A True Thug Don’t Need a Cause to Riot…. Only an Opportunity….

Okay I’m at it again… In the current sermon series I am doing we are looking at the Seven Deadliest Sins…This week as I write or procrastinate writing my next sermon the subject on Anger as sin, I am watching the riots in Baltimore play on for all the world to see. Repeatedly said is “people are angry.” Being angry is a natural healthy human emotion and is a positive igniter for change. However rioting and looting is not.  The art of rioting and looting is just thugonomics 101. A true thug doesn't need a cause to engage in criminal behavior, they just need an opportunity. Whenever thugonomics can be played out on a national stage in front of the national media, that’s even better. My personally favorite was the Michael Jackson impersonator who seized the opportunity to dance in the street as cars were burning and stores were being robbed.  

What shocked me more is the lack of leadership. Baltimore is one of many examples where a totality of leadership has eroded to rock bottom. It is evident from the local elected leaders, to the State elected leaders, to the national elected leaders, no one single person displayed the character or attributes need for leadership in times of crises. We are totally screwed if something happens on a national level. It seems no one knew what to do or had the common sense to know what to do. We as a society have totally failed. We have failed in our political system by electing people not by leadership and decision making skills but by political party affiliation. It’s not a democrat republican thing, it’s a “who can lead us in times of chaos” thing. Our President who should be the most positive role model for any young person he had huge opportunity to say, “stop it.. this is not how we handle things..”  He was silent. The outgoing and incoming Attorney General, both positive role models whose voice would resonate with the young people, was silent. (Honestly this is not a bash these people time, just to say it was a huge missed opportunity and lack of true leadership ability.)

 Our school system has failed to educate. Our family structure is none existent. We have no moral or ethical compass. We excuse thuggish behavior but placing blame on race, economic status, or abuse of authority. In the church we have become so starved for attendance and acceptance, that we rather become political activist instead of preaching and living the gospel.  In the end it’s not about politics, it’s not about police brutality, it’s not about race or the struggles for the poor, it’s about being a good human being. It’s about being a decent person. It’s about pride and saying we are better than this.  It’s not about throwing rocks, lighting fires, looting, and acting like a thug. Violence just begets violence and empathy begets empathy. It’s it ironic that the gangs in Baltimore have united to kill law enforcement officers. (the same gangs that are credited to hundreds of black men being killed yearly)   

So where do we go from here mister smarting pants? Sounding like the ole fart I am becoming maybe we work on just trying to all be better human beings. This saddens me deeply that we don’t know for to behave a decent people. Maybe we begin to make a conscious effort to instill honestly, hard work, discipline, loyalty, compassion and empathy in the lives of the next generations. I personally blame participation trophies but that’s another day. Maybe we focus more on leadership skills and real qualifications when electing people, not just going with the D or R. Maybe we reward our children and grandchildren for their character and real accomplishments instead of just always adjusting the test. Maybe in the church we speak out against evil, even when it’s unpopular or not the cool thing to do. Maybe we need to stop blaming and start fixing.  Maybe we give our young people healthy ways to channel their anger for real change. And maybe just maybe we stop giving thugs excuses to act a fool for the whole world to see. On those rare occasions when they act a fool, we all need to react quickly; justly, unified and forcefully so the thugs are accountable for their actions. I know that’s a lot of maybe’s but don’t we have to start somewhere. Because a true thug doesn't need a cause to riot only an opportunity so as a society let’s stops producing thugs and start producing world changers…Thanks for listening as my therapist says this is good for me... Be nice to one anther..   Peace Out! Tommy