I watched the U.S. women’s soccer team work their magic and claim
the world championship before the first half was over. The stadium was filled
with ecstatic fans who had dressed in their creative costumes and waved flags as they chanted, “USA! USA!”
Saturday evening was filled with flashes of light and booms
galore as families and friends gathered to enjoy the July 4th festivities. Many folks dodged rain and
storms to spend time on the water or in the back yard. The day once again
proved to be a true celebration of this country and the freedoms that it
offers.
With such a grand display of celebration in so many places
throughout this country and neighboring ones, I wondered just what in the heck
is wrong with us. Our schizophrenic behavior worries me. Just a couple of weeks
before the big holiday, a maniacal, evil-spirited person sat with others in a Bible study for an hour before executing them. His acts were fueled by an
intense hate for black people. How in the world could he have filled his heart with
so much hate in so few years of life?
In other parts of the country, a return to the burning of
black churches has occurred. Speculation is that individuals who despise
another race of humans are hell-bent on causing as much grief and pain for them
as possible. What makes them hate others so much?
The Supreme Court passed down a decision that okays same-sex
marriages. Scores of supporters marched in parades of celebration. Those
opposed declared that the court had lost its moral compass and should never
have given its blessing to such a horrible thing. They are the same people who
earlier praised the court for more conservative decisions.
The country is divided by political ideology. Half of the
citizens despise the current president. In their vitriol, claims of President
Obama’s affiliation with the Muslim religion and his lack of citizenship fill
the air. Many have said he’s the worst president that has ever held office and
that he is leading our country to ruin.
All in all, it appears a couple of days after this latest
Fourth Celebration that our country is in sore need of a bit more patriotism
and a lot less partisan politics and hate mongering. No, I’m not talking about
caving in to things that people can’t accept. Instead, I’m suggesting that each
of us learns what tolerance is. While I might not like one bit what another
person or group believes or does, I owe it to them and to this country to be
tolerant. Yes, I can express my opposing views on any topic, but that
opposition should never include acts of violence or attacks on character.
This country was established by people of all sorts of nationalities
and philosophies. Some wanted to remain tied to England’s apron strings while
others insisted that the country determine its own path. Throughout the years,
the rich history of the U.S. has been created by persons of all races and
religious beliefs. We’ve managed to look past those things while praising the
contributions they made.
Again, no one has to approve of another’s actions or
beliefs. However, none of us is given the right to judge others. If I’ve read
my Bible correctly, Jesus told those who were without sin to cast the first
stone. So, I suspect that God-fearing people would never condemn people who
think differently.
July 4th was another spectacular day for
Americans. We celebrated what this country symbolizes: life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness. It doesn’t mean “as long as you think like me.” We face
many challenges in the years to come. Some of them arise from forces that are set
on destroying our way of life. Those are the ones we should set our sites on
corralling. That means the time has come to quit attacking our own. Let’s
decide this year that we will do those things that lead to all of us chanting,
“USA! USA!”
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