Turning the other cheek

“But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."
Never has a truth so pure, so right, and so in line with fairness and respect to the working class been spoken.
What???? 
Surely John, nonviolence is fine, but we must stand up for ourselves and  for others!
Understand my brothers and sisters, the meaning of these words, spoken as part of the sermon on the mount. They should guide us in our work and in our lives.

In those times, the left hand was "unclean".  The right hand was used  to strike another, much as it is used now to shake hands.  To strike another on the right cheek was to use the backhand, something done to a servant or someone of a lower class. By standing your ground and offering the left cheek, you would be demanding respect, because the attacker could not use the backhand, and the palm of the hand against the face was a sign of equality.
So yes, it is nonviolence, but it also is a demand for respect.  It is what guided Dr King, Ghandi, and others. It is what must guide us.

Today I received an email from one of our nurses.  She tells of being afraid to speak freely in advocating for herself, her coworkers, and her patients, because of fear of retaliation from some bosses, and threats that she better keep negative comments to herself.
I wish I could say no one else has ever expressed this fear.
There are some good and fair bosses, and there are some toxic ones.

Both my nurses and management should understand this, we will stand with those who are fair and against those who are not.
It will take time and courage, but we must continue to stand our ground, demand respect, and turn the other cheek.