The Culture of the "Close Mouthed"

Tonite I watched "60 Minutes" and there was a report about the rap culture ...this in light of the recent Don Imus/Rutgers issue and conflict and the Virginia Tech shootings. Why were the two connected? Researchers and Experts agree that whether it be rampant racism or the rantings of someone screaming for help at another horrific level, there are those around who hear or know about both, and choose to do nothing. This means they don't speak up, they don't notify anyone--whether it be anonymously or not.

What was interesting was the "new morality" that our youth is learning from the music culture, be it rap, or my guess is any other "cool/hip" type of tunes. This so called group of new leaders/hero's will not "snitch" and clearly let it be known that anyone who "follows them" or who is truly "cool", won't "snitch" either. It doesn't matter that someone is going to get hurt, or already has been....and that their being able to share that with a leader who can help could change the course of some terrible event. To them, that's not the issue at all...in fact, it doesn't factor into the decision. They are true mirror of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell...

It really saddened me, but it also reminded me that the great deceiver is really being successful with this. The TRUTH is that Jesus calls us to care for those around us, no matter what that means to us. Remember the Good Samaritan?...wow we have wandered so far... Jesus also said that everything hidden in the dark will be brought into the light...I know that His words will come true, everything he has said always has and always will. The question is, what are we doing to counteract that horrible, ridiculous "truth" that music and gang leaders are peddling...what are we doing individually, and corporately as a community? Every time we know something bad is going on with someone and that it could hurt them or others and we DON'T try to help, we are complicit in their hurtful or evil plans. Every time we choose to protect ourselves and not speak up for the protection of others we grow more and more deeply indebted to the evil one.

LORD, change our hearts, cause us to take back this "shadow morality" and expose it to the light. Let your light shine and change us, all of us from the inside out...LORD, so change us that the "new morality" is looking out for each other: and that's the only thing that is applauded! Please forgive us, have mercy on us and help us be more like you. AMEN!