Caleb and Toby. It’s on you. Yep. Our generation is failing you and with every day that goes by, it’s becoming your generation that needs to pick up the slack. What’s that you say? A lot of pressure for a 13 and 17 year old to deal with? I wish you could know how much I wish that wasn’t the case. While we aren’t giving up, and while there are so many of us that are fighting to make things better, I just want to prepare you for the mess we are leaving for you.
As we watch news from other parts of the world, we would like to think “how could people act like that.” Well, turn off the tv and open the front door, cuz it’s not just overseas. It’s right here on our very own streets.
As news of the Baton Rouge shooting broke through this morning, I had literally just seen a Facebook post with artwork that read “Pray for Nice.” Of course, the post was specifically meant for Nice, France. But, it wasn’t lost on me that it actually sends a larger global message. We should all, in our own ways, be praying for nice.
Pick a subject. How about race equality? That seems appropriate. For a brief heartbeat, I thought I came up with a word ripe for urban dictionary. It already resides there, though with a slightly different definition - hypocracist.
For those in the world who have no room for those of color, I can’t help but be amazed how you have no issue when your national basketball championship is on the line. When the music you listen to is heavily influenced by those of color. For the record? You can’t rally behind race only in the best of times.
How about religion? Well, I suppose this is why I have always struggled with religion. Can it really only be god’s will when it works in your favor? In theory, wouldn’t god’s will explain all things? Good and bad? You can’t rally behind religion only in the best of times. Can you? I suppose that’s why I chose Jewtheism – it allows me to hold on to the traditions, values and customs that mean a lot to me, while looking to mankind to praise and condemn for the good and bad that happens around me.
Do I really need to continue finding examples? In the end, we treat virtually everything this way. Works in our favor? Embrace it. Those things go downhill? Turn our back.
I read a quote this morning: “New things cannot come where there is no room.” Most things that we have accomplished in our history have required room be made. But, that also has made room for those who hate. And that’s what we are seeing now.
Growing up in a conservative Jewish household and attending a Hebrew day school, I was taught early on about the history of Israel and their conflicts with Palestine. I am not talking about Old Testament based stuff. It was modern day history with a natural bent in terms of its perspective.
Years later, who would have thunk that, professionally, my life would take me on several trips to the Middle East to work on various productions? It is only traveling in Arabic countries do you understand that their students learn in a much different environment – where Israel isn’t even represented on a map. They simply don’t exist as a recognized country.
Never was this more tragically proven to me than when I interviewed a 12 year old Palestinian boy who was being educated in a Qatari institution. With his broken English, he described a hatred of Israelis that was nothing shy of shocking. The point being? How can anything get better if the youth are already taught at such a young age to hate. The answer? You can’t.
And we, as Americans, the reputedly (or at least self-proclaimed) most powerful country in the world, sit here with fingers pointed to the rest of the world – with shock and awe at how people in areas of unrest could treat each other so badly. So much hate. So many living in fear. So many with disdain for authority. So many needlessly killed. But, as we turn our eyes to across the shores, we leave our backs to the interior of our country which is slowly burning out of control.
Well. America? We sit on high about how we have created this amazing place of democracy. And often times with justification and pride. We gave women the right to vote. We freed the blacks. We managed equality on many fronts for the LGBTQ community. But, to what end? We never addressed underlying hate. Sure, we made these milestones possible, but we never had a plan on how to deal with the contempt that comes with it.
We are as much a country of hate as we are a country of opportunity. And we are kidding ourselves if we think differently. Political hate. Racial hate. Sexual orientation hate. I hate Indian food and I could go on and on stopping just shy of Katy Perry hating Taylor Swift.
Anti gay. anti police. anti black. anti Jew. anti Muslim. anti liberal. anti conservative. anti abortion. anti (name a President). Remind me again what, as a country, we are pro for?
And now this; most recently in Baton Rouge and Dallas, where we are killing those very people who are sworn to protect and serve us. Not all cops are perfect. But, that’s not a justification for these acts. It all comes back to hate.
I wrote a few days ago that flags at half mast are the new normal. I wrote a few days ago that I worry hope is something that is becoming harder and harder to achieve. And why? Because those who hate breed fear – so much so that on what should be a quiet Sunday in Baton Rouge had people stuck in their homes because one person walked the streets with the means, and desire, to disrupt.
I realize that the majority of people who read this are not the ones the message is intended to reach. But, maybe you know someone who could benefit from a reminder that there is simply no room for hate in a modern society.
Make room for the families of those who lost loved ones in the past few weeks of tragedy. Both globally and domestically. But, also, try and make room for those who don’t share your views. I’m not asking you to embrace hate. I’m asking you to embrace difference and realize that if we can find meeting ground, we can start to address change.
Try and make room. And above all, pray for nice.
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