VIOLENCE-DO THE RIGHT THING

VIOLENCE-DO THE RIGHT THING


“DO THE RIGHT THING”
Is a 1989 film
Written and directed by Spike Lee

It was-it is-a CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED film
And in 1999
Was deemed to be “culturally significant”
And was selected
For preservation
In the National Film Registry

It tells the story
Of a neighborhood’s simmering racial tension
Which comes to a head
And ends in tragedy
On the hottest day
Of the summer in Brooklyn, New York

WE ARE ALL GOD’S PEOPLE

The movie begs the question:

When is violence necessary
And when should force be used?

When is it the RIGHT thing?

I say NEVER
And I believe God and our Lord
Would AGREE with me

“NO LONGER will violence be heard
In your land
Nor ruin or destruction
Within your borders
But you will call your walls SALVATION
And your gates PRAISE”                                                                     Isaiah 60:18

“This is what
The Sovereign Lord says:

‘You have gone far enough
O princes of Israel
GIVE UP your violence and oppression
And do what is JUST AND RIGHT’

STOP possessing my people
Declares the Sovereign Lord”                                                                   Ezekiel 45:9

In other words
DO THE RIGHT THING
FORGIVE

We could at least
Give it a try
Could this world
Be any worse off

Vengeance is mine
Says the Lord

LEAVE it to God

“DO NOT seek revenge
Or bear a grudge”                                                                    Leviticus 19:18

“Do NOT take revenge my friends”                                                 Romans 12 :19

Do the right thing
LEAVE JUSTICE to God
And OUR Lord

I see so many people
On television
When something tragic happens
Saying, “I want justice”

DO THE RIGHT THING
Leave it up to GOD

Our Lord
Was a pacifist

Martin Luther King
Was a pacifist

THEY BOTH
Had to give up their lives
For their beliefs
But they CHANGED the world
FOR THE BETTER

In the 6th chapter
Of Saint Luke’s Gospel
Jesus says something startling:

“But I tell you
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
DO GOOD to those who hate you
BLESS those who curse you
PRAY for those who mistreat you”                                                       Matthew 6:27-28

STOP the violence
LOVE AND FORGIVE
And you will be doing

THE RIGHT THING

Robert P. Wallman
6-16-13