Volume 9, Issue 19
The one fact upon which people of faith and most scientists of origin can agree is that Homo sapiens were created or evolved from a single mother. Christians refer to her as Eve. Many anthropologists refer to her as Lucy. But the salient point is that, at one time, the entirety of the human race was one small family.
The journey of mankind to develop into what are now called different races, inhabiting the four corners of the earth, is an academic study of societal evolution and sovereign state development. Humans first organized around chieftains providing leadership for tribes. As tribes migrated, ethnic dimensions took hold. As society became more productive in farming, distribution, and warehousing, city-states appeared as governing mechanisms. In defense of assets to maintain security, nation-states existed as a collection of cities. Military means of defense were then exploited to attack neighbors for goods and produce rather than share in each other’s abundance.
Eventual cultural and moral values entrenched in nations were not so disparate as they were different in priority. Economic systems emerged as a direct result of cultural values and environmental circumstances. Family values reflected religious, political, and economic systems. Even though areas of the world seem antithetical, they are closer in comparison to structure when taken from the long view of history.
Sovereign nations are critical to the equilibrium of societies living in peace upon the same earth. Laws and constitutions are particular to nationalities and mirror the priorities set on moral values. Borders are important and are to be respected. This is not to imply that there are not common moral principles that should be embraced by all nations in respect of brotherly love. However, it does mean that racial conflicts and sovereign conflicts are different.
When Black Lives Matter (BLM) claim connectivity to the Palestinians in the Middle East, the lines of racial tensions and government tensions are blurred. This is important in both understanding and pursuing solutions for racial conflicts. BLM does not claim sovereignty over land. They demand equal rights and opportunity under the same constitution as all Americans.
The citizens of Wausau, Wisconsin, recently struggled with a simple resolution meant to unite their county. It referenced that they were a “community for all.” It quickly devolved into a debate of critical race theory. A black member of the county board pleaded for passage. “I want to feel like I’m part of this community,” he said. A retired white police officer argued, “When we choose to isolate and elevate one group of people over another, that’s discrimination.” After one year, the resolution was defeated. People’s feelings are hurt. Individuals feel unappreciated. Racial divides have deepened.
As a species, we humans have forgotten and continue to deny that we are one blood, unified in purpose, commonality, and relationships for all people. Whether you believe in Eve or Lucy, we are all branches of one family. If every person would think of every other person as a distant cousin or relative, there would be less instinctive anger against those from a different tribe with whom one cohabitates. Some will say this is Pollyanna thinking, that we have gone too far down different paths, societally and ethically, to ever be united in respect from the basis of common existence. Amazing how facts can be distorted and twisted for the personal, selfish use of those who care only for themselves and their own security.
Distortion makes the fact no less relative.
Hamas this past few days struck Israel with over 3,000 missiles. They claim they are oppressed and disregarded as Arab citizens. The act of war directed against Israel was what they claim in desperation was their only option. The cycle of death and destruction is just that. The ebb and flow of ethnic and political conflict. The Palestinians claim sovereign rights over the same land that is the nation of Israel. Hamas does not recognize Israel’s right to exist.
A ceasefire was just announced today. Israel has completed its objectives to diminish Hamas’ capability to wage war. Most nations, including a majority of the members of the United Nations Security Council, stated that Israel has a right to defend herself. The crisis was allowed to play out to the logical conclusion. To much of the world, this is a political conflict.
Another place in the world where two sovereign nations claim authority over the same piece of land is in Oklahoma. Native American tribes are sovereign nations living inside the borders of the state. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in McGirt v. Oklahoma that Native American reservations were never disestablished. This now puts into question conflicting government authority over criminal law, taxation, and infrastructure in over two-thirds of the state. Yet there is no armed conflict.
Why? Because the citizens of Oklahoma are not divided spiritually or religiously.
In the Middle East, in addition to claiming the same land Hamas, as the dispossessed, declares Islam the one true religion. Controlling the Temple Mount is critical to the claim that the Israelites were never the chosen race.
Even though many treaties with Native Americans were broken, they are still willing to forgive in the spirit of brotherly love. Because of this forgiveness, in Oklahoma we still have a chance to recognize the fundamental belief that we all came from one God as one blood in unity as one family.
I believe in Eve. I believe that God created one blood for humanity. I believe that Jesus Christ purified the blood line by dying for all sins and realigning humanity in purpose with God the Father.
And [God] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to
dwell on the face of the earth… —Acts 17:26
In finding Eve, we find our common purpose among mankind for existence. Whether the conflict is racial, ethnic, cultural, or political, the concept of one mother yields the peaceful emotion that we’re all members of one family, no matter how different.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?