Oh say can you see...

When I was young I don't remember getting offended. I'm confident that I didn't even know what the word offended meant! I remember getting upset. I remember getting my feelings hurt. I even remember getting mad. I guess I was offended and didn't realize it. What my parents modeled was very simple. Change what you can. Get over what you can't. 

And if I chose to try and change something, I had to do so appropriately. For example, if I didn't like dinner, I was welcome to fix dinner the next evening myself. But, I was not to complain about the dinner that my mom or dad had worked to give me. I was not allowed to not eat the dinner that was prepared for me that I didn't earn or deserve. I could not, "sit out" or "kneel out". 

In my home, I was not allowed to disrespect someone else and therefore offend them just because I was offended. Thus the problem in our great country. I'm offended as a white person so I go out and offend a black person. Or, the other way around. It simply makes no sense to me but then again, I have no college degree to give my words credibility. I don't play professional sports, I don't star in Hollywood, I don't have an abundance of money, I'm not attractive... You know, all the things we Americans respect and therefore give credibility to. 

I was raised by white Christ following parents who taught me to be respectful regardless of how I felt. I was encouraged to speak my mind but only after I considered the consequences of said speech and only if we're wiling to live with this consequences. I still don't like peas and mashed potatoes and they, along with my stubbornness caused me many long standoffs at the dinner table. By the way Mom, mixing them doesn't help the taste!

But, that meal and every one before and after was given to me without fault. Without me serving it. And without me earning it. For that, the expectations were to eat respectfully and quietly or go eat at someone else's house. 

So yes, I feel no prejudice and see no color when a person refuses to respect the flag or country that gives them so many privileges simply by birth. I guess my dad was a conservative right wing lunatic before it was political or popular when he would say sit down, shut up, and eat. And I guess I am also now when I say, stand up, show respect, and find a way to make a difference with the privilege that was given to you without disrespecting those that have died to give you your freedom. 

Pastor Dad