"A very large part of the rancor of political and social strife springs from the fact that different classes or sections are so cut off from each other that neither appreciates the other's passions, prejudices, and, indeed, point of view." - Theodore Roosevelt
When stresses on the community are real, it's easy to blame others and get angry at "the enemy."
Anger is easy; empathy is hard.
We need love - and love in the form of empathy.
What if we remember that...
What directly hurts one indirectly hurts all;
We've been through this before - past is prologue - and it will happen again;
On the whole, people are really trying to do their best - a very small group of people sets out to be evil;
Reality is perception - it's how we choose to see things;
The present is all we have - and it's what we stand to lose?
Dr. Martin Luther King offers a parting thought:
"Let us all hope that the dark clouds of [prejudice] will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and [community] will shine over [us] with all their scintillating beauty." - Dr. Martin Luther King
(Adapted from Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail to reflect a broader hope and to be more inclusive. You can read the full letter here.)
