Because: Wrestling with Violence and Peacemaking: Reflections on Minneapolis and Kent State
In this poignant "Because" episode of the "To Be and Do" podcast Philip Amerson takes listeners through a raw and deeply personal reflection on violence, protest, and the necessity of compassionate dialogue in times of national turmoil. Centered around the tragic killing of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an ICU nurse in Minneapolis, Philip Amerson draws connections between recent events and historic moments of unrest, reminding us that history’s lessons are powerful guides.
Three Key Takeaways
1. The Tragedy of Unjust Violence and Its Chilling Familiarity
Philip Amerson opens by recounting the killing of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, emphasizing the senselessness and horror that surrounds the event. The choice to help others, as Pretti did, should never carry the risk of violence, yet this episode laments that “something about this is emotionally familiar.” The host links this sadness and outrage to his memories of the Kent State shootings, suggesting that our society remains haunted by cycles of violence against protest and compassionate action.
2. The Value of Loving, Difficult Conversations
A moving portion of the episode describes Philip Amerson’s late-night conversation with his father following Kent State. Though they didn’t persuade one another to change sides, it was the act of staying up, sharing vulnerability and grief, that mattered most. This reflection is a call for connection over confrontation—a plea for more “all night stay ups” to overcome what he calls “this new ice age” of alienation and divisiveness.
3. Hope in Peacemaking and Shared Humanity
The episode closes on a note of hope, drawing on the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be known as the children of God.” Citing theologian Walter Brueggemann, Philip Amerson sets an intention for the future: to seek peace, find common ground, and believe in the possibility of reconciliation, even as we acknowledge the depth of our losses.
Summary
Through personal memory and public tragedy, Philip Amerson weaves a narrative of heartbreak, empathy, and hope. This episode invites listeners to engage in difficult conversations, to recognize familiar patterns of injustice, and to recommit themselves to the work of peacemaking in everyday life. In times that seem frozen in conflict, faith in dialogue and humanity lights the way forward.
