WHAT I LEARNED FROM LOS ANGELES: DON'T SPEAK UP, DON'T SPEAK OUT, DON'T TELL THE TRUTH
Arriving in Los Angeles in 1998 (actually a return to L.A., but this time as an adult with a purpose) (my family actually moved to Los Angeles in 1984 when I was a junior in high school), I was a transfer student from Calvin Seminary (Grand Rapids, MI) to Fuller Seminary (Pasadena).
This is a long story which I can't tell all now, but let me say this, in short: established adults in positions of "truth" made clear that truth was MUCH LESS of a concern to them than self-preservation. And today we are reaping the "fruits" (spoiled fruits) of their selfishness. This extends from persons at Fuller Seminary (Rich Mouw) to persons in the Pasadena city attorneys office (Hugh Halford) to persons in Los Angeles "justice" system (incl. Steven Cooley, Judge Yaffe, attorney David Senior) and back to the court in Pasadena (incl Judge Byrne & Steve Boysaw, among others).
And then, in the LAUSD there is Diane Lemus as well as Irma (both in the sub unit). There is Regina Echols and Marjorie Josaphat. At the school level there is Herb Rieger & Cynthia ---- @ Audobon MS (& DeWayne Davis) and at UTLA there is Kennon Raines, (there's also Roger Scott, Dave Kaz, Jose Govea, Harvey Sternheim, among others). There is also FOCH PENSIS & Kent Braithwaite at the CVUSD. And there is Kevin Slanderson & even Andy Kok, among others.
In one way or another these people (all older) made clear truth is less important to them than self-serving principles. And in the long run this will actually be self-defeating for them. Any time you place self-serving principles above truth & honor, despite temporarily gaining from such decisions & principles (or lack of), in the long run you are defeating yourself and the people you serve (or are supposed to be serving).
The Christian faith is ALL ABOUT PUTTING TRUTH BEFORE SELF. Its teaching that by putting others first, and truth first, in the long run you are serving the GREATER GOOD which also, paradoxically, serves yourself (even if you can't see that far in the future, its a "scientific law" , like gravity, that you must trust). But even if you are not Christian, the laws and codes that prevail in the above systems mentioned are supposed to uphold, to a certain extent, the same "scientific law" as is part of the Christian faith. However, this only works as far as those entrusted to maintain the integrity of the system do so. The problem is, they are NOT doing so.
They have "abandoned ship" so to speak, and it IS SINKING. YET, by placing themselves above truth they bought some time to stay on top, because this ship sinks ever so slowly; nonetheless, it is sinking, of that there is NO DOUBT.
My friends, you are SINKING. WE are sinking. And there is NOT much we can do unless some of the people mentioned above quickly & immediately change their ways (and that will NOT happen, guaranteed). Its a SAD TRUTH, an INCONVENIENT TRUTH, a TRAGIC TRUTH, but truth needs to be told.
This ship sinks slowly, so slowly. You have lots of time to kiss your loved ones goodbye, but then they are going down with you, with us. We're all on the same sinking ship, no lifeboats. The ONLY HOPE AT this point is eternal life in Christ. I'm putting all my chips on God: Father-Son-&-Holy Spirit.
Vander
