For my Woke Folk

As a white, middle class gal married to a Jamaican immigrant with two tri-racial (Brazilian) daughters, living outside of the USA, I have a unique (sometimes confusing) perspective on some things. Perhaps you also don't feel like you really fit in anywhere either.

A current trend is to be "woke," which the urban dictionary says, "Although an incorrect tense of awake, a reference to how people should be aware in current affairs." I also see a trend towards social justice, and so for those who want to help, but just aren't sure how, here are two important things to know THIS WEEK:

June 19th is a holiday. Maybe not your holiday--but Juneteenth is an important part of our history, and one I just learned about recently. You don't have to celebrate it, but you should know about it!

June 20th is World Refugee Day: it doesn't matter what politics you hold: if you want to be like Jesus, you love your neighbor: and Jesus said our neighbor is the one who isn't like us (and in his example--beat up and from another country--sounds like a refugee to me). 

I know people seeking asylum on our boarders is a hot button topic right now, especially with the separation of children in the past six months. One political side said it was done under Obama too, is just enforcing the law, and was over exaggerated (like the picture of kids in cages). The other side said how awful this was and the right was using scripture to justify it. I see the validity of most all of these arguments from both sides.

But it doesn't matter if WRONG was done under what president: wrong is wrong. It doesn't matter if we are just hearing about it--WHEN we hear about it and do nothing--WE ARE WRONG.

I am not there in the USA, and I might be missing something, but what is happening needs to be changed. I do not know the solutions (although some were mentioned here), but the system is broken, and enforcing the law is enforcing a broken system which the CHILDREN pay for. Don't use scripture, and don't just say you are enforcing the law. On the other end: don't whine about the president and the broken system (which has been broken for many, many years). Foster care, volunteer for non-profits who are making a difference, put your money where your mouth is.

Here is an excellent article about what you can do and what is happening: please read it with an open heart. Below is a video I made about refugees with my friend Em Bricker. Let's make a difference instead of getting angry or staying silent: