TRACKS: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Terrorism was not a word that frequented my vocabulary in the spring of 1995. But on April 19th of that year, in the city in which I am speaking tonight, terrorism thundered its way into our attention and forced itself into our public vocabulary.

I remember the day well. Stunned by the loss of life and property when the Federal Building in Oklahoma City exploded, I received a call from one of our church members—Wayne Bushnell—requesting that I come to his office and, via a video-hookup, offer a prayer for grieving employees of his business in Oklahoma City and Monroe. Friends and relatives were dead or missing.

First reports of the tragedy placed blame on a person of Middle Eastern descent. “A Muslim!” people quickly concluded. As it turned out though, the perpetrator of the terror was an American Christian convinced that he was doing the will of God by attacking our government.

I have been to the memorial site of that tragedy several times during the intervening years. Each time I shudder to think of the causes behind this horrible act—causes that transcend race, religion, skin color, and politics. Terror is a tangible result of irrational anger and religion blasphemed and prostituted to serve deadly purposes.

This current trip involves 5 interviews (television, newspapers, and radio stations) as well as public presentations. Over and over I am listening to people talk about the outbreak of a new plague of irrational anger. Ironically, my speech tonight on distinguishing between civil law and religious morality in handling controversial issues with civility—respect, civil dialogue, and cooperation—must be protected by security forces. A leading Oklahoma State Senator like others on the panel that will respond to my remarks this evening fear for their safety.

If the word “terror” causes you to think immediately of residents of the Middle East or devotees of Islam, please be done with the stereotypes driving that image. Yes, there are terrorists from that part of the world and in that religion. But, terrorism stalks the streets of our cities as well in every part of this country. Radical Christians also play god.

We have a government that is paying close attention to threats from outside us. We best pay better attention to threats among us. As a case in point, witness members on both sides of the aisle on the floor of the United States House of Representatives this past Sunday evening. The anger that is boiling among citizens and that some opportunistic, irresponsible leaders are fueling is an anger that has the potential to erode our democracy and to destroy innocent people. God forbid!

Prayer

O God, calm us down. Douse the flames of our prejudices with spiritual water. Enable us to take a deep breath and think clearly. Fill us with vision of a way toward quieter conversations, honest searches for common ground, and a nation in which liberty and justice prevail for all people in our streets as well as in our songs. Amen.