Maybe football, and church, can unite us


In 1990 an organization called Promise Keepers became very popular. It filled football stadiums with men throughout the United States. The goal was racial reconciliation and to make men accountable to God, their wives and communities. It was religious, started up by a college football coach, Bill McCartney, and the religious views were based on a conservative theology with a traditional Biblical understanding.

The movement was limited to a faith-based understanding which unfortunately also is seen in the political world with all the divineness we see today. Now, coming together and attempting to enjoy a football game has become about "us against them."

Perhaps this culture is past a time when issues of race can be even talked about with mutual respect. But at one time in our country the black race was restricted from even basic equality under the law, and bathrooms and schools were divided by race. At that time our leaders used a plea to our better angels: God and love of country to promote equality for all of us. Massive change happened with so much more opposition, and change occurred in the North and the South, with the poor and the rich.

What would happen if every church, every synagogue and every mosque asked everyone in their membership to invite someone of a different race to come with them and worship together. Maybe after the service go home together and watch a football game.

Mick Sheldon, Kingston