Again, I will touch on something controversial. I generally like to tiptoe around such touchy subjects (I avoid confrontation and debate as much as possible), but I feel that these words must be spoken.
I recently heard the new Macklemore and Ryan Lewis song. Perhaps you know their song “Thrift Shop." Anyway, the new song is called “Same Love,” and it got my brain on wheels rolling.
The song focuses on homosexuality, but I think the words reach beyond the fight for gay marriage. I think the song speaks to the fight for liberty and equality for everyone. This fight is a never ending one, one that has raged on through countless centuries. Perhaps because we humans evolve slowly, we don’t seem to be able to shed our chains of ignorance.
I thought about this as I read The Secret Life of Bees as I told you in a previous blog.
I also thought about it when I watched Cloud Atlas. One of stories revolved around a young white man aboard a ship who helps an escaped slave. The slave ends up saving the young man’s life and the young man returns home where he denounces his father-in-law’s involvement with the slave trade. The young man and his wife then move east to join in Abolitionist efforts. In a later story set in the future, another man risks his life to rescue a female human clone from slavery. This clone eventually broadcasts her “manifesto,” speaking of how we are all connected and our actions affect not only our own futures, but the future of all.
I thought about it again when I listened to Labyrinth. In Labyrinth however, it was religion, not race that caused pain and suffering. The novel involves a group of Christians, known as the Cathars, who opposed the Catholic church. They practiced a religion that may be considered more liberal than Catholicism. Considered heretics, the Cathars were massacred, many burned alive. So many wars fought and so many lives taken in the name of religion. Why? I believe God ‘s ultimate word is love. I believe God is love. I believe we are meant to love each other as God loves us, despite our imperfections and impurities. So why? Why must we deny love to people who are different?
And this song made me think about the discrimination and intolerance homosexuals experience. It made me think about the pain they often suffer at the hands of those who hate. Unfair treatment. Beatings and murders. Denial of the right to marry the one they love. Looked upon as evil, wrong, sick.
I can’t fathom people exploiting, denouncing, murdering, hating others they don’t even know, based solely on the color of their skin, or the name and number of their deities, or whom they love. I know that there may be some misguided genetic drive to protect our own that may be the root cause. I know that people are often products of their environment. I know ignorance can be taught. I know people think their religion, their God(s) tell them certain people must be shunned because who they are, what they do, is wrong and evil. Honestly, I don’t know every word in the Bible. I don’t know that it says people who are gay are beyond the love of God. I do know that the Bible says we should love our neighbors as ourselves.
Hate is strong. It can tear up, tear apart, and tear down. It can ruin lives, take lives. It can darken hearts, souls, homes, cities, societies. It poisons us, kills us slowly. So why do we hold on to it? Why do we allow it to set roots inside us? We do we let it wrap chains around us? Why do we give it the power to hold us down, keep us from reaching a higher existence of peace? Why do we continue to look at those who are different as threats to our existence?
I know that it would be simple to say “all we need is love,” or “give peace a chance.” I know the whole subject is much more complicated, and as the human population grows, more people come in contact with others who are very different, and tolerance involves an immense amount of understanding and patience. I know I can scream from the rooftops, but it may make little difference. But it won’t stop me from saying how I feel. I will not hesitate to accept all, with open arms, a open mind, and an open heart. I will not hesitate to ask that you all do the same. I know I can’t tell you what you should believe, and I don’t want to offend or fight. I just hope that you will not let intolerance drag you down to the depths of the human prison.
Maybe you won’t like this song. Maybe you think it’s simple. Maybe you don’t believe that gay people should be allowed to marry. Just open your ears and open your mind.
And maybe we can all open our hearts and allow love to set us free.
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