Accentuate the Positive - Eliminate the Negative (viewing the world thru rose colored glasses) Teach Love - not Hate.

Looking at the world through rose colored glasses?

I was brought up not to hate or judge people for any reason and it has been one of the basic foundations of my existence. I have tried, though difficult at times, to maintain this belief. My parents taught me that there is good in every person. They were progressive in their thinking long before logical rationalization was accepted by the mainstream. Back in those days the norm was to follow the church dogma - rigid, stagnant, biased, and based on that old control factor that one would hope would have been eradicated from the modern world.

We are all multi-faceted in our personalities and our core beliefs.

When a person starts name calling, and passing judgement on others because they are different, it is truly difficult to hold onto those core beliefs.

No one should be defined by their religious or political beliefs. Just as they should not be defined by the color of their skin, their national origin or physical appearance. We are all beautiful in our own way; and the principle of "there but for the grace of God, go I" when we see the ugliness surface in others around us.

I do not usually have a problem putting these things in their proper perspective. I have lived a rather sheltered existence, with limited interactions with people on a personal basis. During my working career i focused on a person's well being, only in relation to the physical and emotional realm of their particular illnesses.

Since I have been writing on this site, i am viewing people in a whole new light. I am having difficulty in discerning what is acceptable behavior versus the right of the individual to bring bias and hatred into the equation, or aspect, of their personalities that greatly effect, and harm those that they target.

My core beliefs have been non-judgmental, but as of late, i sometimes lose my patience and tend to attempt to "correct" what i perceive as hurtful and hateful attitudes by others, toward those that they disagree with.

I recently received a comment on one of my articles and had to remind myself of that core belief that my parents gave me as a child. In an attempt to explain my reasoning, for my belief that all people are entitled to equal rights under the law, i find myself apologizing for my own beliefs and for being who i truly am.

I do not want to be influenced by those negative comments, or hateful names i am being called, or for expecting others to possess the same core values that i do. I am realizing that everyone is/was brought up with their own set of core values. If yours is one of hatred and bias, there is not too much i can do about that except try to not fall into that same trap. And to also express that this behavior is NOT acceptable in my life.

It is easier to lash back at someone for their hurtful and hateful words, but is also sours my own perspective in doing so. I will, therefore maintain my dignity, and write from my own heart and from my own perspectives. With the realization that people are who and what they are, and will not be changed unless, or until, something in their life lights that candle of understanding and they are able to accept all other people for who and what they really are without constantly judging them.

Our Creator gave us free will. Free to receive input into our brains, examine the data from that input, and put it is the proper logical perspective, and reach a logical rational conclusion. This can be very difficult for people who have the mind set that they are the only one with the correct views on life, even while knowing that those beliefs are not based on anything but the biased input into their minds by the biased people who taught them.

Trying to use satire, or sarcasm, or irony to make a point is obviously wasted on those who do not understand its concept. So, i will, in the future, direct my writings to logic and rationality that most people will be able to grasp and understand. When i use sarcasm, i will note it for what it is, so there will be no misunderstanding that this is not my actual belief, but rather a poke at those who do not see, or display any logic at all in their words or actions.

I am not apologizing for any of my articles. That would imply they are erroneous. I will give a different perspective on things without pushing my personal opinions on others, as best i can. Albeit, sometimes opinions are the only way to point out some things you want "highlighted" in your conversation.

I may be old and retired from public life, but i am still learning new things every day. Yes, i would like to see peace and harmony among people, but realize that this will never happen in my life time.

I have always avoided the subjects of religion and politics and by doing so, never had to put people into certain categories. Hate is hate, and love is love, and never the twains shall meet. I will voice my opinions, as concluded from logical reasoning, based on all facts at hand.

I will not be stagnant, or silent, or even stop my quest for knowledge, truth, equality and justice for all of people - as equals. For the truth is, that in spite of the fact that some people really think they are better than others; they are not. We are all born equal, but become the sum total of the input that we are subjected to. Nothing more, nothing less. What we choose to do with this input data is up to each of us; that individual we were born to be. Becoming a product of your environment is a choice that many make, as it is much easier than acquiring knowledge and applying logic. And hatred, it seems, is easier to justify than love.

d.william 11/29/10