Friday, January 04, 2008

reaping and sowing


"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a
man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7 KJV)


I am not a biblical scholar but this statement has been proven true way more than it hasn't. (That God, she's pretty smart, you know.)

I thought of that phrase when I heard about the beating of Kevin McDermott of Shaker Heights a few days ago around E 146th and Onaway, near the Shaker - Cleveland border by multiple assailants. Articles such as this one, took a really sad tone, a tone that said "Oh my God, senseless crime in the suburbs? How could that be? This only happens to them...over there". Listen, our world could be a lot safer and many people, like Mr. McDermott, are casualties of miscreant perpetrators. With any issue, we have to find its' source and its' source is... the very suburbs that were supposedly immune to these types of acts.

Why? How? The American suburb, for many, was used as an escape hatch to flee the poor, the less educated and the different, for some. Some people had growing families and didn't have the room to expand in the city, which happens. But many people, didn't run to the suburbs as much as they ran away from the city. Instead of helping to solve the problems, they ran and left it to those that couldn't to solve the problems. Lack of educational opportunities and lack of hope turn hopeful, imaginative children into guys that walk around looking for some guy to beat up in Shaker Heights.

I am sure critics are thinking "Oh sure, blame society. Why couldn't they be more responsible." I think they should be too but it's pretty hard when you were never taught or if you felt like being negative was a better choice than being positive. It's too late for Mr. McDermott's attackers, they must reap the consequences of their violence once they are apprehended. But, as long as people run from neighborhoods instead of working with and respecting the people in them (it's not just about fixing housing stock, people) better, we will continue to get what we get.

Some first post of the year, eh?

4 comments:

George Nemeth said...

I think it's important to note that the verses prior to that are admonition to treat others gently, carry one another's burdens, and testing our own actions.

derek said...

True, true, George.

We need to be kinder to others meaning no overlooking of providing resources to those in need and no lashing out at our fellow man for negativity that does befall us.

I am mad at the lack of caring overall in our society. That event shouldn't have happened but we should really get into the why and how people could be brought to do that, not just the fact that it happened.

Cleveland Carole Cohen 3C said...

"But, as long as people run from neighborhoods instead of working with and respecting the people in them (it's not just about fixing housing stock, people) better, we will continue to get what we get."

I so agree with that Derek. As a society we have been taught to run, throw away, instead of roll up our sleeves. Makes me mad too George. And sad.

Tim Ferris said...

Good points, Derek. I've always been a proponent of moving right into the middle of it all, if you want to make a change effectively. Without a mixed society, structured much along the lines of a small town, there's not much future for anyone. Constant out-migration and segregation by economic class helps no one. Throwing government money at a problem, coming in and volunteering on weekends, funding nonprofits to minister to "those people" but then leave before dark--these things are merely gestures, band-aids on a sucking chest wound. We have to live together round the clock to ensure that the rising tide lifts all boats.