Sunday Sermon: The Hate Has To Stop

            I was awake this morning when the news broke of the shooting in Orlando. I watched it unfold in my newsfeed as I hoped for very few dead. Not something I ever wanted to have to say, but in a mass shooting it is something you hope for. Unless of course you are the shooter, which in that case I don’t care what you want. And, then I find out they arrested another man in Santa Monica who was planning an attack on the gay pride parade there. They say it appears the two were not connected at this point.

            All I know is it was driven by hate. And, whether by those claiming to be Muslim or Christian or whatever religion you want to be I don’t care. First go back and read your religious texts, because every religious leader preached tolerance and peace as well as taking care of the poor. Neither Jesus nor Mohammad preached hate against others. Mohammad preached taxes and conversion. As well as taking territory but not hate.

            Jesus preached loving everyone and taking care of the sick and the poor as well as treating everyone equally. And, some in each faith have strayed into hating others. They are doing the work or evil without even knowing it. It doesn’t matter who’s name you do it in evil is still evil. And, hate has never been anything but evil. And, where there is hate you will find men like me and others willing to stand up against it always.

            Like they did on D-Day when they stormed the beaches of Normandy in World War 2 taking a stand against hate and tyranny knowing that they had a slim chance of surviving. Like Japanese-Americans did as well in World War 2 hoping to show us that they were loyal and didn’t deserve to be locked up in internment camps like we had done to them. As Martin Luther King Jr. preached over and over again. Hate has no place in this country and we will continue to drive it out.

            The American People have risen time and time again saying we will not bow to hate we will rise above it. You can hate all you want. You can wound us. You can kill us. But we will not be defeated. We will not break in our resolve to live free and be happy. We will not be forced to live in fear or to have to hate certain people because someone says we must. We will stand united because as someone once said, “United we stand, divided we fall.”.

            You keep trying to break us claiming you are so righteous in your many forms, but all you are is fear basically. You don’t understand something so you fear it and then that turns to hate. And, then you justify it any way you can. We understand you are born out of ignorance and we do not fear you. We stand against you not in anger. We are willing to educate you and help you understand. Just come to the table with an open mind.

            No one wants to take your religion away from you. No one is out to hurt you. Let’s be civilized adults and talk about this without going off the hinges. Or using quotes from ancient books. Let’s stick to basic principles taught. We can have a nice meal and talk it all out. It would be worth it just to experience the array of dishes at a potluck such as what could be had. I mean after all who doesn’t like food.

            I think you get my point though so I will climb down off my soap box for now. Feel free to leave questions and comments below. And, if you want my columns to appear in your inbox enter your email address in the box below where it says to follow by email. As for me it is time to get started on the new term for school. *Tips his hat and walks out the door. *

Saturday Thoughts: Still Figuring A Few Things Out

            I know I’ve been gone for most of the week, just had a lot on my mind. And, been recovering from complications from sleep apnea.  Plus, I learned Ramadan is this month. Now I am not Muslim so I won’t be fasting, but I do think that it is a good time to do some reflecting on life. And, I wish those that are Muslim a good Ramadan. I’m not sure what the proper holiday wishes are for Ramadan so that is what I am going with, but if someone does please do educate me.

            I’m waiting till after the Democratic Convention to decide who I am voting for. But, there has been a mass amount of election fraud this Democratic Primary. This leaves me unsure of who I am voting for come November, other than the fact that it will not be Donald Trump. But, that is my personal choice. I respect everyone’s right to vote for who they choose to vote for and whoever I choose to vote for I will campaign for.

            But, with that said after the election is over I don’t want there to be division left. I want people to stay involved in their communities and schools and government. Sign petitions and help out around the community as much as you can. Even if just for a couple hours here and there. Part of what made this country so great when I was growing up was the sense of community spirit. We can disagree on politics, but we all need each other. And, taking the time out to invite an elderly neighbor over for dinner for example might make their day. And, you could learn something about your town/city that you never knew.

            If you enjoy sports help out with recreational sports it could be fun and help you keep in shape. Plus, you’ll see some great games that aren’t televised. If you know about services for homeless people volunteer at homeless shelters talking to people and helping them get ahead. For the gifted students volunteer to tutor your peers so they can learn what they need to know. I’m sure you can think of other things I haven’t even begun to think of.

            And, for our Police a little advice that some of you have already taken. Don’t just patrol a neighborhood. Try to get to know the residents so you know the atmosphere of the community. You aren’t patrolling a prison and you will probably have some good stories to share with the residents of growing up in the area. Bond with your community. It won’t make it do you can’t do your job. It might make you more compassionate but you will still be able to do your job. And, I am not saying you don’t have compassion, but some of you are a little hard lined at times. And, could use some softening.

            I’m just so sick of the name calling and the division. I want the country to have civilized conversations on politics, but more importantly I want the country to work together to make their communities shine and thrive the way I know every community can. Yes, globalization is coming, but if we stay united together as one we can survive it. As well as thrive in it. That is why I do not fear it. And, it might sound stupid, but the Fourth of July is coming up and you might think about inviting the neighbors as well as friends and relatives to a cook out. That way you can get to know them better. Make it a potluck if you want those used to work well.

            I’ve talked your ear off ling enough for one day. Feel free to leave comments and questions below. And, if you want my columns to appear in your inbox enter your email address in the box below where it says follow by email. As for me I’m not sure what I am going to do next to be honest. *Tips his hat and walks out the door. *

Monday Beginnings: Grieving

            As I was getting ready to write this a couple days ago the tragic news that the champ of champs, Muhammad Ali, had passed away broke. And, while it is sad for us since we have lost another incredible role model. At least we can be happy for him knowing he is no longer in pain. As well as in the fact that heaven just got a whole lot livelier. He stood up for what he believed in at all times whether popular or not. He challenged the world to make itself a better place in general.

            One thing Muhammad taught me is that you stand up for your principles, but you also stand by your friends and family. I’ve always prided myself on sticking by my friends and family. Not to say I haven’t made mistakes. I’ve made my fair share and always tried to own up to them. I’m not perfect though I try to be. But, it is a blessing to me that my friends and family forgive me and accept me for who I am with all my faults.

            So to me I am already rich. Just not the way most people would think of it. And, sure a little more money would be nice. I think everyone I know would agree to that. But, at the end of the day what will be your legacy you take with you when you are judged. I plan to take having left stories for the world and advocating for a better world when I go. And, not just because I have a son. I was advocating even before he was born.

            Because, it is my responsibility as a human being to leave the world better than when I walked it. We don’t do that enough. In some cases, we pave over buildings. There are rumored to be a number of underground bowling alleys in my city from back during prohibition, which has me curious and wanting to know more about them. As well as to try and explore them. I wouldn’t mind getting the land one of them is on and restoring it as well as running it. With a bit of modernizing for health reasons. As well as making it more comfortable for patrons but overall keeping things the same.

            But for now I think I can put it to good use in other ways. You’ll have to wait and see how though. But it will be worth it. By the end of summer, I hope to have a Patreon set up for my writing as well. Still working on the details of it, but getting something down in stone before I go live with it. I am expanding my horizons slowly since I want to build something solid from the foundation up. For me success doesn’t have to be Stephen King like. I just want to be able to live on doing what I love to do and that is writing. Though don’t count on me sticking to just writing I have other ambitions as well that are sure to be met at some point and time.

            I like to keep my options open on other projects I can do. Just because my brain is constantly coming up with new ideas to give back or create or who knows what. But, one thing that is constant is it being community based. Whether in the local or global sense. I hope to be able to be half the humanitarian at the very least that Muhammad Ali was. And, not for the awards but because he was right in doing it making it something to aspire to be.

            Well I think I have rambled on enough for one morning. I hope despite this being a bit of a sad column. And, a really late one that your week starts out well. Feel free to leave questions and comments below. And, if you want my columns to appear in your inbox enter your email in the box below where it says follow by email. As for me I have some work to catch up on. *Tips his hat and walks out the door. *