etc who are still marching, praying, singing, crying out for freedom, for justice, for equality. And today, there are still many in power who seek to continue to dominate and to oppress. They embrace the status quo which favors them.
On which side of the bridge do you find yourself?
These words on our Statue of Liberty seem quite American to me:
“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
These words from Isaiah and Luke come to mind: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Which side of the bridge do you choose to be on?
May God guide you in your search for God’s truth and justice.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
