The Lesson Of Birmingham
Photo by Rojan Maharjan on Unsplash
The Power To Choose Life Over Death Is Ours
by Eric Elkin
“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.”
Birmingham, Alabama, was once the economic center of the South. In the early days of the industrial revolution, steel manufacturers discovered a gold mine in Birmingham. Well, not really a gold mine, more like a raw material bank with endless resources. The city is the only place in the world where iron ore, coal, and limestone can be found so close to each other.
The steel industry moved into town and set up shop. Jobs poured in almost overnight, leading many to call Birmingham the "Magic City." In 1900, before steel production came to town, the city's population was 38,000. By 1930, it had grown to almost 260,000 people.
1960 marked the turning point in Birmingham's prosperity. The city had long been one of the most segregated cities in the South. As the Civil Rights movement pressed for change, its civic leaders took a hardline and violent stance. They arrested Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who wrote a book about his experience. Four men bombed a church on a Sunday, killing four little girls.
Very few people can endure prolonged violence. White people fled the city, and large corporations found new places for their corporate offices. Today, Atlanta is the economic center of the South, and Birmingham is its Rust Belt. It's not that Atlanta was a less racist city. They were just not as violent in their response.
“Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”
The lesson of Birmingham is also visible in Vietnam. Recently, a colleague returned from a trip to the Asian nation. Her experiences of the country are hard for me to understand. When I was a child, Vietnam represented death. I watched the evening news report on death totals and prisoner-of-war counts. The conflicts were not limited to Asia. Angry American protestors fought with each other on city streets.
The war ended 50 years ago. Today, as my colleague described, Vietnam is the most capitalist Communist country in the world. She was mesmerized by the beautiful landscapes, fantastic food, and gracious hospitality. The only difference between her experience and mine was peace.
"See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity." It is the most demonstratively proven lesson in all of the Bible. You do not even have to believe in God to experience its truth. When people determine to live in peace, there is life and prosperity. Anger, hatred, and war only produce death and adversity. So what will we choose?
The political rhetoric continues to be toxic. Some leaders discuss separation, vengeance, power, and dominion over their neighbors. As this kind of talk ramps up, I want you to remember Birmingham, Alabama, and the lesson we can learn from it. God invites us to embrace humility, grace, compassion, forgiveness, and love. Or, we can choose to fight each other. One of these choices produces abundant life for all. I hope we will choose life.
Click to read Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Reflection Questions:
How can we choose love over hate?
What is more productive: hating evil or working for peace? Is there a difference?
When have you experienced a change from living in anger to living in peace?
How can you choose to be active in choosing life in your daily routine?
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