Tear Down These Walls
Hello and welcome! Come join me by the fire for my weekly fireside chat. During the course of these brief fireside discussions, I will share some of my random thoughts about varied subjects of interest. Many of these chats will contain knowledge that I have obtained from the many lessons that I have learned on my journey in life. I invite you to share your comments, in a civil tone – both negative and positive. Thanks for joining me. It is great to have you here!
It saddens me that in the year 2015 there are still people who live in a world that in their mind will forever be partisan – that is, there is a proverbial wall that is erected. On one side of that wall lives their own race whom they believe in all their finite wisdom is the superior race and should always be in control. On the other side of that wall lives all of those whom they believe are inferior and subservient. Sadly, and yes, there are some even in my family line, who detest the very thought of people of various races living in harmony with one another and having any type of relationship. It does not matter if that relationship is a casual friendship, a business partnership, or, dare I be so bold to even mention, a marital relationship.
Yes, there was a time in our history when that way of thinking was prevalent and often dictated a person’s “place” in society. However, over time, there have been many people of all different races and nationalities who have fought to dispel partisanship by working side by side to build bridges of hope and unity for the human race. These visionary builders realized that one particular race of people is not superior to another, and in their mind’s eye they could see the day when all people would come to the knowledge and understanding that no one person or group of persons is better than, or superior to another, regardless of ethnicity, social status, or station in life.
No, we are not better than or superior to one another, but we are uniquely different, for that is the way that the Master designed us. We should not allow those differences to incessantly drive a wedge between us, but rather, those differences should become the adhesive that binds us as brothers and sisters who are able to stand together, and reason together on common ground, and to sit down together at the welcome table of brotherhood in the bonds of love and understanding. It is those differences that should cause us to want to tear down the wall, and not continually want to add more bricks and mortar to fortify it, for we must realize that we are all in this together, and we need one another. As the old adage states, “Together we stand. Divided we fall!”
When will we as a “race” of people – the human race, finally realize that it is time that we stop accentuating the differences that tend to build up walls that separate us, and start focusing on our commonalities that can help build bridges of love, peace, and understanding? The truth of the matter is that we are all children of the same Heavenly Father, and in my humble estimation, that makes us all members of the same family – we are all brothers and sisters. Therefore, we are all in this together – all wrapped in the same garment of destiny, so why don’t we come together, and reason together, and live in harmony as one instead of incessantly trying to be islands unto ourselves?
If people did not spend so much time hating, they would be able to see the true beauty in the world, and come to a fuller understanding that there are perhaps more commonalities among us then there are differences between us. Some are so wrapped up in their own little world of “Me, Myself, and I” that they are not able to see that they are not the lone tree in the forest, but rather they are surrounded by many other trees of different types, shapes, sizes, and colors. Each is different and unique in its own way, but each makes the forest a whole. A man who is drowning may be fortunate enough to save himself, but often times he needs a life-preserver that only someone else can offer him. There are some things that we may be able to do on our own, but there is so much more that can be done if we would only learn to work together. None of us are better than another. We are uniquely different, and that is what makes each of us special in our own way. So, let’s stop all the hating, and start accepting one another for who we are.
Of Common Sense 