Stephen J. Matlock's Blog, page 35
August 17, 2016
When It Feels Like It’s Time to Give Up
I wrote this for a friend who’d reached a low spot in life, and thought I’d share with people who need to be reminded of their value. You can’t change the world all at once. You can change the world a little bit at a time, maybe by changing the people in it a little… Read More »
August 7, 2016
The American Church and American Racism: A Safe Place to Talk
Stay tuned for our open community discussion about race in America, specifically on the American church and how we have responded and what we can do to change our responses. This 13-week class will start on Wednesday nights in September, 2016 at the Snoqualmie Valley Alliance Church campus, and will run about 60-90 minutes each week. The… Read More »
July 14, 2016
Are White People Still Racist?
Recently an apparently sincere white guy in the PNW made the statement along the lines of “white people aren’t that racist anymore,” and used as an example how we in the PNW are much nicer to “those people.” I’ve changed … Continue reading →
July 11, 2016
To Be Enough: Rest and Restoration
As allies of our brothers and sisters, we might not always be on the front lines. It is not a struggle where we as allies should be at the front and in charge. It is a struggle where we amplify … Continue reading →
July 10, 2016
For People Who Have “Pro-Life” Words Without Pro-Life Deeds
Y’all are just yelling amongst yourselves. If you can’t figure out why black Americans don’t listen to you, it’s not because you aren’t yelling loud enough. Maybe stop shouting and shaming and screaming will help. Maybe asking black Americans will … Continue reading →
July 7, 2016
A Jury of One’s Peers
You may (or may have not) seen video circulating recently showing the last moments of black American men shot by American cops. Some of my friends think we should see them. Some of my friends think we should not. I … Continue reading →
July 4, 2016
Donald Trump Is Not the Problem: We Are the Problem
I do not think Trump supporters in general are stupid, or more simply, more stupid than others. I do think that the issue with people supporting Trump has nothing to do with stupidity, but with the willingness to dispense … Continue reading →
June 27, 2016
A Discussion About Race: Local Community Discussion in Fall City
There was an eloquent, impassioned, direct, and informed speech by Jesse Williams the other night at the BET Awards. I’ll quote here: “Peace. Peace. Thank you Debra. Thank you, Nate Parker. Thank you, Harry and Debbie Allen, for participating in that. Before we get into it, I just want to say I brought my parents Continue reading
June 4, 2016
Muhammad Ali 1942-2016
Ali was incomprehensible to me at the time. I was alive and aware when he changed his name and religion, and when he spoke against the United States’ foreign policy and wars. It was incomprehensible to me that any American would do anything but support the United States as-is, especially to the point where any Continue reading
May 30, 2016
Memorial Day 2016
Memorial Day is the official start of summer. Typically there’s a family and friends get-together, a barbecue, a game on the TV, and adult beverages. We have this freedom to celebrate this way because of the sacrifice of soldiers to the vision that is America. And so we do honor the fallen with our gratefulness Continue reading
