My Grandfather once told me about how he felt coming to
America as an Immigrant when he was eight years old. His parents left Poland in
the latter 1800’s because of the strife there caused by Communist trying to
take control of the country who were persecuting those that belonged to the Christian religion his parents did. He told me when he first saw the Statue Of Liberty
from the deck of a ship coming into Ellis Island, he was relieved to tears that
he would never again have to worry about a knock on the door in the middle of
the night from someone coming to take his Father away to “the place of no
return” like some of their family, friends, and neighbors had experienced. He was an old man when he told me this story but it still brought tears to his eyes and filled my heart with compassion for all those who didn't escape, only to be preyed on again by Hitler...and then Stalin for many decades.
His words I heard so long ago have been ringing in my ears
this past week amidst all the grief. Grief we all felt when we heard of the
attacks in Paris and other places. Sadly for some, that grief soon turned into
hateful posts on social media about why they felt we should now slam the door
in the face of fleeing refugees who have lost everything, persecuted by those
who believe killing themselves and as many innocent strangers as possible in
the name of God will absolve their sins and earn them a ticket to Paradise.
I’ve seen new, and
some old friends I grew up with, spew hatred and praise God in the same post, and
I wonder how and when they became so radicalized and I keep remembering what my Dad often quoted..."You have nothing to fear but fear itself."
I see political candidates running for President wanting the Muslim refugees to be "branded"and wear “badges” denoting who they are, and for America to build walls like Hitler and Stalin did…and another who compares innocent men, women, and children fleeing the horror in their homeland to “rabid dogs”… and I shed more tears wondering where love and compassion for their fellow man has fled to... and all of them claiming to be Christians who praise Jesus and claim they follow in His footsteps.
I see political candidates running for President wanting the Muslim refugees to be "branded"and wear “badges” denoting who they are, and for America to build walls like Hitler and Stalin did…and another who compares innocent men, women, and children fleeing the horror in their homeland to “rabid dogs”… and I shed more tears wondering where love and compassion for their fellow man has fled to... and all of them claiming to be Christians who praise Jesus and claim they follow in His footsteps.
Well?
2 comments:
I think many of those comments come out of fear...and ignorance. They just don't really understand the full scope of things. I try to stay out of political arguments, but when people get extreme, I just set it so their posts don't show up in my newsfeed anymore. Unfortunately, sometimes the people making those comments are very close family members.
You are wise in how you handle it Stephanie, I've also hid some of those that post such radical ideas. But I can't stop wondering how and when they became so indifferent to the need for compassion. I am not looking forward to the political hullabaloo we are going to have to deal with the next year. Happy Thanksgiving!
Post a Comment