Tonight I wrote a fairly long piece about politics. I premised it by saying that “I barely talk religion or politics here…” and then I went off… on certain things that have been happening on the political scene.
However, I thought better of it, and I pulled it. I quoted people like Aldous Huxley… saying “That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.” And others, like James Thurber… who comically noted… “Well, if I called the wrong number, why did you answer the phone?”
Nonetheless. I decided it would make too many people upset.
I will say this. Many of us think the way we think because that is how we were taught to think. We think the way our parents told us to…, or our teachers, or our churches. Products of our environment.
Recently, we had dinner with some friends. One of the people out that night, recounted that their grandfather was a proud member of the KKK, right here in Preble County, Ohio. And to this day, at family gatherings and such, the N word is still commonly heard. I just can’t imagine.
In fact, I never heard that word once… in our home… growing up.
Some of us were taught to accept others despite race or creed. Others of us were taught to fear them, or dislike them, because their ways were not our ways.
I am not suggesting one way is better than the other. We all just came from different places… different experiences.
However, I DO believe that all people are created equal. We are all members of the same Universal Spirit & Energy. I think that all life is sacred, to be loved and respected. That we should try our very best to practice compassion and harmony, in thought, and in word, and in deed.
And for all that is happening in the world, I can only say that I keep hoping for peace. No matter who we are, or where we come from.
The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it. — Chief Joseph