The Strength of America

"La diversidad es la fortaleza de los Estados Unidos,” the man from Colombia declared as we traveled side by side on a train one day in Peru. We had struck up a conversation, were speaking about the differences between Peru and Colombia and America, and he praised it here: “Diversity is the strength of the United States.” I almost sputtered a little at his words—because it seems all I have seen lately are the shatters and shards of broken systems and broken people and injustices surrounding race and complex issues that never seem to resolve. I could understand him saying, “All the tension surrounding diversity will be the UNDOING of America"--but it's strength? Our greatest STRENGTH lies right in this complexity and tension?

I gathered at a church with a group of believers last night to read the Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Junior. The leader of the meeting began, “We've been saying we need to learn to listen, and we're going to practice this tangibly now"--and so we sat and listened for close to an hour to the words of the letter. The depth and philosophy, the grace and conviction and sheer brilliance floored me, humbled me, and convicted my heart deeply.

MLK’s words were timely then and are timely now—and I had to ask myself: would I have listened then? More challenging: would I have acted then? Would I have said “no” to the bombings and lynchings and segregation and violation of all that is sacred in what God has created? Most challenging of all: do I listen and act now?

They offered a list of resources last night, ways to continue to learn, to begin to engage and listen, and maybe you’d find them helpful too? Maybe, if you haven’t yet, you’d too find it challenging and good to read a Letter from a Birmingham Jail (a google search will work!). I think you would be humbled and floored and convicted, just like me, by this theologian and world-shaper, justice-advocate and believer.

Since that train ride, I have thought more about the words of that man in Peru, and of course, OF COURSE he is right. "yes, yes, YES!" I want to say! Surely, our greatest strength can lie right here—without minimizing the evil committed, while aching at the need for repentance and repentance and repentance and reconciliation and healing anew, while stepping into the tension and complexity—maybe we could be a generation that declares with authenticity and hope and a firm resolve, “La diversidad es la fortaleza de los Estados Unidos!” Or, diversity is the strength of the United States. Diversity—and all the beauty and glory and creativity and resilience involved—is the strength of America. And maybe we could mean this, learn better what it entails, back up our words with actions, and work to ensure our systems and structures and culture mean it too. It surely is not too late.

Certainly, it is true: diversity is the strength of America. What beauty lies here.