Those were the infamous words spoken by Rodney King during the Los Angeles riots of 1992. Here is the actually statement that he made on TV to appeal to for calm in the streets of LA.
People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along? Can we get along? Can we stop making it, making it horrible for the older people and the kids?…It’s just not right. It’s not right. It’s not, it’s not going to change anything. We’ll, we’ll get our justice….Please, we can get along here. We all can get along. I mean, we’re all stuck here for a while. Let’s try to work it out. Let’s try to beat it. Let’s try to beat it. Let’s try to work it out.
I believe that no truer words were spoken and that it is definitely something we need to hear today. This past election cycle went on way too long as it was, but it sure seems that people have forgotten that it is over with. Our new President was sworn into office on Tuesday, and even redone on Wednesday just to make sure. However, some people are still campaigning against him.
I know during the past 8 years that a lot of people said some very unkind things about President George W. Bush and that people “on the other side”, which is a stupid statement in my opinion, did a lot of celebrating his departure from office. But does that give us the right to do the same thing back? I am a Christ-follower and the Bible tells me in Matthew 7:12, which is commonly known as “The Golden Rule”.
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
It doesn’t say, “well they bashed my President, so I can bash theirs.” Or as my kids say, “but she/he did it to me!” No, it says that we treat people the way that we want them to treat us. It is time for us as Christ-followers to put those childish ways behind us.
So I would expect that as Christ-followers that we should be the example of this. We should be leading the way in saying how we are in deep prayer for our new President and that we support him. Am I saying that we have to agree with everything he does or says? No. We are more than welcome to voice or dissent to his positions on issues, but look at what you are doing more of. Are you showing more dissent and not showing enough that you are praying for him?
Sadly, I do not hear many people saying that. That is until you finally ask them if they are. We shouldn’t even have to be asked if we are praying for our leaders. Check out 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
That brings up another interesting thought. Have you thanked God that he gave us President Barack Obama?
We are to behave this way because God wants us to live peaceful lives and by doing this He knows that people will be saved. So think about that the next time you decide to say something really negative about our President or any leader. Is what you are saying or praying going to help lead people to Christ and bring peace to your life or will it not?
I know that during the years that President Clinton was our President that I did not live a peaceful life or do what I could by my actions and speech towards him help lead people into salvation. I am saddened by that, but I will not let it happen in my life again.
If you cannot find anything to be grateful about President Obama then think about how cool it is that part of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Dream” has been achieved. I know that I am very proud that our nation has finally elected our nation’s first African-American President and look forward to seeing our first Hispanic, Asian-American, Indian, etc. President.
Just to put all of this into a little more perspective I would like to end this post with some of the words from the letter that Jenna & Barbara Bush left for Malia & Sasha Obama.
And finally, although it’s an honor and full of so many extraordinary opportunities, it isn’t always easy being a member of the club you are about to join. Our dad, like yours, is a man of great integrity and love; a man who always put us first. We still see him now as we did when we were seven: as our loving daddy. Our Dad, who read to us nightly, taught us how to score tedious baseball games. He is our father, not the sketch in a paper or part of a skit on TV. Many people will think they know him, but they have no idea how he felt the day you were born, the pride he felt on your first day of school, or how much you both love being his daughters. So here is our most important piece of advice: remember who your dad really is.
When You want to say something about him. Think about the fact that he is a dad, who loves his kids and his wife with his whole heart. And he is doing his best just like I believe President Bush did his best.
