Easter, Passover, Ramadan... and Jackie Robinson

This year, the celebrations of three major religions coincide with a special day in baseball history. Easter, Passover, and Ramadan are all being celebrated this weekend. We’re preparing for the Passover seder, the first in 3 years to include additional family, and the first in 5+ years with all of our sons (visiting) at home. We’re also watching the Mets home opener, with all the players wearing #42 in memory of Jackie Robinson, who first played for the Brooklyn Dodgers 75 years ago today.

So today’s a big day. Full of the promise of religious contributions, with spring in the cloudless sky, the beginning-of-the-season optimism of baseball fans everywhere, and the (sloooow) lowering of racial barriers.

Yet, as I prepare additional topics and readings for the Seder tonight, weighty concerns are bringing me down: the onslaught of war in the Ukraine, unrest on the Temple Mount (or Haram al-Sharif) in Jerusalem, and the continuing impacts of racism on Black Americans.

Why is it so hard for people to celebrate differences and benefit from them, to encourage others live in peace? I recently read The Sum of Us, by Heather McGhee, who argues for the Solidarity Dividend, as she calls it – the “gains that come when people come together across race, to accomplish what we simply can’t do on our own.” If she’s right – and I believe she is – then our society is literally impoverished by continuing barriers.

During the era of Covid, and after the murder of George Floyd, our sons were all at home, and we learned together about historical and continuing barriers particularly for Black Americans. In fact, there are barriers for all those who “differ” from the "stereotypical" Christian White heterosexual fully-able male… who comprise perhaps 20% of the American populace. As I’ve said repeatedly to our sons and many others, we are all obligated to “bring about change in our tiny little corners of the world.” Change can only come about when those of us with the power of “majority” identities work concertedly to achieve it. (Philip Mix said it beautifully in this impassioned post.)

I wish #RamadanKareem, #HappyEaster, and #HappyPassover to everyone celebrating. And a beautiful weekend to those who are not. May we all soon know health, love, contentment, and peace. And celebrate both our differences and our common humanity.