Lessons We Teach Our Children

This morning, I was listening to a morning radio show as they talked about the Trayvon Martin news story in Florida. Now if you are unaware of this story, I would have to encourage you to inch out from under the rock that has you so weighed down. In case you haven't heard, a seemingly clearly innocent black child was murdered in Florida and his killer is still walking free because of insanely lax laws in Florida. As a bystander that really only has an opinion, I stand and can not understand how in our country this can be happening.... when there is witnesses and it seems so cut and dry. Would this be happening if it were my child who were shot and left to die? As much as I like to think that we live in a decent society, I would have to say, "No". If it were my sweet boy, that I love (no more or less that this sweet mom loves her son) I do think the reaction would have been different. I pray that I will never know for sure; but, I would have trouble imagining that the killer would not have been basically tried and found guilty before they even closed the squad car door behind him. Why is this difference in justice still happening? OK now back to the morning show, One of the participants (an educated black man) said during the discussion that among other things that he has taught his son, just as his mother taught him, is to keep his hands out of his pockets! People will assume you are stealing or going to cause trouble, he said. I was so surprised and admittedly a little doubtful and it led me to wonder what other "lessons" my black friends teach their children. I decided to test the waters and ask my friend at lunch if she taught her son the same thing and she without hesitation said, "Of Course". She told me that her child has to be taught how to avoid trouble and survive. She is one of the most lovely people I have ever known. She is a smart loving woman, definitely not some vigilante. She said another thing that it is so important for her child to learn is when to be quiet. Not for the same reasons that I would love to be able to get this point across to my children, just for respect and not driving me crazy.... but for their own safety. "They have to know when to stop and if someone says to 'Stop' or 'Be Quiet' that is exactly what he must do." I thought as a society that we were bridging the gap. To some extent we are, but when terrible things like this incident in Florida happen it shows that there are still different lessons that we have to teach our children. Sometimes, no matter how much we have taught them because of ignorance of others it may not be enough. My heart and prayers go out to the family of Trayvon Martin. I am so sorry for your loss. I am surprised and somewhat disheartened to learn that my friends still have to train their children differently than I do. Thank God that when we rejoice in Heaven we will all be the same--Really the Same---- just as God sees us.