America exhibits a “haughty spirit” when the military can use tear gas to push back peaceful protestors at the wish of President Trump even though we have the right to protest peacefully, this exhibits a haughty spirit. When the police can enter a (Black) woman’s home without warning and kill her and her family is still waiting for justice, once again this is an example of a haughty spirit. When a Black man is out jogging, and he is killed because a White man thinks he may be suspicious of stealing something, yet again is another example of a haughty spirit. When police officer Chauvin can put his knee on the neck of George Floyd for 8 minutes and 46 seconds with no regards to his life, America is showing a haughty spirit.
According to the United States Bill of Rights we are all entitled to,”Certain Unalienable Rights” that provides each of us with “Equality Before the Law.” This gives the right for everyone to be treated equally, regardless of social status and yet we are seeing a destruction in society because of a failure in providing these rights to all Americans. America cannot breathe because we are choking and strangling on the fact that our unalienable rights are not being fulfilled and America has embraced a haughty spirit that will bring about its fall if we do not correct things now.
Our country and the world are currently in discussions around the subject of racism and injustice. According to Webster, racism has been defined as, “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.” A woman by the name of Kennedy Mitchum in Missouri recently asked Merriam-Webster to update its definition because she did not believe it was inclusive and accurate to the current times. The dictionary officials agreed to do so. The original definition did not consider the systemic racism and oppression that still exists that keeps certain people (Black) down and oppressed.
If we are honest, all of us struggle or have struggled in some form or another with pride. If we want things to get better and change for the best, we must be willing to look within and see what necessary adjustments we need to make. This may even mean we have to put our pride on the shelf and admit that we have been wrong and judgmental in our thoughts and opinions on certain people, places, and things. The question is are we willing to take this step? Are we willing to be the generation that steps up and rights the wrongs our country has made?
We can change laws, but without changing hearts we will be back in the same situation as we are today, it would be just a matter of time. Sometimes the chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken. It has been said that people who are overconfident and arrogant are likely to fail. America must deal with our haughty spirit. We started as a great country and yet we are still confronted with the very issue of human rights. We must deal with the shortcomings of our country now if we want to really live up to our potential. Our generation is the hope for the future. Let’s stand up together!
Healing Without Hate: It’s a choice. It’s a lifestyle. Pass it on!
Visit www.WendyGladney.com and www.forgivingforliving.org to learn more. Wendy is an international coach, consultant, trainer, author and speaker. She can also be found live on Instagram @Wendygladney on Wednesdays at 12 noon PST.
