Let's not go back to the 50's and 60's. Let's move forward with love and grace ... and a better education system. It begins in the home. Our schools are not providing baby sitting services. They are meant to educate and build character in our children.
“Remember the Titans.” reminds me of a time in my life, the 60s, that was so uncomfortable for us as children. With the civil rights movement in full swing, I never understood why anyone, anywhere, would hold prejudices against another human simply because of the color of their skin, cultural differences, religious differences, political affiliation, or class differences. I didn’t understand it then, and I don’t understand it now. Aren’t we all God’s children? Aren’t we all members of the human race? I’m not saying I don’t have prejudices and opinions about other people. Not at all. I’m saying that any reservations, disgust, frustration, anger, or disappointment I have in another human is solely grounded in my perception of their character, their moral compass, and not a generalization based on ignorance – like the color of their skin, their ethnicity, their religion, political party affiliation, or class in society. How shallow a human do you have to be to hate, bully, disenfranchise, disrespect, or dismiss another human simply because they are “different” from yourself? You have to be very shallow – and ignorant. And you know something, I find ignorance sad and unnecessary. I find bullying intolerable. I find hate and hate groups uncompromising. I find rude, nasty people to be short-sighted. I find sweeping generalizations about others based on misguided interpretations to be wholly inaccurate.
Judging Others 1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” –
Matthew7:1-5 NIV
Jesus invited the tax collector to sit with him at his table. He showed us how to help the poor and underprivileged. He taught us to sacrifice and love and open our doors without judgment. He invited us to look into a man’s heart first, and not judge by what we see or think we see. Jesus taught us to love one another and to be good to one another. Givers in the greatest sense of the word. Jesus judged others. Yes he did – by their actions and character and the propensity of their heart.
3 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 “They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4
When hate is paraded as God’s will, walls paraded as false protection, policies legislated to line the pockets of the wealthy few as good American (and Christian) policy, I'm greatly disappointed. Christians are NOT the only good people in this world. In fact, many are downright evil. There are radicals in every religion. But the majority of humans worship peacefully and care about others regardless of their race or religion. We need to see the good in people, and hope that they, too, will see the good in us.
Judgment. Save it for haters and bullies and people who parade ignorance as gospel. Save it for users and abusers. Yet, in that judgment, remember to pray for them too. Pray for your enemies. Ignorance is a disease in this country. It is our greatest national emergency. So many of us have abandoned our children to their own devices, leading them astray. Our children need our guidance and protection, wisdom and faith, love and discipline. We’ve lost our way as a family. I pray we find our way back. So, instead of judging others, we should pray for them in hopes that they will see the error of their actions or words. The only true judgment comes from God. Let’s pray for those who are lost and leave the judgment to God.
While watching the movie “Remember the Titans,” the biggest hurdle was acceptance of teammates of a different race. The prejudices were at toxic levels, and in 2025, they are as bad as they were in 1965. We mustn’t turn back the clock on prejudice, there is nothing good that will ever come of it. This is why History is such an important foundation of learning for our children. Those who don’t know and don’t understand our human history, our country’s history, our history of war, are bound to repeat it.
It is so sad how many people, young and old alike, do not know our nation’s history. All you have to do is head over to YouTube and find a few videos of random people being asked questions about our most basic American history. Clueless. It’s tragic how our education system moves our children along in the system until they are 18, and think their job is done. You wouldn’t believe how many students are graduating from high school and still cannot read. Many cannot read script … which will totally blind them to our historical documents and more. It is sad, and our public and private education needs to be overhauled for our children, for our future, for our countr
We are all on the same team here. We are all God’s creation. Education, compassion, love, acceptance, giving, reaching out … these are the things we need more of to lessen the divide between us. It takes enlightenment and intention.
I implore you all to examine your hearts, your prejudices, your judgments … and ask yourself, with reason and love at the center, if they are justified. Then ask yourself “why” you feel as you do, and if that prejudice or judgment is misplaced. It’s a start … a start that we all need to reflect on and act on. Think of the better world you will make for yourself, your family, your friends and neighbors, and your community, if we only make an effort to see the good in people and be good to them in return. Our lives need more love, understanding, compassion, intentional education, and kindness.
Welcome to my new blog website! My name is Susan. I have been blogging since 2007. On Raisin Toast I share family life, our new journey in retirement in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the building of our last and smaller home, my artwork, quilting, stories, and more. I hope you will enjoy what I have created here! Welcome! Don’t forget to Subscribe to my Newsletter!
