Common Ground

The level of vitriol and one-sided commentary encircling us these days is truly disturbing.  It would be comical if political and social ranting appeared on an Archie Bunker episode or a Saturday Night Live skit where it would be presented as absurdity for humor's sake.   That it appears on news stations and other serious outlets implies that the absurd has somehow become legitimate.

It is even more disturbing that some of this extremism  - despite protestations to the contrary - appears rooted in prejudice.  In fact, it may have been Archie Bunker who drove overt bigotry underground; post Archie, it became socially unacceptable to be explicit about one's prejudices.  Thus, they emerge cloaked in some outlandish 'logic' leading to conclusions that would otherwise be socially questionable.  In my view, many folks unknowingly practice this dynamic, being unable to consider that they might harbor distasteful leanings. 

I think this dynamic has played out about President Obama, as people weave tenuous threads into fabrications that allow them to challenge his legitimacy without mentioning race.  And now, I see it playing out with the mis-characterized "Ground Zero Mosque" which will mainly be a Muslim community center.   Some have said the center would be an insult to 9-11 victims, but I think this masks an unthinking bias.   If we drive the community center away because of its religious affiliation, the greater insult is to our American values.

Here's a poem by Islamic poet, Lena Winfrey Seder.

Society's Disease

Racism, the great crime of humanity.
Why does one's race always claim superiority?
We are all the same; there is no inferiority.
When we look at each other we see a resembling face.
We all have a body and a soul of grace.
As individuals, we do have differences.
Some of us may take risks and chances.
Others of us may be shy and give few glances.
We should find common ground and make peace.
The hatred and killing should desist and cease.
We are all the children of Adam and in life have a lease.
We should lend a helping hand to each other.
We should remember that Eve is our common mother.
We should love our human sisters and brothers.

                                                                                                - Lena Winfrey Seder