This morning our city's ministerial association concluded our program year by holding a worship service focusing on "prayers for peace." Scripture was read, a beautiful a cappella solo was offered, and two or three of our members shared readings or stories related to peace.
In his remarks, one person referred to an article in today's newspaper regarding the local police department. Seven of twenty-nine new police recruits were fired for "telling racist jokes and using racist slurs." It was heartening to know how seriously this was taken. But the more remarkable aspect of this story was that "several other cadets are under review for 'their failure to report those issues.'" In other words, not only are racist jokes and slurs not to be tolerated, but standing by and just letting it happen is a punishable offense, according to the standards of the police department.
It brought to mind an incident from my own experience. One day several years ago, I was standing in the check-out line at the grocery store. For reasons I no longer recall, I already was in a bad mood, but when I heard the person in front of me share his racist comments with the cashier, my temper got away from me. Intruding on the conversation, I used an impolite term for "nonsense," and let the guy have it. He was stunned, not only at my intrusion, but at my disagreement with his point of view.
He couldn't comprehend that I, as a Caucasian, actually would call him out on his low opinion of Asian people. "What are you? An Indian or something?" he asked me. When I said no, he said, "Well, you must not be from Virginia." "Born and raised," I replied. And as he fumbled for something else to say about me, I countered with the extremely clever, "You must be very happy, because 'ignorance is bliss.'"
He saw the fire in my eyes, got his change from the cashier, and left the store mumbling. By that point, of course, everyone else in the front of the store was watching and listening. It wasn't a proud moment for me, and it certainly wasn't an inbreaking of peace.
Apparently, the recruits for our local police department are taught the guidelines and standards of conduct to which they are to be held accountable. If those standards include reporting racist jokes and slurs uttered by their colleagues, then their responsibility is clear.
What seems less clear is what the rest of us should do in such a case. What if a family member is the culprit? Or it's a stranger ahead of you in the check-out line? Or it's the person who sits in your row at church? I've encountered all three of these scenarios.
When else do we stand by while someone says or does something that alienates or denigrates someone, or that even leads to their harm in other ways?
What should we do? What is our responsibility as people of faith?