The Bruising of Our Country

Today's Lake County News Sun Opinion page features articles by David Rutter and Clarence Page...BOTH powerful reads.  Though most days I raise an eyebrow or two over his comments, today I copied into my journal David Rutter's commentary, "Aristotle's Theory: "Only when you accept your ignorance about yourself can you begin any path to wisdom."  Maybe the same is true about goodness.  If you doubt you are as good a human being as you insist, maybe that's the only way to become a better human being.  Reality is not only what happens to us.  It's what we decide to construct from the elements at our fingers and in our souls." 

 The angry cries demanding that "Black Lives Matter", behind them are aching wails pleading to let black lives matter too.  Hear THEM.  They need to be heard.  And if we as a country can stop and  COMPASSIONATELY LISTEN, recognize where we HAVE been wrong, and commit to changing our ways, maybe, then maybe, we can ALL turn together and address the massacre of black souls on the streets.  But not until we accept our ignorance about ourselves and our history of them NOT mattering, can we begin a path to wisdom.   This isn't a matter for the government alone.  It is the matter of every resident committing to "accept your ignorance" and reach out in love and compassion and try to understand.  Until you have heard the tearful traumatic memories of those who have not mattered, you will have no idea the pain not mattering has created. Once we truly hear and understand, they will begin to trust that we truly care and let down their walls too. I promise, it is safe for us to stop and admit we as a country allowed some to behave badly and didn't hold them accountable....and begin to hold ourselves and each other accountable.  Let's not take sides  for or against  Black or Blue Lives Mattering....ironically, that just leaves deep bruises.  Let's ALL agree to backing integrity and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching, and transform our country.  #BlackLivesMatter. #BlueLivesMatter.  #zbcommunityofcharacter.