I want to make clear that my blog’s purpose is to present positive and inspiring poetry and art. That is my goal all the time. But today I hate the idea that I have to address the crazy hate manifested in the attacks on places of worship. Enough is enough. I also just learned this morning on a news show that a girl is in a coma after a person filled with hate decided to run over a group of people with his car.
Therefore, I need to talk about hate. I hate to talk about hateful behavior and give the hateful and vicious people that inflict pain, injure and kill the spotlight. It seems we always have an excuse for violent events or worse find a way to ignore the signs of hateful behaviors. It may sound naive but I prefer to talk about love and beautiful human interactions.
Frankly, my motivation for writing this post is my nanahood. I am a grandmother. I fear for the future of all children listening and watching the horrors of hatred, bigotry and injustice. Children are listening and watching even when we may think they are not paying attention. They are also asking questions.
The narrative is clear; we do not have to be divergent thinkers to understand that hate is present everywhere. It is expressed via all media. I mean I guess one can hate some things and that it would probably be a good thing. But sometimes we go too far to even hate the things we are suppose to hate. This even sounds almost contradictory.
When I was growing up I was not allowed to say I hated anything, especially, when it came to food. I could not say for example, that I hated broccoli or spinach. I remember my older sister telling me she was punished for saying she hated her teacher. I mean who hasn’t at least thought in silence that they hated their teacher or broccoli for that matter.
So is it that the word hate is inadequate to describe what is happening in our country? All crimes are provoked by some kind of hate. Is it a question of semantics? Should we just call it what it is? Should we be more explicit and call hate racism or fascism? Should we call people evil? Are not some of these acts evil? What are the adequate words to describe inhuman behavior?
We label these deadly acts of violence as anti-this or anti-that, but aren’t they sheer cruelty and barbaric acts? I am tired of the labels and the synonyms we use to condemn these acts. I am sick of conforming to the notion that a conversation about this terror has to be more wide-spread. I hear people say we must continue the conversation. I think is started decades ago. We are privy to the fastest systems of communication. The conversation must turn into action. The question is what kind of action and who should initiate it.
We can speak out and pray all we want but what we need are real solutions. I don’t like the justifications we are given. The headlines or breaking news depict these horrific events as copycat acts. The culpable are either radicalized people or demented freaks. The reality is that anyone who plans a massacre or terrorizes a community is simply not right.
We must realize that indifference is the opposite of love. Hate is not just a word and neither is love for that matter. Divisiveness is a distinct and purposeful way to continue to attract more disruption and chaos. Yes some people feel left out and disfranchised. We must do something about inequality. We must do something to help those who are desperate and mentally ill. We have failed as a nation in this regard.
I implore you to be a part of the solution. Each of us has the power to talk to each other, tell it like is and call out what is simply just wrong. Each of us can be the example of truth and love. Each of us can effect real change. I place my bet on you, the you individually and the you collectively who knows that we need to pull together now. We cannot wait one minute longer.
Pardon my selfishness but I want a world that my grandchildren will feel safe in and will be hatred free. Utopian perhaps. Hopeful, I try to be. Use this hashtag and join me in giving grandmothers a little hope. #Peaceforallnanas!
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