Risking Our Peace for the sake of Others by Kelley Barton

How many of us were taught to be polite, not rock the boat. I certainly was. “Don’t start anything. Don’t bring it up” and other messages were conveyed to me. In other words, keep the peace.

I was on vacation a few weeks ago, in Savannah, Georgia. I was waiting for a trolly to go around the historic downtown. While waiting with a few other tourist, one couple started talking about where they were from and how disgusted they were about the “paid protestors” in their town, demonstrating against ICE. As a few others expressed a similar opinion, I stayed silent. I kept the peace.

They eventually looked at me ask asked where I was from.

“No Comment” I replied.

“Why not?”, one of them asked.

At that moment I decided to risk my peace.

“Because if I tell you I am from California, I’m not sure what your reaction will be.”

One of them got a bit sheepish in his reply, realizing how his comments may have sat with me.

I didn’t tell them what I thought about their comments. They didn’t ask. The trolley arrived and we all got on.

It felt good to speak up just a bit, to risk my peace. I am not affected by ICE personally but so many others are. I care what happens to others. I was risking my peace because of them.

I later wondered if the jarring moment those tourists experienced, because of what I said, might give them pause next time? Maybe next time they might consider that not everyone standing around them has the same point of view as they do. Might they not someday move on to be more accepting of people with other views? Listen more. Care more.

That isn’t up to me. But what is up to me is if I choose to speak up. To risk my peace. I hope you are able to do the same. We may never know what the outcome is, but it is sure worth a try.

“If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise” Luke 19:40 (MSG)