Westminster United Church

Imagine that you and a group of friends have been playing a game of Monopoly for a while, each of you buying properties, houses, and even hotels until all the properties have been purchased. The door opens, and a friend, who happens to be Black, arrives and asks if he can play. “Sure,” you respond. Pull up a chair. It can be your turn.” Your friend joins but quickly realizes he has few options except to pay rent or go to jail and asks if it might be possible to share some of the property. “Unfortunately,” you respond, “It has all been purchased.”

In Luke 10 after having been told that the highest law is to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind and your neighbour as yourself, a legal expert, wanting to justify himself (we are told) asked, “Who is my neighbour?” Is it the entrepreneurs with whom you have been playing Monopoly, who share the same privileges and opportunities you have or does it encompass others, who have not had similar opportunities—those who may have experienced red lining and lack of ability to obtain mortgages, or housing covenants restricting where they can live, or even restrictions as to where they may attend school (if they are able to at all)? In other words, those who have lived too long with a very uneven playing field are not necessarily welcome or able to participate on equal terms without some empathic assistance. After Jesus told what we know as the parable of the Good Samaritan, the lawyer responded to his question that the neighbour was the one who exuded mercy. He was commanded, as we are, to “go and do likewise.”

Having mercy on those who are vulnerable was the request of bishop Marianne Budde who preached at the traditional US National Prayer Service on January 21, mercy on those who are scared, the LGBTQ+, farm workers, and service providers, labourers, and members of our churches, mosques, and temples. In response, Trump has formally asked for an apology: does he expect God to apologize, too?

It is not “woke” (as Vance proclaimed) to cite the Bible and to call for Christians (Trump claims to be one) to “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with god” (Micah 6:8). It is not “woke” to call for the continuation of civil rights litigations that have been filed, to support the reform of police agencies that have been found to disproportionately target Black, Brown, and other people of colour. It is not “woke” to support the presence of qualified transgender people in the military, to care for refugee families, or for disadvantaged communities by providing infrastructure that offers clean water.

Trump has also targeted what has come to be known as DEI, cancelling all such initiatives and firing DEI employees. DEI comprises three words—diversity, equity, and inclusion. Diversity is not something one can cancel. It is part of the rich and vibrant fabric of the world God has given us. It is not in itself a problem. Look around and appreciate the diversity of size, colour, ability, language, and so on in our communities. What is a problem is the disparity that has often emerged from diversity as societal norms have often marginalized, even oppressed, those who are in some way different from the dominant culture.

Since 1982, with the passing of the Multiculturalism Act, equity and inclusion have been part of our Canadian cultural identity as Canadians have tried to promote the heritage of Canadians and overcome barriers to full participation in society. This is all threatened with the loud and concerning language and policies coming from our southern neighbour (only a few of which have been mentioned here). Yes, we even use the word neighbour here. Moreover, because of our proximity, what happens in the United States ultimately (and sometimes very quickly) affects what happens in Canada.

We must take a stand. As Christians, we are called to show mercy towards the vulnerable. We need to understand that for some, the playing field has never been level. Some, may never even have had boots and so were unable to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.” Discrimination has happened here too—think of the Komagata Maru, Japanese internment, the disgraceful treatment of our Indigenous peoples, and many other examples. It is appropriate to condemn actions and statements with which we disagree, but we cannot be smug because our playing field is also still uneven and unequal.

Even as we shudder at much of the news coming from the United States, much of it antithetical to what Christianity teaches, it behoves us to remember that from sea to sea we are one nation under God, a God who created and loves us all, a God who calls us to live in hope and faith as we show absolute regard for each member of God’s familyfor they are our neighbours.

*Carolyn M. Shields, PhD from the University of Saskatchewan, is a professor emerita from Wayne State University where she taught educational leadership with an emphasis on equity and justice. She now enjoys travel in general, reading, and spending time with her sons, grandchildren and two great granddaughters. Despite having retired, she remains active in terms of writing, expanding her repertoire of hundreds of articles and numerous books for which she has received national and international awards including an honorary doctorate from the University of Laval.