Onedia in the Ozarks

Earlier this week I wrote (email) to the pastors of churches in Bull Shoals. I do not attend any of these churches nor any other. After memberships in various churches around the country for fifty years, I finally concluded that my faith was not strengthened by attending church. In fact open spiritual inquiry and knowledge seeking outside the tenants of each church was typically discouraged by the faithful with various levels of passion.  My spiritual journey was most successful when mapped outside the confines of these congregations. Finally, I understood that I was unlikely to experience spiritual growth in group practice. My faith and spiritual path is now comfortably solitary.

However, most people here tend to turn to the more mainstream for their spiritual practice. In short, they go to traditionally accepted Christian churches in town. So, the pastors have access through their sermons and their programs to a large part of our community.  Additionally, I do respect the work that can be accomplished by spiritual leaders and people of faith.  Often as in the case of Dr. King mountains can be moved. There is a big hulking metaphorical mountain in my community that continues to sadden me and to attack my spirit. So, I turned to these men of faith with a plea for their help in moving that mountain. I share my letter below and hope to share some positive outcomes in a future post.

February 25, 2009

Dear Pastors of Bull Shoals Churches,

I am writing to you about something that troubles me deeply. I hope that you will use your wisdom and your faith to address this issue beginning with your congregations. I am not a member of any of your churches but I am a person of faith. The issue that troubles me is not one of spiritual practice or faith tradition. It is one of simple kindness over hate, acceptance over prejudice, open arms over closed minds, friendly words over hateful words.

In the recent storm crisis I saw shinning acts by the people of our community. I admire and am proud of these acts. However, I am troubled to the extent that I am brought to tears as I continue to observe behavior and hear statements from people of the community that are mean, narrow, and hateful because they believe it is acceptable in our community to do so.

I continue to hear of incidents such as the following:

Hate speak and name calling ( using the most vile of labels) against both residents and visitors because of their color, religion, culture and place of origin.

Recently one of our residents was referred to as a half-breed oriental and others as Asian N. . . . .s

I hear gossip and unfounded rumors spread about individuals or businesses because someone does not like where they come from or their genetic and cultural heritage or simply because they offer something different.

I have seen businesses systematically harassed and made to feel so unwelcome that the owners are considering leaving the area.

Children are being taught to hate their president because of the color of his skin.

I realize that people have prejudices and that they have the right to their views. However, somewhere , somehow, someone must stand up and say that this type of thinking and behavior is NOT okay. Someone must wage war against hate and prejudice. I am a writer and I did write about this issue in the Beacon but my words are failing me in this letter.

However, my bottom line is that you are the spiritual leaders of our area and I call upon you to come together and take action to work against hate, prejudice and harassing behavior. Speak out against this behavior and have your churches speak out against this behavior. Let us heed the warning of Martin Niemöller because hate un-resisted grows and corrupts.

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

In hope I am,

Onedia Sylvest
Speak your mind even if your voice trembles……or your finger hesitates over the enter key!

Onedia