What I’m Doing About George Floyd’s Killing
During the Vietnam War one of the hate demons that plague the world suddenly materialized out of thin air and murdered three little girls right in front of me. I couldn’t save them. They were shot by a helicopter’s M-60 machine gun only a few feet above them. Tet Offensive. The violence—it was like seeing them hammered into the ground by anvils. Their shattered little bodies crumpled like rag dolls.
They lie there still in my mind’s eye—and will until I die—reminding me of my kinship with them and all that is, ever was, and ever will be.
Everything I have done since that moment has been an effort at repentance, trying to make the world better, begging forgiveness for my own evil in the American War in Vietnam. My efforts have been feeble.
But they have not been nothing.
The hate demon struck before me again the other day when that Minneapolis policeman murdered George Floyd by kneeling on his neck. Like most of us, I have been dumbstruck by what feels like the stench-spirit of Nazi gas ovens wafting among us. I have been embarrassed by the naked emperor now occupying the White House who has so shamelessly—though helpfully—disrobed before us.
I felt impotent and paralyzed before Trump’s evil. What could I do about the uniformed police hate that killed George Floyd? The police violence now marauding our streets in the blue camouflage of law and order?
The only unforgivable sin is against the Holy Spirit, Jesus reportedly said. But what’s that? It’s calling good bad and bad good, said the advisor to a Princeton Theological Seminary graduate friend of mine.
Still, what could I do, an “innocent” white bystander, in this Armageddon of the American soul? Me, heir to genocide and slavery: what can I do?
And then the governor of my state, Jay Inslee of Washington (“a snake,” President Trump called him), sent me an email and let me know: “If you can, make a donation to support the NAACP Legal Defense Fund right now.”
That is called transformational leadership: act on what you believe, or lead the coward’s life and see what happens. See, as Chief Seattle advised President Pierce, what it leaves you to teach your children on cold winter nights so they will wish for tomorrow.
So I did. I sent in a little more than 10% of my fixed monthly VA PTSD and Social Security income. That’s not much, way below the national average income. But it’s a whole world more than nothing.
And then I did the same thing for Sen. Cory Booker’s re-election campaign. That’s another world more than nothing. I had earlier made a little contribution to Sen. Booker’s Presidential campaign and was so sad when he had to drop out. The documentary Street Fight tells you what you need to know about Sen. Booker.
If you’re so inclined, you can join me. If you can only send a dollar, do that. It’s actually a lot, acorn of a beautiful, mighty, wondrous new world where justice will roll like a river. Let us never doubt the simple, infinite plenty of our own hearts. We’re doomed without it.
And you can share this with everyone you know and invite them to join us. This is how we save ourselves. It’s how we help America become what she might become.
It’s how we plant the seed of hope that only we can plant.
Larry Shook.com 
I just joined the Reno NAACP (was a member in Spokane). $30 a year plus labor. It’s a start.
Larry, I know how much you hate injustice. That is Biblical for sure. As you know hate and violence can only beget the same. It is the rotten individual apples in ANY system that must be brought to justice. To destroy the foundations of justice, as imperfect as it may be because of fallen nature , will only lead to anarchy and either totalitarianism , communism or any other ism.
The only answer is transcendent ……..the Kingdom of God. First the heart, as you know and then loving , helping , getting to know and deeply respecting , caring for our neighbor…….All of us have red blood and made in God’s image. Destroying peoples ability to work is not pro active . Many more have died , white and black. Thousands are loosing their businesses. Society is crumbling . People are depressed and isolated in fear. We need civil government. We must have protection from harm , so we can do good and help one another get back on our feet as a family, city, state and nation.
My son in law is a pastor and has a very dear black brother who is a pastor speaking together regarding what can be done at this time. It is very practical with the systemic racial problem being addressed. He lived with it in Georgia as a black youth and had reasons to hate and be angry. If you go to 19 min. 35 sec. it begins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLxIUNArfoE
You will love this wonderful man. He is graceous , hopeful and pro active in their community. The transcendent Kingdom of God is the power to bring change. I know you are a Kingdom Man , deeply desiring what Christ desires. I hope this encourages you to help people Respond ……..and not React to the events of this day. Christ has the answer. We are HIS ambassadors . What an important time we live it. God Bless us all to hear HIM in the midst of all the noise .
Doesn’t 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 pretty much sum it up about Trump and his supporters?
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
English Standard Version (ESV)