HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Greetings, may your day be a Tranquil Tuesday in these troubled times. Saturday, we’ll celebrate another Independence Day in America. May it be a peaceful one with family and friends,  spending moments to thank all those who sacrificed to keep our country independent, and remembering how we still fly Old Glory over the land.

As an 80 yr. old still learning, I learned this week there’s a ton of miscommunication out there. A group of citizens gathered, after getting word of violence, to protect a statue in their square from being destroyed. Several local police officers were sent to keep the peace. Two troopers were also there to help, all quietly standing by.

A few young women with protest placards were standing on one of the square’s corners, attracting drivers’ attention to their cause. One gal holding her placard, was concerned that her black child was growing up with fear of the police. Another (I believe) feeling guilt for being white and needing to standup for her black brother while shouting “black lives matter ” was waving her placard, and there was also a third woman with her sign which I couldn’t read. Before I go further, I think I need to explain this paragraph. I believe that black lives matter, but no more so than ANY other skin color. As a child, I was taught to love ALL skin colors, red, brown, yellow, black and white because Jesus does.. I’m truly concerned for the young mom who’s worried that her little boy will face police brutality as he gets older and about the gal who feels she has to defend her black brother or sister who she believes will be dealt with unfairly. These have become real concerns.

The women were joined by a couple of men, one of whom had a mike and speaker. The large monument group were very peaceful until the “BLM” fists were raised and horns blew from passing motorists. The tension began to grow, first with foul language then with movement. The police intervened somewhat but nothing major developed. One could see how easy it is for trouble to start.

What I learned from this is to keep my BP low by thinking calmly in the middle of chaos, as it appeared the police were doing. We need dialogue. I think it’s true, that if you smile and hold out your hand, you’ll likely get a smile and a handshake in return and when the situation arises a “Can I give you a hug and can we talk?” might also be helpful. Once again, we need dialogue. Does there always only have to be shouting and “in-your-face” confrontation? No, I don’t believe so, but then my only experience was an individual outside Walmart, ready to blow up, but was soon deflated when I smiled and started to ‘blither’. Maybe I’m just naive but it worked. I didn’t even realize he was that angry until I thought about it later or what the conclusion was because it ended so quickly.

This is what I learned from Dr. Wayne Dyer that applies here: “You can only give what you have. If you’re filled with anger, you’ll give anger, selfishness gives selfishness and love gives love.” So, if we think only love, peace, kindness, forgiveness, that’s what we’ll be giving to others.

Have a Firecracker Fourth!  See you next time.