Why? Why are people bigots? What is it about someone whose skin is a different color than "white" that makes him such a target of hatred? And I'm not just talking about African-Americans, but let's start there. Imagine yourself as a child again and your family moving into a particular neighborhood because your mom or dad found work nearby and discovering everyone in your neighborhood hates you. You don't know why, you know you did nothing wrong. And then, in a hateful tone, someone calls you a name that represents something over which you have no control--the color of your skin or your ancestry. Soon someone spits on you and tells you you can't sit near them, or eat at a restaurant with them, or use a public restroom. Then someone throws a rock through a window in your home, or sets something on fire in your yard. Then they shoot at you. And all because . . . you're different from them? Why, in the name of God . . . oh, that's right, some bigots say they're speaking for God. "God made different races for a reason and they should never mix!" But they can't explain the reason; they just take God's word for it. Not all bigots are bigots because they think God is telling them to be bigots; I can almost understand the God reasoning. If you really believe God is telling you to do something, well . . . The worst bigots have no reason at all, and seem to be proud of it. "People of a different race than mine are inferior, and screw you if you want an explanation. I'm superior because of my whiteness and if it makes no sense to you you're welcome to leave the planet."
I believe in karma and reincarnation so I understand the concept of learning from mistakes and moving on. But if you're a fundamentalist you believe in having 1 shot at being a good enough person to make it to heaven when you die--or at least, pergatory. We are children--learning, learning, learning. But one of my hardest lessons is overcoming my hatred of people I call "stupid." When I think bigots and people with whom I disagree are "stupid," I'm not advancing myself on the karmic path; I'm staying right on the part of the path occupied by the bigots. I'm standing there, wasting time calling them names instead of moving closer to a better relationship with God. Why is it so hard for me to walk away from these people? The greater part of their ignorance is in recognizing (especially if they believe in a God) that God sees us all in equal light, or so I believe. Of course, I could be wrong. God doesn't call me up and have conversations with me any more than he talks things over with bigots, so I fall back on common sense. And even though I don't agree with Judge Judy politically, I tend to agree with her statement that ". . . if something doesn't make sense, it's not true."
And of course bigotry goes beyond skin color. Last week I read an article about one of Barak Obama's former nannies. She's a trans-gendered "man" who lives in Indonesia. Apparently in Indonesia (as well as many other parts of the world) homosexuals and trans-genders are treated miserably. A trans-gendered person in Indonesia will usually be left alone unless he/she is "pretending" to be what he/she "is not," then he/she will be beaten or killed. According to the President's former nanny, she is only safe if she lives as a man or lives as a woman and prostitutes herself. She chooses the former and prays for a better life. (Some of us who read the article are in touch with the White House on this issue. We who support the President are assuming he was unaware of this woman's plight until she was tracked down and interviewed by the AP.)
The article was online and allowed for comments. I read nearly two pages of comments and found only 1 person who sounded sympathetic. I was amazed. I also constantly have to remind myself of my naivete' regarding a huge portion of the population who don't see things my way. I pondered commenting for a while and then decided to pull up my best spiritual teachings and said:
I pray to God that someday I'll have the words to speak that will change the minds and hearts of the ignorant, the bigots, and the totally closed-minded. I also pray for the ability to love all beings even if I hate what they say or the way they think. Babaji bless us all, especially the people who must live their lives in a world full of people who hate them for the way God made them.
I was notified there had been responses to my comment and I decided to steel myself and read them. In addition to one that said, "Oh, cry me a river," I'd received 5 'thumbs downs.' But the following was one for the bigotry hall of fame:
- Druneric: You don't have the first class idea what Christian or being one is all about. Your a athesit. Better read about what God says about Homosexuals . See Leviticus 18:22- or 1st cronithians 6:9. Obama knew his nammy was gay and Obama is gay as well. That is why he was in support of Gay rights. You can't live two ways. Either for God or not for God.You say you pray for Babaji. You must be one of those freek Iraq. Why don't you go back and live In Iraq since you love that country so much, Get out of Clevland Ohio and pray for your idol your false Gods and see if they can help you. Your a phoney like your brother Barrack Obama.
Once again, because I'm naive, I was appalled. My best spiritual senses told me to ignore, ignore, ignore. The part of my soul determined to stay on the path with the bigots made me say:
- Huh, I just discovered I had responses to my post. None of you has probably ever heard of Babaji, so let's use the man Jesus instead. I can't tell if all of you consider yourselves Christians--8 Ball Man obviously does. Being a Christian means you believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Do you honestly think Jesus would pat any of you on the back and say, "Hey! Good work being snarky and hating people." Yeesh. Get an education.
Two steps forward, one step back.
