I have two notable experiences to share from my trip to California that resonate the same theme in my heart.
First while we were in San Diego we took a day off and traveled down to the border town of Tiawana. I was excited because I had never been to Mexico, so my first visit would be a memorable one. Now of course this is a border town so it is different then a normal Mexican city. As we walked through the streets, I meditated on what I was experiencing, and I couldn't help but feel and deepening sense of shame. I realized that this entire city or subculture formed because of us (America). More specifically because of out consumerism/materialism. As I observed the lives that these people were living I was disgusted, not of them but of myself and my people. Here we are the wealthiest people in the world (6% world population with and using 50% of worlds wealth and resources), and we are more than content to let these people live at a sub-standard, while we pursue our lusts in obtaining more and more stuff. Instead of helping them we enslave them. The worst was when we were leaving and and we came upon 3 of the most beautiful little Latino children. As I observed I realized that their parents had forced them to work the street trying to sell "stuff", while prostituting themselves (using there innocence as a selling tool), and my group treated them like stray animals, teasing and laughing. No child should ever have to live like that! But what is there for them, Americans always want to buy something more. I want to cry, and I wanted to scream and curse!
My second experience was when we stopped at a Native American museum in Arizona. As we walked through the halls that depicted what America had done to the Native Americans, and to there children, especially with the "boarding schools", I was overwhelmed. I wanted to cry, and I wanted scream and cuss!
First while we were in San Diego we took a day off and traveled down to the border town of Tiawana. I was excited because I had never been to Mexico, so my first visit would be a memorable one. Now of course this is a border town so it is different then a normal Mexican city. As we walked through the streets, I meditated on what I was experiencing, and I couldn't help but feel and deepening sense of shame. I realized that this entire city or subculture formed because of us (America). More specifically because of out consumerism/materialism. As I observed the lives that these people were living I was disgusted, not of them but of myself and my people. Here we are the wealthiest people in the world (6% world population with and using 50% of worlds wealth and resources), and we are more than content to let these people live at a sub-standard, while we pursue our lusts in obtaining more and more stuff. Instead of helping them we enslave them. The worst was when we were leaving and and we came upon 3 of the most beautiful little Latino children. As I observed I realized that their parents had forced them to work the street trying to sell "stuff", while prostituting themselves (using there innocence as a selling tool), and my group treated them like stray animals, teasing and laughing. No child should ever have to live like that! But what is there for them, Americans always want to buy something more. I want to cry, and I wanted to scream and curse!
My second experience was when we stopped at a Native American museum in Arizona. As we walked through the halls that depicted what America had done to the Native Americans, and to there children, especially with the "boarding schools", I was overwhelmed. I wanted to cry, and I wanted scream and cuss!
I've experienced shame before over things that I have dont, but this is the first time that I have felt a physcially painful shame over something that we have done.
What evil we have done, and what evil we continue too do. But we some how still live in ignorance, and complacency. I grew up hearing about how great America is, and about all the great things we do, and how we a "Blessed", "Christian" nation. Well to hell with that!!! We have so much and we use it all on ourselves, while so many go without.
When will we wake up? When will we repent for the evil we have done, and the great evils that we continue to do? When will we finally realize that we are no different than any other empire that had dominated the world past???????
