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Why can't we live together?
Originally appeared on spirituality.com
“Why Can’t We Live Together” was the title of a hit song by Timmy Thomas in 1972. The song’s title and lyrics ask a poignant question today for schools, communities, and nations as they struggle with mistrust, resentment, and deep-seated hatred.
So, why can’t we live together? It’s a question I ask myself most nights as I watch turmoil reported on the news. Recently, reports from Jena, Louisiana, on the “Jena 6” caught my attention. In brief, back in 2006 six black high school students were charged with attempted murder (later the charges were reduced) following a schoolyard fight with one white student.
But this was not the beginning of the story. A few months before the fight, a black student sat under a tree in the schoolyard where white students normally congregated. The following day, three nooses hung from the tree. School officials responded with a 3-day suspension for the white students who’d put up the nooses. These incidents only fueled the mounting racial tensions that had long been plaguing the community.
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