In the aftermath of the shooting of unarmed African Americans by police officers, as well as the shooting of police officers by African Americans and/or Latinos, we are now being constantly bombarded by the sayings of "Black lives matter," and "All lives matter." It is not my purpose here to put one paradigm against the other, but rather to have us look at the worth of human dignity and lives in a broader context. The questions for us would be the following:
1. Whose lives matter the most?
2. How do we go about determining whose lives matter the most?
3. Who made us God that we should be so arrogant as to think that we have a right to determine the value of one life vs. another?
I will leave it up to you, the reader, to answer those questions in your own way and to draw your own conclusions regarding these vital matters.
It is this writer's position that no one individual or corporate entity is the final authority on whose life matters the most. The final determination lies with God the Creator, independent of how you perceive Her/him and independent of what your faith community affiliation/or lack thereof is.
God is the author and creator of life, and only God can determine and authenticate the value of life. I am personally opposed to the notion that we can place value on the lives of people based on class, gender, or ethnicity and race. I am further opposed to the notion that the value of life is contingent on the type of employment that one is engaged in, and in this particular case, so-called "law enforcement." When the life of an unarmed African American is taken by "law enforcement," the tendency is to bring up that person's alleged criminal history, whether proven or not. But when the life of a law enforcement officer is taken, the reaction is to downplay or deny that person's alleged criminal history and abuse of power. Furthermore, when the life of a law enforcement officer is taken, there is the tendency to react as if that person's life is of more intrinsic worth than any one else's. We are very inconsistent in weighing the scales of the value of life.
In a recent thread of communications that I have been engaged in on Facebook, it has been said that "RESPECT" is the key to addressing these issues and solving these problems. While I do agree that "RESPECT" is necessary and vital, we must careful not to allow the concept of "RESPECT" to become a mere platitude or slogan which is not supported by concrete action. "RESPECT" has to be mutual between the community and law enforcement. "RESPECT" entails the uncomfortable task of engaging in the combat against social injustice. This task requires us to do whatever is in our power to dismantle the structures of injustice. Anything short of this is just rhetorical conversation and "hot air." This engagement will demonstrate that we truly believe that ALL lives matter. Please feel free to comment and contribute your perspectives on both the subject and this above essay. Dialogue is important for our communities to move forward in peace and reconciliation.
Grace and peace,
Dr. Juan A. Ayala-Carmona
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