Who Is My Neighbor?

Peace is more than a lack of conflict and non-violence is more than a lack of physical harm. Late on Friday, President Trump issued another executive order closing the nation’s borders to refugees and to people from seven predominantly Muslim countries. By Saturday, the news poured in: of families separated, of men, women, and children detained without cause or legal representation, and the anxiety of green card holders who feared they could neither depart from nor return to the United States while the ban was in place.

The executive order was signed without accompanying communication with the all the agencies of government with responsibility for enforcement. In consequence, the terrible pain of refugees and people whose country of birth happened to be one of the seven was compounded by departmental confusion about how to perform their duties. This executive order created both a lack of peace and a surplus of emotional violence for individuals, families, and even nations. 

Compassionate DFW asks the people of North Texas to be reminded of something that seems counter-intuitive: strength is to be found in humility, power is to be found in actions of love, and true humanity is to be found in compassion. We believe that President Trump’s executive order must be rescinded or legally vacated. We believe that we all will be better served by remembering how Jesus answered the question “Who is my neighbor?” We believe that the Charter for Compassion succinctly reminds us of that answer.

Thomas C. Gibbons
Compassionate DFW
Board Member & Advisor to Peace & Non-Violence

 

 

 

 

St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church
1220 W. Belt Line Rd.
Richardson, TX 75080
972/235-2000
fax 972/235-2016
tom@saintb.org