TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021, YEAR-END REFLECTIONS - PART II

 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021 YEAR-END REFLECTIONS

HATRED

If Hate was a stock (and if I had money to invest), I’d be putting all my money into it.  Hate seems to be on the rise.  

The year started with a riot on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.  It seems as if the riot/attack was to overthrow the government.  To me - that still sounds impossible.  Are we (United States) some backward third world country where a coup d'état would throw the existing government out and set up another government favored by the rioters?

Wikipedia says:

“On January 6, 2021, a mob of supporters of President Donald Trump attacked the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. They sought to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election by disrupting the joint session of Congress assembled to count electoral votes that would formalize then-President-elect Joe Biden's victory. The Capitol Complex was locked down and lawmakers and staff were evacuated, while rioters assaulted law enforcement officers, vandalized property, and occupied the building for several hours. Five people died either shortly before, during, or following the event: one was shot by Capitol Police, another died of a drug overdose, and three died of natural causes. Many people were injured, including 138 police officers. Four officers who responded to the attack died by suicide within seven months.”

That isn’t the United States I know and grew up with.  Yes, elections can be long and bitter.  Mudslinging, innuendo, charges, and outright lies (or “fake news”) happen (unfortunately).  I tend to be non-political - and really want cooperation, honesty, and effective government.  I found the framers of the Constitution to have been astute, with three separate units, executive, legislative, and judicial branches - with appropriate checks and balances.  

Yes, we can be upset over elections, we can be upset when our favorite football team loses on a bad referee call.  Stuff happens folks.  Stuff that we don’t agree with.  While it might seem “forever”, wait two years for a new congress, wait four years for a new Presidential election.  (Or we can be like the Detroit Lions who have never played in a Super Bowl - “someday this will change - maybe in 200 years???)

We have allowed ourselves to become polarized.  We listen to political broadcasts (technically ‘entertainment’) that lambasts one side and blesses the other side.  (One such media once used the terms “fair and balanced”).  

Go ahead and hate your neighbor

Go ahead and cheat a friend

Do it in the name of Heaven

You can justify it in the end

(Part of the refrain from “One Tin Soldier” song from the 1960s)

*****

Of course, that wasn’t the only hatred in 2021, but it sure set the tone.  

The following is from 2019, but I think the data is sound.

“More than half of 2019 US hate crimes were motivated by race, ethnicity, or ancestry

In 2019, the FBI received reports of 7,314 hate crime incidents. The vast majority of hate crimes reported to the FBI are dubbed “single-bias” incidents which are believed to involve one bias. Of those, in 2019, 57.6 percent were motivated by race/ethnicity/ancestry bias. 20.1 percent were motivated by religion, 16.7 percent by sexual orientation, 2.7 percent by gender identity, 2 percent by disability, and 0.9 percent by gender.”

The same article suggests that there might really be close to 200,000 hate crimes.  It seems that a lot of hate crimes are not reported.  

*****

For Hate is Strong and Mocks the Song of Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men

****

Well, with all the hatred, hate crimes, maybe we need a cheer-up:

******

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard.  As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy “Mister,” he said, “I want to buy one of your puppies.”

“Well,” said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, “These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.”

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. “I’ve got 89 cents. Is that enough at least to take a look?”

“Sure,” said the farmer. And with that, he let out a whistle. “Here, Dolly!” he called.

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain-link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

Slowly another little fur ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp, it slid. Then the little pup began awkwardly wobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up. “I want that one,” the little boy said, quickly pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down at the boy’s side and said, “Son, you don’t want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you as these other dogs would.”

With that, the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.  Looking back up at the farmer, he said, “You see, sir, I don’t run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.”

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.

“How much?” asked the little boy.  “No charge,” answered the farmer, “There’s no charge for love and understanding.”

Like that special puppy, the world is full of people who need someone who understands.  

*****

More tomorrow!!!

LOVE WINS!!!

*****

Karen