And how are the children?

On my very first day at St. Robert in 1999, I had the privilege of participating in a faculty retreat where I was introduced to the the traditional greeting of the Masai people of eastern Africa: And how are the children?  The response, All the children are well, means that peace and safety prevail and the priorities of protecting the young are well in place,

I was immediately inspired by the high societal value that the Masai place on their children's well-being, and this became a lens through which I have continued to view our culture through all these many years.

As the nation mourns the brutal murder of George Floyd and the violence against innocent citizens and police officers around the nation, discussions of racism and violence dominate the national conversation - and our children are watching and listening.  This is a pivotal moment in our shared humanity.  We have to get this right.  If we look at our response through the lens of our children's well-being, I believe we truly can rise from the detritus of this shameful time and become a people of honor in the sight of God.

I have shared some resources to help you start - and continue - these important conversations with your children.  We must acknowledge our shared responsibility to teach our children in developmentally sensitive ways that it's not okay to classify and characterize others in generic groups.  And, most fundamentally, we have a responsibility to explicitly teach them that whether our actions are performed by one against another or hidden in the actions of an angry mob, it's never, ever okay to be dismissive of another, to speak ugly words, or to harm or destroy; not thoughtlessly; not jokingly; not in the exercise of power or even the expression of pain.  It's never okay.  Period.

As a Catholic institution, we denounce violence in any form for any reason.  We honor the right to peaceful protests.  We believe in the dignity of all people.  We celebrate the glorious tapestry of human differences.  We acknowledge our responsibility to welcome and include all members of God's family at our table.  And we believe in the unlimited power of prayer.

But in the end, what will remain is the legacy of our actions.  Words are not enough.  What did we do?  What did you do?  This will be our legacy.

Guided by the gift of Right Judgement, I hold eternal hope that we can create a community where every person is received and loved as a child of God.  Then, peace will prevail.  And then, the children will be well.

For as you judge, so will you be judged,

and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.

Matthew 7:2