By Archbishop José H. Gomez
There are times when we can wonder about the state of our humanity.
The news of the day is filled with reports of violence and cruelty. In our political and media culture, people are often angry and rude, especially with those they disagree with. In daily life, it seems sometimes that our technology makes it easier for us to be indifferent to those around us.
When we think about these things, we can be tempted to wonder if something in us is changing, if, as a people, we are becoming cruder, more uncaring.
I don’t think so. Decency may be in decline, but it is not dead. Two recent events make me hopeful.
The first is the story of the young Dallas man, Brandt Jean. In an open courtroom, he embraced Amber Guyger, the woman who killed his brother, and said he forgave her.
It was a moment of grace and a beautiful Christian witness to the power of mercy and love. Even in his suffering and grief, this young man was seeking to bring this woman to Jesus, by his words and by his example.
He said to her: “I forgive you. I know if you go to God and ask him, he will forgive you. … I don’t even want you to go to jail. … I want the best for you … and the best would be to give your life to Christ. … Again, I love you as a person.”
The second story is closer to home, taking place in the subway station not far from our archdiocesan offices here in Koreatown.
Emily Zamourka is a refugee who came to America from Moldova when the Soviet Union fell in 1992. A singer and musician, she gave music lessons here in Los Angeles until her violin was stolen and her health began to fail several years ago.
She fell behind on her bills and, like so many in our city, she ended up homeless, living on the streets, singing for money in the subway.
She was on the subway platform, singing an opera aria, when a Los Angeles Police Department officer was moved by her voice and asked permission to record her.
The video he posted on the LAPD Twitter account went viral, and has been watched more than 1 million times.
4 million people call LA home. 4 million stories. 4 million voices…sometimes you just have to stop and listen to one, to hear something beautiful. pic.twitter.com/VzlmA0c6jX
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) September 27, 2019