On Hate and Things I Cannot Bear Nor Fathom. . .

I have no words for what has happened this week in Charleston, South Carolina, nor for what has happened before Charleston in Ferguson, in Florida, in Aurora, in Newtown, in Laramie, Wyoming, in NYC. . . everywhere, and seemingly will continue to happen because those of us with love in our hearts are so helpless and hapless or, worse, lethargic, in the face of those who are filled with hate, come from a place of ignorance or are, quite simply, inhumane.

I have no words today and so simply share the words of others who have found some profound ones, together with a strong wish and heartfelt plea that:

• *you keep speaking up and out against intolerance, violence and hate, 

• *you rally when possible, 

• *if you are young, especially, you use your smarts, abilities and your words wisely and eloquently to sway others around you who may come from a place of fear or ignorance, and

• *MOST IMPORTANTLY, you VOTE. Vote for candidates who are first and foremost for tolerance, equality, and peace, who are for protecting lives not just IN the womb, but once they are born into the world and living and breathing among us.  

If you watch or listen to one thing this week on the Charleston tragedy watch this:

JON STEWART on THE DAILY SHOW ON THE CHARLESTON SHOOTING.

And if you're still feeling hopeless after that clip watch the rest of his interview with Malala Yousafzai and consider donating to the Malala Fund.

If you read something, this is a good, important thing to read, with the below lead-in by the beautiful author, Kate Messner:

"What happened in a Charleston church on Wednesday night is a lot of things, but one thing it's not is "unspeakable." We should speak of it often. We should speak of it loudly." 

This piece is worth reading & thinking about. The man arrested for the horrific church shooting in Charleston may be referred to as a "lone shooter," but a community raised him. We are all responsible for the words we speak, the things we share on our social media pages, and the things we allow others to say, unchecked and unchallenged. I cannot believe we live in a world where this is still happening. We have to do better.  SPEAKING THE UNSPEAKABLE. . . 

If you are a writer and want to do something small to honor librarian Cynthia Hurd:

Donations in her memory can be made to the Charleston Public Library c/o Andria Amaral; Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St., Charleston SC 29401. 

Mother Emanuel Church also accepts donations: http://www.emanuelamechurch.org/. 

We must find a way to do better,

gae

Words, wise and clear

Extraordinary pen & oil pastel by Lori Landau Art.
click HERE to visit her site.

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

I had, and still have, many flaws as a parent. 

One of the best things I think I did right as a parent -- which I got from my mom who did the same -- was to pay attention to Martin Luther King day and all it stands for with my boys. 

When they were really little, I would sit them in my lap and we'd listen to his speech on the computer -- or at least parts of it -- and talk about him and what it means to be tolerant and what it means to stand up for one another. 

Now they are bigger, but I still email them a link to the speech every year and remind them why we are home and not at school or work on this day. I'm proud that they fondly remember the year we got a washable paint roller and wrote some of the words to MLK's speech on our front window at home. . . as many as we could fit. . . then watched as people stopped to read them and take them in. 

There is a reason many of us are home today. Make sure your kids know why. 

And, too, that they know how much work there is still left to do.

To listen to his speech, click on the link above or go here: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

gae heart emoticon