One Tribe y’all
The Black Eyed Peas got it right.
"One tribe y'all
We are one people
Let's catch amnesia, forget about all that evil...
Forget about all that evil, that evil that they feed ya
Let's catch amnesia, forget about all that evil
That evil that they feed ya
Remember that we're one people"
My heart hurts. I’m sad not only for what
happened in France, but even sadder at the hatred that has spread through our
lives because of it.
I’m speaking specifically of the constant,
hateful, comments and attitudes towards refugees from Syria. One of the
terrorists involved in the horrific bombings in France has been labeled as “a
refugee from Syria” and suddenly ALL refugees from Syria are out to kill us. So
many people are commenting, out of fear I assume, that none of the refugees
should be allowed in the US. “SAVE our LIVES by not letting the terrorist in!”
Really? That’s what you get out of seeing the images of thousands, THOUSANDS of
people being forced to leave everything behind to save their lives.
Stop to think for a minute.
Look around you. See everything you have.
Your pretty phone, your Starbucks coffee, the
fact you’re typing on a computer, with electricity. The fact you can go to your
sink at any moment and get water. Or go to your fridge and get something to
eat. OR, drive a bit to buy something to eat with money you got out of a
bank.
Think about your family. The family members
who are going to sit at your table for Thanksgiving. You remember Thanksgiving?
The day we all give thanks for what we have.
Now think about all of that being obliterated.
No food. No water. Nothing. You have to leave
it all behind with just the clothing on your back. Your destination? Unknown.
You have to walk for miles and miles and hope that whatever country will let
you in.
Oh and one more think, that family that was at
your table, you now have no idea where any of them are or if they’re alive. Take a moment. I’ll wait. Think about that.
**sigh**
My heart just aches when I think about the
hatred I see being spread on social media. People I love and respect actually
posting to “Stop all aid to Islamic countries. Let them hate us for free.” Wow.
Just wow. So every single person who practices the Islamic religion (which is
ironically a very peaceful religion) are now evil and should be shunned. What
if I converted to Islam? Would you shun me?
Or my favorite are my “Christian” friends –
and I will say this has been more than I expected – these same people who
scream from the roof top “GOD IS LOVE” and then turn around and hate on people
who are “Islamic” or “refugee”. How can you say you practice a faith of love,
follow a God who is love, and tell the world that you accept all, and then turn
around and not accept? Worse – judge so incorrectly. Has fear really gripped
your heart so much that you can’t see that you are exactly like them in so many
ways?
What? Did I just say you’re exactly like them?
Yes. We are all human beings. Some of us hate.
Some of us are evil. Some of us do horrific things in the name of religion
(funny how so many “religious” people forget about the Crusades. You remember?
Catholics going into other countries and terrorizing their people. Yah – about that…)
Some of are homeless. Some of us drive fancy cars. Some of us are fat, skinny,
ugly, beautiful…whatever the label. We are all humans. We are all trying to
figure out how to get along. The more YOU…yes YOU – send hate into the world,
you are not helping anything. You are part of the problem.
Stop blaming a President. Stop blaming a
religion. Start looking at your heart. At your soul…and as stupid as it sounds –
especially coming from someone who doesn’t practice a specific religion anymore
– think about “What would Jesus do?”
