What am I doing here?

Today in Jena, LA. there was a march in support of 6 African-American high school students who are accused (actually one has been convicted) in the beating of a white student at their school. As this story has been all over news coverage today, I am choosing not to get into the details here. The reason I am bringing it up it, I wish I was there. As a history teacher, I am moved annually by several particular topics that I teach. One of these is the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 60's. I have always wished I could go back and have been one a white American who demonstrated in support of the equal (or consistent) application of the Constitution to all citizens. I guess I figure that if I am who I claim to be, I would have jumped right up without the benefit of hindsight to tell me that the movement would become both successful and beneficial. It seems though that there are not many opportunities quite like that today. Hopefully that is because the country has become more consistent. Nonetheless, I would have loved to march today. The circumstances of this make me both angry and sad. I am angry that there seems to be such inequality in our nation today. I am sad because of my lack of action. I want to not just commemorate history as a teacher. I want to be active in changing it for the future. I think that opportunities for me are presented on a less substantial, though no less significant level. I got an email from a former student today that was a great picture of just such an opportunity. This young lady, a Christian, is a sophomore and voluntarily rooming with 2 Muslim women at the University of Miami (FL). It is currently Ramadan, and her roommates are expected to fast. She has made the decision to join them in fasting for the month. This involves her getting up to eat breakfast before the sunrise every morning. No doubt this is going a long way to shape what these other women think of Christians. It also will enhance her understanding of Islam and her friends. If Christians were to engage the unbelieveing world in this way...I know that opportunities such as this must be all around me. It is nice to learn from a student. It is not the first time, and I doubt it will be the last.