Perspective

I have heard many times that things have become worse and worse. We’re going down the tube. A little perspective from an older person may help. To the young who know so little of history and have lived so short a time every evil seems the greatest. This is no disrespect to the young. We need their energy and confidence. But sometimes the young people I talk to are less than fully informed about our past.

I spoke to one young man that felt that race relations had never been worse. BUT we have come a long way from slavery, Jim Crow, and segregation. Don’t get me wrong. As long as there is evil in the world there will be bigotry and racism. I am remembering a time when myself and other soldiers in uniform were turned away from bars and nightclubs because some of us were black. Instead of cursing the darkness of bigotry we need to continue to light the lights of love and understanding and be thankful that some of the bad old days are past.

Likewise some things are not as they should be for women and we should continue to press for justice. But let us rejoice in the fact that much progress has been made since the days when women had virtually without rights. In sector after sector of our society women are taking their places. There is much work to be done but much progress has been made.

It is not productive to assume our “bad” is the “worst”. When we do, it is easy to lose hope in the future. Giving up hope and giving in to anger will not get us where we need to go. Keep the faith!