Friday, July 8, 2016

The Simple Answer To Our Racial Problems


Last year I took this picture of the sweet kids attending a splash party at
my next-door neighbor's house.  Different ages, girls and boys, from different
ethnic backgrounds.  All playing together.  All having fun.  

These kids, and kids like them all across our nation are the future.  It's up
to us to ensure that their future is a bright and a happy one.

Over the course of the last few days, we have watched in terror at the
events happening in our own beloved country.   We recently celebrated
the birthday of our nation with hot dogs and fireworks, parades and
family gatherings.  A joyful time of year.  Yet just a few days later
there was bloodshed.  People losing their lives because they are
different.  A tragic and unnecessary waste of precious human lives.



Here is a photo of some of the children in my classroom at Sacred Heart.
They were from a variety of nations and all skin colors were represented.  
I had forty-five children in my class.  All ranges of skin tone from the very
fairest of blondes to the very dark skinned and brunette haired.  Different
religions were represented too.  Christian, Muslim, Hindu and others.
The common denominator was that we were all one classroom.  We
studied, played and worked together.  Oh sure, there were the typical
childhood issues and squabbles, but it was not about race.  We were a
team with a common goal.  That is what I taught them.  



The kids from my classroom are all adults now.  Those kids at the party
are still young with their whole lives ahead of them.  What I pray for is
that all children, adults and the elderly everywhere live in peace.  In our
current climate, that seems like an impossible goal.  However, I do 
believe that there is one very easy way to reach that goal and it is to
follow ....

The Golden Rule 
Treat others as you wish to be treated.

Perhaps that may sound too simplistic.  Shouldn't there be 
discussions and focus groups working to find a way for peace?
How could something be so easy?  I think it can be easy.  If each of
us were to consider the implications of our actions and treat each
other the way we ourselves would like, harm would cease.

Simplicity should never be underestimated.  In science for example,
the principle of Occam's Razor is often used.  This principle states
that ~ one should not make more assumptions than the minimum
needed.  

My Lord and Savior told us to do this.  But one does not have to
be a Christian to follow this rule.  It is taught in many other faiths
too.



We can put this rule into play and start living our lives in peace, or we can
choose to ignore this rule and continue living in chaos, terror and tragedy.
The choice is ours. 

May God Bless America and bring an end to this needless bloodshed.

Love,
Susan and Bentley









19 comments:

  1. Treat others as you wish to be treated. So simple. I just don't get it.
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes - always a great Golden Rule!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I guess I don't believe that life is that simple...we become a nation who has swayed too far from their roots. People are angry, of all walks of life. I don't believe we will connect until the government stops promoting divisive, hateful tactics, that our problems won't be solved. I do try to treat others with respect, but respect has to be both ways. I pray for our country.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry, but I disagree. None of the above scripture said to only do that if the other person does it also. It doesn't help to blame a nebulous political beliefs. Start with yourself. Put love in your own heart...or "be the change you want to see" If we all did that and gave up the desire to blame others, we would see immediate results!

      We are all responsible for only our OWN behavior. Each one REACH one-Each on TEACH one.


      LOVE

      Delete
    2. We vote in people who we expect to lead and are disappointed when they don't. I don't think the golden rule suggests that we Approve everything others do. I agree with Cathy.

      Delete
    3. I know both Cathy and DownTheLaneWithDaisy are probably loving and unbiased people.
      Love have nothing to do with approval. It has everything to do with accepting people as they are and loving them anyway...black, white, gay, old, young wealthy, poor and any other thing that divides people who don't have everything in common with others.

      1 John 4:21

      20. If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

      Don't depend on other humans. They will undoubtedly let you down at some point. Lets focus on the good, the light instead of darkness.

      WE REALLY NEED TO PUT OUR SCRIPTURE WHERE OUR MOUTH IS. (and yes, we are all brothers and sisters)

      LOVE YOU ALL!! :-D

      Delete
  4. The Golden Rule is so simple, but powerful! If only everyone believed in the Golden Rule.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I so agree...we were raised by the Golden Rule. And raised our children as well. When our son was a little boy, the first child of color moved into our little town of 4000. He came to us one day and said "Bobby looks different to me." We thought perfect time to discuss differences and tolerance. We asked why he thought Bobby looks different...his response "Bobby has white socks and mine are blue". If only people could keep that mind set through life. But life is not that simple. Of course there is zero tolerance for violence. On anyone's part. But we also need to realize not all children are brought up in homes with families that have tools and money and backing to raise their children in ways where they can openly view the world. It is a huge problem and finding the answers are more than tough. I pray all these weeks of heartache we've witnessed can bring some answers...our country and our world is so broken...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I so agree...we were raised by the Golden Rule. And raised our children as well. When our son was a little boy, the first child of color moved into our little town of 4000. He came to us one day and said "Bobby looks different to me." We thought perfect time to discuss differences and tolerance. We asked why he thought Bobby looks different...his response "Bobby has white socks and mine are blue". If only people could keep that mind set through life. But life is not that simple. Of course there is zero tolerance for violence. On anyone's part. But we also need to realize not all children are brought up in homes with families that have tools and money and backing to raise their children in ways where they can openly view the world. It is a huge problem and finding the answers are more than tough. I pray all these weeks of heartache we've witnessed can bring some answers...our country and our world is so broken...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sandy!
      Yes, we agree! I want to also add that it is not only children who are underprivileged who are raised with skewed thinking. I remember when I first moved South from the Northeast.
      Years ago I was telling some of my students who knew my daughters that I was sending her back to visit with her twin friends back home for her birthday. I told them how they were called triplets because they all were so close. The students thought that was great until they learned the twins were a different race than us. Their mouths literally dropped open and they couldn't speak.

      I wonder what God is thinking about the way we are thinking and behaving. I believe we don't have to be this way. It is up to us to live as we were created to be. I am praying for EVERYONE. Man's inhumanity to man...shaking my head in sadness.

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. You are so welcome. I hope it spoke to your heart. :-D

      Delete
  8. What a great message. Everybody should hold this message in their heart. Thanks Susan..

    ReplyDelete
  9. Susan I read to kids in a predominately Black and Hispanic neighborhood. We were talking about race one day and I asked them what color was I? They all answered white. I had a book on my lap with a big white streak on it. I held it up to my face and asked if I was that color? They told me no. They asked me what color I told people I was and I said if asked I tell them I am pink. We went through each shade of everyone there and laughed. I then explained that underneath all the different colors we were all the same and color should never come into anything. I told them the only thing that should be separated by color is laundry. Not sure they got that because they don't do laundry - 3rd graders - but I know they understood the other thing we spoke about. I worry about the future of this country.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hola, Todos somos diferentes y merecemos respeto y sobre todo lo que Dios nos enseña"Amaos los unos a los otros así como yo les he amado: Bendiciones desde Costa Rica...un país que ama y proteje la Paz...pero no estamos exentos de esto...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He estado en Costa Rica y una cosa que siempre recordaré. No tienen militar y viven en tal armonía.

      I have visited Costa Rica and one thing I will always remember. They have no military and live in such harmony.

      Delete

Oliver and I LOVE and read every comment.

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