My children have been commenting to me about those around us who speak Spanish. I am a Spanish teacher by profession, and the kids hate it when I only speak Spanish to them. I do want them to learn some though! Most of these Spanish-speaking people do look a little different from us, with their darker skin and almost "native" features.
My daughter has a few kids in her 2nd grade class that speak languages other than English.
I see bumper stickers all the time that say, "Speak English, or Go Home!" or something along those lines.
It makes me so very sad that our culture of FREEDOM allows us to descriminate against anyone who is different.
This is almost worse than the discrimination experienced by the negroes during slavery and then again during segretation!
Our nation was founded and developed by people who did not have a common language. They came from all areas of Europe, Africa, and even Asia. These founding fathers and their families worked very hard to give us the freedoms we have today - including the freedom of religion.
Those of us who are Christians, and are free to proclaim that Jesus is King, should be ashamed of how we allow those in our society who are different to be treated!
It may not be our fault, as we may not be the ones discriminating against those "aliens" or different people. However, Jesus tells us to "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:31)
Would you want anyone to stand by and watch as you were chastised, told you were no better than dirt, or told to "go home" when you couldn't speak English?
Or, would you want someone to stand up for you, saying that everyone has to learn somehow! Give them a chance! Help them learn - don't send them away!
Oh, if only we humans could be so understanding! God gives us so many opportunities to learn from each other and to treat each other as we would like to be treated!
God,
Please help me to teach my children to put themselves in others' shoes. To teach them about the beginning of our great country, the United States of America, and how it began with God as part of our government. Lord, I pray that my children, and other children and adults, will be able to see that the melting pot of our country has not changed. We are still to respect and honor the differences in Your people, Lord. We are all Your sons and daughters.
Our founding fathers worked so hard, Lord, and were blessed by You. They walked, toiled, and worked so hard to build this great country. Help us to be thankful for what they have given us, and the freedoms You have blessed us with.
Help us, Oh Lord, to remember to respect the differences, and tolerate those who are learning how to acclamate themselves to our ever-evolving nature of self-absorbancy. We need to separate ourselves from our own wants and needs, and look to You, Lord!
Amen
Exodus 22:20-26
“Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed. “Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt. “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. 23 If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it to him by sunset..."
