A Tale of Three Speakers

Posted by Larry Miller on August 29, 2010 under Why | 2 Comments to Read

The speaker told us the story of slave trader John Newton and his encounter with the truth about the evil he had done, and about his redemption through the work of Jesus Christ. The sound of a bagpipe playing Newton’s song, and theme of his later life, Amazing Grace, drifted across the crowd. Finally, more than half a million voices were raised with the words that told of Newton’s life, the speaker’s life, my life and the lives of everyone that has found peace with God.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

The speaker was the much maligned and criticized Glenn Beck and the place was the area around the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. He promised a non-political event, and he delivered a non-political event… unless one considers such values as honor, patriotism, reverence, honesty and respect to the sole property of one political party. One may be further off the mark than the other, but neither party could qualify to be the keeper of these values. He purposely kept politicians from the stage. Sarah Palin spoke, not as the political leader she is, but as the concerned and proud mother of a soldier. Another mother spoke of the son, both she and our country tragically lost, and her work with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. For a brief moment we all felt a small portion of her pain and understood her efforts with this organization that helps the children left behind by these special people.

The program concluded it’s message of redemption and hope with Dave Roever whose life was almost destroyed when a phosphorous grenade exploded in his hand while fighting in the jungles of Vietnam. His face was grotesquely scarred for life. His message to veterans of this war that is ancient history to the younger generation was one of hope and appreciation… something he rightfully feels many need and have never received. As he concluded, people began to disburse in all directions. Those that could spent some time wandering through the various monuments to our brave service men and women who took on the hazardous task of defending our country. I enjoyed watching the many children on the mall, walking with their dads, or as whole families. They may not understand the experiences of the moment, yet as they grow older, many will look back on this special time in the nation’s capitol.

Unfortunately, this message of redemption and brotherhood was not the only one on the mall that day day. An audience of several hundred gathered at the far side of the Washington Monument, where the “real message” of Martin Luther King, Jr. was proclaimed. It was a message outlining the plight of the downtrodden and basically offered only the solution of more government programs and more redistribution of other people’s property to achieve a socialistic version of “justice”. The sad part of this thinking is that it pits one group of people against another. The message divides, rather than unites.

Across town, I saw news reports of a march led by Rev. Al Sharpton. The march was in response to his claim the Glenn Beck was hijacking the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sharpton first came on the national scene when he took up the case of Tawana Brawley who was supposedly assaulted by men should could not name and could not describe other than to say they were white. After a complete investigation, the whole story was found to be a hoax to keep the fifteen year old out of trouble for overstaying her curfew. The good Reverend’s explanation was that even though he knew the story had no merit was that he wanted to bring to light the fact that this kind of thing happened far too often with no appropriate action. Honor, and truthfulness, we heard at the Beck rally, does not do such things.

The point of Sharpton’s march was to let people know there was another view of the world than presented by the radio and television commentator. Apparently there is another view, different from the one that celebrates honor, honesty and love of country. In any case, criticism of the day’s events as being racially divided came from some who looked at the racial make up of the various audiences.

It is true that the audience at the Restoring Honor event was overwhelmingly white. However, I saw people from almost every race gathering, not to be sure God was on our side, but to be sure we were on His side. Sharpton’s followers and those at the other mall gathering were even more one sided, but in the other direction. If we are to look at reasons for this, we need to look at at least two sources, first is the formerly main stream media that repeatedly tells the unsuspecting masses that people like Beck and his followers are the reincarnation of the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan, if we look at its history, was formed as the terrorist wing of the Democrat Party  whose task was to suppress black voting during reconstruction. If there was any hate floating in the air, it was directed at Beck and his followers and not at the traditional “civil rights” leadership. The other reason is that Sharpton’s efforts were specifically designed to siphon off those who may join with the larger group to hear what Dr. King’s niece had to say about harmony and unity.

The critics conclusion was that America still has a long way to go, and they are right. However refusing to acknowledge that tremendous strides have been made since the bad old days is not helping anything. It recognizes no foundation to build upon. Refusing to take part in events organized by someone of another race is not going to heal the hurts from the past.

Just as the founders, when they could not come to agreement on our Constitution For the United States of America turned to prayer… not a two minute invocation… but hours of earnest, on-your-knees prayer to get the job done, we need to follow their example if we are to resolve issues such as this that tear us and our country apart. We need to do this individually and corporately. And, we need to remember, everyone is equal, and everyone is valued, at the foot of the cross.

Click here to see the entire rally.