Prejudice

I was reading a beautifully written post yesterday about how we need to find something positive in those we encounter in our lives -- even when we utterly disagree with them in every possible way.

The problem is not that they believe the "wrong" things. It's the hate they spew -- the prejudice, bigotry, racism, and anti-Semitism.

I'm Jewish, Garry isn't white. He's a bit of everything in the world, but more tan than white. The people who hate us don't hate us because of any disagreement, but because we are unlike them racially or religiously. This is not a debatable subject and there is no way to find a point of agreement. The author of the well-written, well-reasoned post is white. Liberal. Sincere. Intelligent. Educated.

Hatred is non-negotiable.

What he isn't is Jewish or non-white. Because he is neither of those things, I don't think he has a grip on how prejudice affects us. It isn't "impersonal." I can't think of anything more personal. The author believes in the goodness of everyone -- if only we can reach them. I'm not convinced of any such thing.

Watching our Supreme Court turning into one more politicized body is not only terrifying because of the damage they can and will do, but because they were the last segment of our three-way supposedly balanced government. Now we have nowhere to turn where we can expect intelligent, reasoned people to make intelligent, reasoned decisions. Everyone is "up for grabs." Everyone has an agenda and not a REASONED agenda.

I feel as if I fell into a sewer and am trying to find a way out pass the sludge and the filth. I don't think it will happen. We are so distorted and twisted, there seems to be no rational people in our government. Biden actually IS sane which is probably why he is so unpopular. Everyone wants him to be on his/her/their side -- and I don't think he's on any side except that of trying to find reasonable solutions to our problems.

It took just one really terrible president to tear us down to this disaster in which we are living. As Hitler destroyed Germany, may-his-name-never-be-mentioned has torn us apart. I'm not sure how or if we can come together. We need a powerful leader. We need FDR or Churchill, Gandhi or Mandala. Not that these people were flawless because no one is flawless, but they were able to rally people and bring them together.

Who do we have with this kind of charisma or leadership? Anyone? Would he or she please step into the light? We need you now. We need an intelligent, sensible, thoughtful, educated, and compassionate leader right now while there is still time -- but not much time -- to stop the decline. If you exist, please come forward. Be seen. Be heard. It won't be easy, but it's an ugly world in which we are living.