FEAR AND HATRED FUEL RACISM
I recently went through the pharmacy pick-up window at my local CVS pharmacy where my mother had her prescriptions filled regularly. On this particular day, there were 5 cars in line, including mine, (for descriptive purposes only) the 4 other cars were inhabited by black people and we were the only white people in line. The young pharmacy technician, who was also black, asked my mothers name and date of birth but the waiting began. She then proceeded to wait on every other car in line, including the car that had been in line behind us. They had gotten agitated and moved to the other line for faster service. When I realized that even the car that had been behind me had been waited on, I drove around to the front and went inside the store. As I approached the pharmacy counter, I excitedly asked, “Am I the wrong skin color to get waited on in the drive-through lane?” The pharmacy manager, a young white male shouted at me, “YOU’RE ACCOSTING ME! YOU’RE RUDE! AND YOU’RE RACIST! THIS CONVERSATION IS OVER! YOU’RE DONE!” In that moment, he would not listen to a word I had to say (not even if it was an apology) and my mother could no longer have prescriptions filled at that particular location. You can get cancelled by standing up for yourself in an instant! What these young people do not understand is that they are perpetuating racism, not eradicating it, and through their vindictiveness, they are spreading hatred along with fear. The type of action that young man took was much like the actions taken under the National Socialist Movement in Nazi Germany. ALL OF THIS WAS DONE IN THE EMPLOY OF CVS PHARMACY! I called and reported this incident to the corporate office when I returned home. I have not heard a single word from the CVS Corporate Office since I notified them of what had transpired. However, when I returned to that same drive- through today, I was notified by the pharmacist my mother could no longer have her prescriptions filled at that particular location. I asked her to kindly have her prescriptions transferred to another location which she politely agreed to and for which I was relieved. I do not want to be a party to that kind of hatred, however benign it may appear on the surface. That young man was so righteous but what he was doing was the wrong thing for what he thought was the right reason. Incidences like these collectively perpetuate racism and divisiveness in America. They will not be eradicated until we all truly understand what racism and division are doing to our society.
I have always been taught that racism is discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of one race by members of another race. Racism cannot be eradicated by laws. However, minds can be changed and do change about individual beliefs of differences among humans based upon skin color and culture through studies of history, language, culture, arts, music and food. Everything in society can and should be used as a teaching moment because we should use historical markers as what should or should not be repeated from history. When we understand where we came from as a community, how our community as a whole developed (including the ugly parts of our history), then we can move toward a more forgiving, harmonious future. Forgiveness includes: 1) asking for forgiveness from the person you have offended; 2) forgiving others for their transgressions against you; and 3) asking for forgiveness from the Heavenly Father for your trespasses. All 3 elements must be present to be truly forgiven. Matthew 6:14-15… “If you forgive the faults of others, your Heavenly Father will forgive you yours. If you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive you.”
ST. ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY:
”During painful times, when you’re feeling a terrible void, think of how God is enlarging the capacity of your Soul so it can receive Him. Look upon each pain as a love token coming directly to you from God in order for you to unite you to Him.”
Then find forgiveness in your heart towards your transgressors so as not to harbor hate and hostility. Pray for your own forgiveness for those you have sinned against. It has been scientifically proven through DNA testing that we all originally descend from one woman. Until 7000 years ago when people began to migrate North, we were all people of color according to genome studies. Because of the climate differences, pigmentation began to lighten in order to absorb the sun through the dense clouds and precipitation. Race and culture are man-made institutions. We have far more in common than that which has been designed politically to divide us. Trust in God’s mercy! Keep praying always…