In light of what’s been going on in Ferguson, and other parts of our country. I’ve been at a loss for words. It seems like people are crying out for justice, mercy, peace, diplomacy, change…the right to be heard. Diplomacy has become one of the battle cries of the unheard. How do those who have been hurt, who’ve had the volume of their voices turned down, and tuned out remain diplomatic? The frustration alone is enough to insight even the most peaceful of souls to riot.
A riot is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as a violent public disorder; specifically: a tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons assembled together and acting with a common intent. With that being said rioting has been a form of protest for the oppressed for decades. For those out there who may not understand why those with muted voices riot, let me explain. Rioting although violent from inception is a way that those who have had their voices muted…justice deferred, and power and opportunity that was rightfully theirs denied, to fight back. Typically used as a last resort, it’s a way to regain a temporary sense of power that’s been forcefully stripped away, as well as punish the system that the oppressor has used to unfairly target the oppressed.
Although, the motive behind rioting maybe justice; in partaking in this form of violent protest those with muted voices don’t realize the harm they bring upon themselves and others like them. Rioting is a temporary fix for releasing anger and frustration caused by the injustices and failures of the system, but it does nothing to supply a long term remedy to the cancer within that system. It does however feed the cancer growing inside of those with muted voices; allowing bitterness, inferiority, and futility to set in their minds and hearts; eroding away at their hope. Hope for change, and hope that those with un-muted voices would stand up and use their voice to take a stand for the oppressed.
Rioting does little to help un-mute our voices to those possessing power and privilege. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. says this “The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves an emotional catharsis, that is surely followed by a sense of futility.” Al though Dr. King had an understanding of why people rioted, he was also well aware of the negative consequences of rioting. Like Dr.King I do not intend to condemn those who decide to riot. However, I do want us to consider the consequences; both the consequences of our silence,and that of the noise we choose to make. Justice, and solutions that lead to justice require diplomacy from all. Justice requires acknowledging that there is an issue of injustice that needs to be stopped, and in order to acknowledge that a greater conversation that addresses tough questions is needed. What is the message of those with muted voices, and how do we teach those with power & privilege to listen to those voices?
Thanks for helping me to understand the “why” behind the seemingly senseless. There must really have been a lot of un-said and un-heard things building up in Ferguson. I feel for those who had to take the immediate brunt of their ineffective emotional outburst in the loss of their business, cars, and homes. I also feel for those who have only served to cement and perpetuate harmful stereotypes leading to increased feelings of futility. I don’t think there is a sinful act that any of us commit that doesn’t rise out of our own frustration and burst out in an emotional moment leading to greater feelings of guilt and inadequacy. But I contend that the outburst is not cathartic (i.e., cleansing) but soiling. Indulging in any type of sinful outburst only dirties ourselves and desensitizes us to the value and needs of our neighbor. It is one thing to pitch a fit with your own stuff in your own room and quite another to do it in your brother or sister’s room.
I am thankful for those man and women of faith that have worked long and hard in Ferguson to bring the sides, the peoples, together. I am sure it could have been much worse without their prayers and their work of love. I feel sad for the futility that might have been put upon them by the carnival mood of those rioting.
Thinking about this tragic situation, and about my own life, I have to acknowledge that as the proverb made popular by John Adams in a very unpopular defense, “Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence…” To this I would add that feelings are dangerous (but necessary) things. So, what are we to do when our feelings run contrary to the facts? Are our feelings authentic enough to let the facts speak…even to our own hurt, or have our feelings become the oppressors of truth? I know families where the truth hides before the storm of feelings and nothing ever changes for the better. On the other hand, our text on negotiating suggests holding our peace while the other side vents and then go back to principled negotiating. But what if we are the ones venting, or instead of venting acting out our emotions, to the detriment of those around us?
May we be at least as responsive as King David was when confronted by the prophet Nathan, “You are that man!” (2 Samuel 12:7; Psalm 51) hopefully before others are hurt!
Reading your post reminded me of the proverb: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life (13:12).” As human beings created in the image of God and intended for relationship with him, we have an innate sense of justice and fairness. When justice is not equitable it is inherently unjust. When the hope of justice is deferred it naturally makes the heart sick. Sick with hopelessness, despair, anger, sadness, etc. How beautiful for justice to be rendered to those whose hearts have been broken over injustice- the tree of life is available to those with hearts sick over delayed justice, deferred hope.
Ashley, I had to immediately read your blog because the Ferguson incident has so affected me. I am so grateful for your perspective as I also believe that there is a desperate need to be heard from those whose voices are being muted and oppressed. But rioting seems so hurtful even if it grabs a nations attention. Thank you for saying so. I have listened intently to both sides of the Ferguson issue and it seems neither side has served justice well. This makes me sad and I can begin to feel hopeless about people from both sides of the racial equality and injustice process ever taking seats around an open table where true and lasting solutions could be found. It causes me to ask the questions, “Where can we begin to do this?” “Whose table will we sit at?” or “Who is willing to go first?” Thank you for your words of hope and for the reminder to stand up for anyone who feels muted!
Ashley, I appreciate your focused and poignant comments on the rioting from Ferguson and rioting in general. I have to admit that I cannot directly relate to the people in that community and how they feel. Obviously, the scenes on tv are ugly, and the focus on the loudest and most violent actors skews one’s opinion. I have had enough encounters with people to realize that if I actually met the people in Ferguson, I would find the vast majority of them good people, and this would no doubt greatly affect my view of things. You ended your blog with some questions. The only answers I can think of is to be willing to sincerely listen, be willing to stand for truth and justice with whoever is on that side, and be willing to speak the truth I see in love and humility. I agree that the rioting certainly is self-defeating and makes the ultimate goal more difficult rather than more attainable. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Ashley, thank you for clarification. If I get you right, rioting tells us that the unheard are experiencing injustice and unable to express that. I can see that and your article really made me think that those rioting must really be hurting and with a pain that has been built up over a century. So instead of being frustrated with rioting or judging we should look on how we have caused the rioting by being unjust to others or used our power and privilege in a way that pushed the unheard to commit the act of rioting. Again, Ashley, thank you.
I loved this part of you post the best:
Rioting does little to help un-mute our voices to those possessing power and privilege. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. says this “The limitation of riots, moral questions aside, is that they cannot win and their participants know it. Hence, rioting is not revolutionary but reactionary because it invites defeat. It involves an emotional catharsis, that is surely followed by a sense of futility.”
I think that is why I am so saddened to see rioting after racially charged circumstances such as these. The prejudiced among my social class and racial subset can continue in preconceived notions of the “inferiority” of those who riot when they see behavior that they prejudge to view as evidence of a lack of morality or sensibility. It is hard for those too removed from the position of the oppressed to see the rationale behind the irrationality.
Thank you, Ashley, for allowing that those who choose to riot may be choosing the only means of which they are capable, and thus, the “only available means” of communicating the outrage, frustration, despair, anger, and hatred that are both repressed individually and oppressed societally.
I believe that consequences of the silence are far greater, not only because it keeps “those with power & privilege” from hearing the voices, but because the pain of keeping silent, of enduring ever-greater oppression and exploitation and injustice and depersonalization…builds until there is a coalescing event, a proximal cause, or a “flashpoint” that allows the pent-up emotion to be released in such severe expressions. When that happens, the counterproductive violence merely reinforces prejudice against the community rioting, but also the voices that call for the continued repression and oppression of any expressions of the emotions through other channels.
Culturally, there are many sources through which the message is being delivered. But I don’t know of many North American Anglos who read Robert Greer novels, or follow Sam Tsang’s blog, or subscribe to news services compiling international perspectives on our world (and often quite interestingly on North America). But while the cultural representatives require some research to find, I find that it takes purposeful dismissal and negligence to ignore the local representatives of the diverse cultures in my area. The language they sometimes choose is violence. But in my experience, that has only erupted when their words, their shouts, and their pounding of the table have fallen upon deaf ears.
Raised around pacifists, I frequently note that I wish I could join their ranks. But, “The only thing worse than war is when your neighbor decides to go to war…and you don’t show up to tell him No.” With regard to the oppression and exploitation that routinely rob our neighbors of justice…to the extent that we continue to inflict casualties upon them, and refuse to listen to their more subtle “No?” Why should it surprise us that they feel it necessary to turn up the volume through destructive expressions of their position?