Misusing a Murder: Remember Mollie!

Blessed are they who mourn . . . . Blessed are the merciful . . . .

After University of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts’ body was found buried beneath cornstalks in an Iowa field, the Mexican national man who confessed to murdering her was said to be in the country illegally, working on a farm. An immigration detainer was placed on him. The company owning the farm at first said it had used the federal E-Verify to check on its employee.

         Some national statements turned immediately to the dangers of illegal Mexican aliens. A state leader asked how a broken immigration system could allow a predator to live in “our community.” A local announcer warned U. of Iowa students to be alert and fearful of “others” out there.

        However, Mollie’s aunt, Billie Jo Calderwood, posted this: “Please remember, evil comes in EVERY color. Our family has been blessed to be surrounded by love, friendship and support throughout this entire ordeal by friends for all different nations and races. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

Respect! Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, was a Gospel woman for generations of men and women. Cradled in her church in Detroit, she never left it, but rather carried it with her all over the world. She sang "Precious Lord" at Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral 50 years ago in 1968. Her music and her dedication supported the civil rights movement right through to her singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" at President Obama's inauguration in 2009. Amazing! "Respect" was her anthem. Amazing woman. Amazing Gospel Grace!

P.S. I googled the Queen of Soul singing "America" at President Obama's Inauguration.  Just to listen to her and to watch the crowd listening to her was wonderful.  To watch President Obama watch and listen to her and be inspired by her inspired me again.  Then I scrolled down briefly to see the comments.  This was all within a few hours of her death. They were all in gratitude.  Except one. What?  One by Donald J. Trump: "Gotta Thumbs down on this one."  I don't tweet things to or about Trump, but this time I did reply to his tweet. I wrote: "Thumbs down on America? Thumbs down on music? Thumbs down on Freedom? "Don't gotta!"

I know even more today how much we need Aretha, and Martin Luther King Jr., and President Obama.

I know how much we need the Gospel.  I know how much we need to sing.  All of us.