Members Lora-Ellen McKinney

Nov 4 2009: J Michaels - I am hopeful that you will participate in discussions about compassion that will open your heart to hearing about people who differ from. I am certain that you are a good person in many ways. But it is not your finest moment to disparage "poor African Americans engaged in their feckless procreation." You were actually describing the African continent. Certainly many in leadership in African countries have abused power. No excuses. Historical context, however. When massive numbers of people were removed for enslavement, huge swaths of land went fallow, resulting in today's famines. Lack of resources necessarily leads to in-fighting and resource grabs, to graft. America's IMF and World Bank policies, however well-meaning, created dependencies rather than building on strengths. And we took what we wanted. What is left is polluted waters, barren lands, warring factions, hurting people. Not feckless procreation. We and they require compassion to solve this.Let it start with you

Nov 4 2009: Thomas, thank you for recognizing that Rev. Forbes has a right to his views. He is a Baptist minister, a friend of MLK's, renown as a fiery preacher (who teaches other preachers how to preach).Most African Americans are religious. Those who are religous to be Baptist. It was against the law for slaves to gather independently, in religious gatherings, to read. Religious ideas were ideas worth spreading. On pain of death. Preachers, often those who could read, led > 300 insurrections. Following slavery, it was the free and autonomous choice of church - no one needed another overseer. To this day, the most respected position in the black community is the preacher. Today, they grow community in remarkable and creative ways.

As for this process - Karen Armstrong is a religion writer. The Compassion Charter asks all of us to bring our beliefs, religious or otherwise, to the practice of compassion. Compassion means hearing views and welcoming people we may not like or understand. Hard work