Some confuse democracy with the freedom to do whatever they want regardless of its impact on society. But democracy is a concept that comes with responsibility and part of that responsibility is to do what is right for the greater good of humanity. Failure to respect that is a failure to understand the true meaning of democracy and will undoubtedly lead to its downfall.
We often believe exactly what we want to believe, confusing ignorance with freedom and knowledge with subjugation. Yet the truth remains that blindly following someone or something because you want it to be true does not make it true, or as Mr. Spock so eloquently stated; Insufficient facts always invite danger.
Often it is questioned how does someone who is corrupt, preaches hatred of their fellow man, looks to divide rather than unite and possesses no compassion for others attract so many followers? The answer is simple. It is not the person themselves; it is the fact that their actions are a mirror into the true soul of those that follow them.
Do not hate; rather, weep for the person who harbors hate and cultivates division among others. Who knows not compassion for their brother and sister but possess a cold and selfish spirit. For when they wake each morning, it is not to the joy of the world around them but to the pain and despair of another day brought forth by the ugliness that resides within their heart and soul.
You can not expect the circumstances of your life to change because you wish they will.
You can not expect the oppressor to stop oppressing because it is the right thing to do
You can not expect those wishing to keep humanity divided to cease because they embrace the concept that we are all one people.
You can not expect the world to see who they are and who you are if you stand silent because you have given them control of the narrative.
Life is interactive, and the future of humanity will be written by the side, which stands firm to their beliefs and is poised to take action because you can not expect change if you choose to remain silent and hope for that change to occur magically.
Let us not be lulled into apathy; dark clouds gather all around us. There are those who wish to keep us apart based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and economic status. Lives are being lost to senseless violence. Children are going to sleep in hunger and with no place to call home. Families are mired in poverty. Now more than ever is the time for the coalition of the righteous to stand up and say in one voice ENOUGH. Time to come together as a people because we are all one people, and we all share one planet. Time to understand that our future survival is predicated on our respect and compassion for each other. Time to put aside our difference. Time to bury our hate. Time to reject those who refuse to practice Love, Brotherhood, Unity, and Equality before it is too late, and we are trapped in a storm for which there is no escape.
Twenty years ago, I emerged from the IRT #2 subway line at Fulton Street to what could only be described as a perfect day, blue skies, not a cloud to be seen except it wasn’t a perfect day; it was a day of unbelievable horror. I remember standing on Fulton Street, staring at the towers only a few blocks away, smoldering. I remember running when the first tower collapsed and a dust cloud came roaring down Fulton Street. I remember standing on the FDR Drive only a short time later watching the second tower collapse and with tears in my eyes, turning to a colleague who also had tears in their eyes and muttering the words, my God, how many people do you think were in that building. Evil and hatred took so many from us that day, but for those of us who lived through the horror of that day, we also remember how we all came together for each other. Black or white, male or female, it didn’t matter; religious or sexual orientation was irrelevant. It was the best of humanity showing itself in the face of those who knew only hatred. It was as if we were saying; even if we didn’t realize it, hate could not define us. We are all in this together. We are all one people. Today on the 20th anniversary of that horrible day, let us remember how we bonded together, how for one moment we understood we are all human. Let us hope one day that moment can be every moment.
Ignorance
Arrogance
A lust for power over what is right
These have rapidly become the dominant traits of many in American politics and those who support them. Those in power have fooled those who follow them that their arrogance is strength and their ignorance is a sign of independence. But it is from that place of arrogance, that a republic that willingly embraces them expects to survive. It’s from that place of ignorance that those who bestow leadership, and blindly believe that they will be looked out for by those who they so willingly followed. The truth is clear the ultimate goal of those leaders is to enhance their power while increasing their wealth, and they are more than willing to use and, if necessary, sacrifice those who support them to achieve that goal.
It’s March Madness, so I figured I would go to youtube and relive some of the great one shining moment videos from years past, and you know what stands out the most? It was watching young adults, black and white celebrating together or consoling each other, even opposing team players. At that movement of jubilation or sadness, they didn’t see or look for color. It didn’t matter because they were all in it together.
What a concept!
If only the world could act like that, I think to myself, what a wonderful world it would be. Oh yeah,
Carl's Place 