By now many of you have heard about the McKinney pool party melee that's exhausted the social and news media-merry-go-round. You've heard about the one police officer's misconduct and the accusations of racial discrimination. Many (too many) have been discussing this and shared their story with obvious bias for either the pool party attendees or former Police Cpl. Eric Casebolt (who resigned yesterday, May 9, 2015).
So, why am I adding to this story? I'm talking about this because I have yet to read or hear anyone share this story based on the precepts of God Almighty. As a Christian, I choose to see this entire incident and all involved, by the standards of God's holiness and righteousness.
But before I discuss the McKinney issue, I want to share that I'm Asian and therefore understand racial discrimination. I grew up in Virginia during the 70s where we still had some segregation, though the laws prohibited it (white neighborhoods, black neighborhoods, white schools, black schools, etc.). I still vividly remember being only five years old and having an adult white man (accompanied by 2 others) chanting, "Ching chong, ching chong, go back to Hong Kong". Then he lunged at me as if he were about to hit me, but he spit in my face instead and roared laughing as he walked away. Things like that happened often...too often, and it was always very disconcerting and extremely frightening.
Aretha was one of my dearest friends all through elementary and some of middle school. I practically lived at her house. She's black, I'm Asian, and we were nearly inseparable. I spent the night often, went on her paper routes with her, and even tagged along to dinners and other engagements with her extended family.
In middle school, I met some wonderful friends, both black and white and in particular, my sweet friend Stacey who I remained close to throughout our high school years.
During my elementary school years, I often wished Aretha's mom was my mother and actually, called her "Mama" because she mothered and loved me well. During my middle school and high school years I always wished Stacey's mom was my mother because she was so loving, attentive, understanding and kind. I always felt so safe and well-loved by these to precious women God put in my life. And though we could see our different races, it never affected the love we had for one another.
Some people say they don't see race. And I believe them...if they're blind. But if a sighted person tells me they don't see race, they're simply lying. We all see race. I see race, and you see race. However, to see race and to discriminate are two very different things. I know I'm Asian, I can see that. I know my husband of 23 years is white. I can see that. I know our children are mixed. I can see that. I recognize that I have friends of various races, but their race doesn't determine my relationship with them. Seeing the difference with my eyes doesn't make me a racists. Making a distinction in my heart is what makes me or anyone, a racist.
Though I'm now 46 years old, I still get discriminated against. Depending on where I am, I still get strange and unkind stares and sometimes ill-spoken words by those who not only see that I'm Asian, but make that distinction in their hearts. What do I do about it? I don't ignore it. I pray for them because their wicked behavior is evidence that they don't know any better...but I do.
As my darling husband puts it, though we can visually see different races, in God's sight, there are only two races, that is, only two kinds of people: those who are saved and those who are not. And because my Father's greatest concern is the condition of a person's heart and not the color of their skin, this is my greatest concern too.
There are many articles that tell portions of the story. Therefore, in order to help you get as much of the truth as possible, below are links to articles that include video footage as well as photos that will help us all see the bigger picture—the effects of human depravity.
[WFAA News] Backstory: What led up to McKinney incident
McKinney Pool Party Organizer, Tatyana Rhodes, Lawyers Up – Likely Trying To Avoid Civil Liability….
Who's responsible? Tatyana Rhodes is responsible for for lying about the party being a graduation/birthday party (her invitation says it was a #dimepiececookout), and for exploiting teenage girls and using them as sex objects for her "Dime Piece" parties where she usually charges a cover fee (the McKinney party was a free "Dime Piece" event that she organized in order to sell tickets and promote another one of her paid events). Tatyana's mother is responsible for aiding and abetting her daughter's madam-like business (I wonder if she pays taxes on this?). Former Police Cpl. Eric Casebolt is responsible for not doing his job—bringing peace and order to the community. His cursing, man-handling and abusive behavior towards children (possibly belligerent children) was inexcusable, immature and very unbecoming and unexpected of an officer of the law. The two white women who physically fought with Tatyana are responsible for not being mature and sensible enough to have simply left the pool and called the police rather than involve themselves in an altercation with an arrogant and immoral 20-year-old. The parents of all the teens who attended this party are responsible for not teaching/training their children well and for excusing behavior I hope, they wouldn't allow in their own homes. The children attending the party are responsible for forcibly entering a private neighborhood pool and disrespecting adults and the other children and families already at the pool. And lastly, the news media is responsible for their biased and poorly investigated reporting that turned an already exhausting situation into a bonfire of false accusations, gossip, outcry for purported but unsubstantiated racial discrimination, and the outlandish terrorist-like death threats targeting the police officer and neighbors of the Craig Ranch community.
Conclusion: Before I'm a woman, a wife, a mother, friend or Asian, I am a daughter of the Most High God. And because I am such, I'm held, like former Cpl. Casebolt is held, to a higher standard. Like Casebolt, I expect to be jeered at, cussed out, and mistreated in various ways whenever I intercede in a situation where emotions are high and rationale is low. Knowing this, the first action I take is to get on my knees and pray; to intercede in prayer for all involved, asking God to give me wisdom from above (James 3:17-18) so that I might do good and not harm to all people. The second action I take is to enter the situation with the peace and reasonableness I want others to emulate. Then whenever and wherever possible, I open my mouth, so that what's in my heart (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) may effortlessly flow out so that all who have ears, might hear, repent, and be saved.
Christians, let's not do what the world is doing. Let's not pick sides based on the color of someone's skin. But let us do what God Almighty has empowered us to do through Jesus Christ—sow God's peace with love, truth and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The McKinney pool party melee happened for the same reason why any painful and disconcerting incident happens; because we're all sinners in desperate need of eternal salvation, through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Pray for the salvation of all involved since we don't know who is or isn't saved. Pray for God's truth to be revealed and for His peace to reign in the hearts and minds of all who are responsible for this tragic event. And pray to see if God might use you to help bring His truth, grace and peace to the community of Craig Ranch, the McKinney Police Department, news media or anyone who needs a personal demonstration of what true love and honor looks like (John 15:13).
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