These flowers were on the table of a reception for a man who passed recently who was the epitome of tolerance.
His name was Don Clay. He was a black man who was a military warrior at one time but after retirement became a Pacifist, a man of tolerance and a Buddhist. At least that is what our many conversations have led me to believe. All has been corroborated by his many friends.
Don was born in 1930. Raised by a single mom. You and I know that it couldn't have been easy either on the streets of Philly or in the Navy and then Marines!
But, Don transcended race, totally. I had such amazing conversations with him, sitting on the wall in front of the Parroquia many times. He was especially compassionate and calming during my daughter's time with cancer. Have you ever known someone who had an aura? Don did.
I will miss him and the world will be a less tolerant place.
On that note, I have received two of the most venomous emails this week from former friends who discovered by reading the blog that I voted for Obama. I'm shocked at the lack of tolerance. I think everyone has the right to their own views and to vote for whoever they wish.
I certainly would never tell someone they couldn't possibly be a Christian. That they probably had murdered their own children. That IF I voted for Obama how many handouts did I live on? And on and on and on. It has really shaken me up. Not the words, but the divisiveness of so many people and their intolerance. Holy moly.
Each of us is so much more then who we vote for! This seems to be the lightening rod, however, for this intense hatred that I felt in both emails.
All I can say is "Peace". I hope that somehow this divisiveness will heal and all the people in the USA can work together instead of attacking each other for their differences.
20 comments:
Your former friends should remain "former friends"!!!
They were friends until I read the emails, then I responded to them and they then became "former" for sure!
I am new to your blog. One of the things that drew me to your blog was how you express your beliefs. I love how you are a very strong, patient and kind woman but yet don't let anyone run over the top of you. Even though Obama and his crew are not perfect (no one is) they have brought us out of near collapse of our country and everyone should be counting their lucky stars that we are doing so well. So sorry for your unkind emails.
One of the reasons I love living in Mexico so much is that the people are so tolerant and non-judgmental...so unlike the US and it's phony relisious fanatics...
I am new to your blog. One of the reasons I am following you blog is that you are not afraid to speak your mind. Sorry for the unkind emails.
I feel Obama and his crew are doing an amazing job. We should thank our lucky stars that this country did not go into a deep depression. It is unfortunate that so many can not see this. I know we have freedom of speech, but cannot believe what comes out of some people's mouths.
Keep up the good work!
Dear Babs, The last election was a nasty one but it went our way so some folk are ticked off-I was in a bad mood for two years after the Gore election and so it goes. My brother-in-law and I had a falling out over the second Bush election, did not speak but now we are good. We are going to a Browns game Sunday together, he is still a Republican and I am what I am. I would have hated to lose him over election static.
I am new to your blog. One of the reasons I am following you blog is that you are not afraid to speak your mind. Sorry for the unkind emails.
I feel Obama and his crew are doing an amazing job. We should thank our lucky stars that this country did not go into a deep depression. It is unfortunate that so many can not see this. I know we have freedom of speech, but cannot believe what comes out of some people's mouths.
Keep up the good work!
Wow with friends like that who needs enemies!
It is sad that political differences would elicit such behavior from otherwise friends.
Amerikans truly are far removed from really having anything to do with U.S. politics. It seems ridiculous to take any of it too seriously.
I DO NOT like Obama and his administration AT ALL! But I am crazy for you and could careless who you voted for - just saying....
Thanks everyone for your positive comments.
Norm, I'm glad you and your brother-in-law healed your rift. I'm sure my brother and sister vote Rebublican - it matters not to me!
Jennilynn, you're a new poster - thanks and welcome
Charles, I so agree with you about the "live and let live" attitude in Mexico.
Peter and Shelagh - My sentiments exactly! Thanks for posting a comment and welcome.
Calypso - The feeling is MUTUAL - I treasure your friendship and kindness to me over the years! We WILL meet some day........
Sadly, the US is so polarized that "friends" dare not discuss politics. My husband and I live in southern Oklahoma, so we cannot share our views with the great majority of our friends without creating a palpable discomfort. What ever happened to discussion or exchanging ideas? Lost somewhere along the line....
Sadly, the US is so polarized on the subject of politics that "friends" dare not discuss any political issues. My husband and I live in southern Oklahoma, so we cannot share our views with the great majority of our friends without creating a palpable discomfort. What ever happened to discussion or exchanging ideas? Lost somewhere along the line....
I am grateful to have known Don Clay - if only through the posted eulogies. He has made our world a better place and his example will live on - even with those of us who only know of him. I proudly voted for President Obama. During the last two elections the accusations, political rantings, jokes and personal commentaries have plummeted to a new low. Because of my political preference I have been a accused by my friend of 55 years of not honoring my father's memory and his faithful service in WWII by casting my vote for President Obama .... How dare she? As I read today's post I wondered .... what would Don Clay say about the hate we are showering on one another ... what would Don Clay say about the respect / disrespect shown to our Commander in Chief? WWJD?
I love living in Mexico as it gives me a new perspective on the political views, outside of the political ring, that seem to be most fascinating to the US expats living in my area. As I lived in liberal cities most of my adult life, I was unaware of how many people had differing views that seem to be linked and interchangeable - faith and finances. I've adopted the road of my Canadian expat friends - politics is private. Doesn't mean I don't blog about it or haven't gotten into a bit of a tiff with anyone, but the Canadians views on how we behave on social networking sites really made me change my tune. I'm sorry that you were attacked. This time of year is really about loving and hope and peace. Happy Holidays to you and those who adore you.
Babs, in a nutshell, that's why we're fairly fed up with life in the U.S. now. Formerly normal people's values have been skewed by the hatemongers they're watching 24/7 on television. They get their news from a bunch of people who are making big bucks spreading vitriol. Clerks in stores spew their political views (basically hatred of Obama) out of their mouths to customers without a thought that other people might possibly have different opinions. We avoid our neighbors because most of them love to bitch about Obama. We live in the land of Sheriff Joe and Jan Brewer, but in my travels, I've found that people sitting next to me on airplanes also want to spew it. In talking with Canadian friends in Mexico, they're astounded at what the U.S. has become. They're fascinated with watching the train wreck. We're a very unenlightened nation.
I find it interesting that US citizens are worried about terrorists when those radio and TV personalities in the US are doing more damage to the fabric of American then anything I can imagine a terrorist can do. Very very disturbing and sad to see people turning against each other and not communicating.
Thank's "Lifes a Beach" for telling about life in Arizona......
Babs, people who hate Obama are for the most part ignorant or racists. I have found some “friend” who insults the president thinking that I’m going to agree with them. I try to be very polite when I tell them about their lack of knowledge in socioeconomic matters, it doesn’t matter to them, they love to hate Obama. That’s their problem; they are people of the past.
Babs, people who hate Obama are for the most part ignorant or racists. I have found some “friend” who insults the president thinking that I’m going to agree with them. I try to be very polite when I tell them about their lack of knowledge in socioeconomic matters, it doesn’t matter to them, they love to hate Obama. That’s their problem; they are people of the past.
My dad always voted Republican until 2008, when he couldn't bring himself to vote for McCain and thus left the field for president blank. He wouldn't share how he voted this year. Anyway, this post reminds me of when C and I went off to college in New York and she got an email from a friend of our dad's telling her not to let those liberal NYU professors brainwash her because we're at war with Islam. She responded that she was pretty sure we were never at war with a religion. And then neither one of us ever heard from that friend or his wife again. (Seriously, our dad always reminds us to send them happy birthday emails and they never respond.) Sorry you had to deal with nasty emails! Good riddance to those former friends.
Em, I'm so happy to know you read the blog. People never cease to amaze me....truly.......I can just see your great dad telling you to send them birthday greetings!
Ha.
Have a wonderful holiday season. Are you ever going to come see how beautiful San Miguel is?
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