I want to wish all of my readers a
happy and peaceful holiday season!
If you are tired of reading and hearing
about all of the hatred and heartache in the world today take a moment to
relax with some videos I have chosen. They each in their own way say
something about this special season.
We don't all have to believe in the
same things to understand that there are some things that are
universal.
Yeah, I know, this next one doesn't really fit the serious theme of this post, but we've all been there and I just couldn't resist. :)
Recently Donald Trump called for the
barring of Muslims from entering the United States. This was in
reaction to the recent attack in California by a husband and wife who
were apparently inspired by Daesh (ISIL, ISIS). He cited the
precedent set by Franklin Delano Roosevelt who ordered the interment
of Japanese Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7,
1941 by the Empire of Japan. It is at heart an emotionally charged,
knee jerk reaction, to a complex problem. It is also designed to
appeal to those out there who are feeling the fear of the moment.
I have been watching the reactions to
Trump's remarks with some interest, as his standing in the polls
seems to rise ever higher. Some speculate that this will be his
undoing. Like those who disagree with him I do not believe that this
kind of action is consistent with our laws or the ideals this country
was founded upon. What happened in WWII was an overreaction in a
time of war.
Following is a clip about the
interment of Japanese Americans during WWII. I feel it might be a
good idea to refresh our memory of this event.
As you can see, while it may have taken
over 40 years, eventually cooler heads prevailed.
I doubt that giving in to fear will
allow us to prevail in what seems to me will be a long struggle
against an extreme ideology designed to appeal to the disenfranchised
or the simple copycat crazies of the world. I still believe that the
only thing that will ultimately win in the end is an alternative ideal with greater appeal. I
can think of none better than what is embodied in this statement.
“We
hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness.”
Perhaps we need to have a little more faith in the strength and wisdom of those words. Update: I was going to place this article in the comments section but I realized it really deserved a place center stage in this post. It really does show the possibilities of what could be. Parable in a ShopRite
