I have seen a very sad week in my hometown. A young father, buying a gift for his son as a birthday congratulations for good grades, was laid to rest. This young man happened to be a police officer and happened to save lives as he drew fire away from store customers before he was gunned down by the robbers. A life lost, children left fatherless, and many people from varying walks of life left shaking their heads.
If that is not enough, we have ignoramus young adults chanting a racist song that sounds straight outta 1863. In 2015. In college. Caught on you tube.
That's the odd thing about today's world; as easily as I write this to be read by anyone, everyone, or no one, any one can take a video or picture of me. In any setting; even those I presume to be private. This is the day and age of information overload and because of that we need to be mindful of what we inform everyone about. Basically, do not say or do anything you do not want in black and white or color spread across the world.
But how far is that notion from do unto others as you would have others do unto you? That teaching is basically contained in most every religion and belief followed on this earth. Yes, individual rights matter. But not at the expense of the rights of those around you. Every person has equal measure and deserves equal respect based on their humanity; regardless of skin color or who they sleep with at night. Somewhere our society has lost the way in understanding the balance of those foundations.
I am scared for the world my child is growing into. We seem to have a growing undercurrent of distrust bordering on hate in varying directions. There are people literally training and wanting nothing more than to cut off your head because of where you are from. This is humanity in 2015. This is the world we have allowed to form.
Until we individually become more considerate of those around us; we collectively can not bring about the understanding and growth we purport to desire. I try to have my daughter raised without prejudice and anger; but its presence all around can make doing so a Herculean endeavor.
For our children. For ourselves. Stop wearing blinders and think what is happening does not matter. Do you want to wait to see a child you care for lose a parent senselessly? Do you even know what footprints you wish to leave after taking your final steps on earth?
