Love and Tolerance

"Only love can conquer hate".-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

For this writer, Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, is the most important holiday on the American calendar. In one sense, it represents a culmination of many ideals that have become synonymous with America. Ideals like Freedom of Speech, the Right to Vote, the right to embrace, and practice the religion of your choice and consequently, the right to not have others impose their values upon you, are the values that separate American from the rest of the world. Our civil liberties are precious things. They are the stitching in the quilt, that is great American cultural tapestry. They are the fabric that has made us the envy of the world. They are also the forces that will heal us and help us move forward, as a nation, if we let them.

No value is more important to the success of the American story than Tolerance. No emotion is so vital in its struggle for success, than is Love. Without either, we would have perished as a society long ago. As author Jon Meecham points out in his book "Soul of America", America has always and continues to struggle with racial tension. Yet, amidst social upheaval and moral outrage, throughout America's history, "our better angels prevailed". I like and respect Mr. Meecham's work and share his sense of hope for us all. I also believe that no other American figure in my lifetime, has represented all that I was taught than Dr. Martin Luther King.

In honor of Dr. King's birthday, I would like to share my gratitude for success, as I have been blessed to see my life and life's work, being influenced by two powerful forces in Life: Love and Tolerance.

Although I am not African-American, I have been blessed to have grown up in a community that was represented by people from many different cultures, middle-class and poor. People who chose to immigrate to the United States, or those whose ancestors were brought here against their will. I will never know what it is like to feel like to be denigrated for the way I look, simply because of the color of my skin. I will never know the fear and hysteria, that exists in many communities, simply because of bigotry and racial profiling. I will never know what it is like to be marked by a hate group, and targeted for the things that I say, and the values the I espouse.

I have seen the horrific violence and death surrounding many people of color. I have bared witness to the pain and agony that is brought on by bigotry, violence and greed. These are not just words on a page to me. They are real people and real stories. After weeks of thinking about this article, I decided not to pursue a political narrative. I came to the conclusion, because doing so, does not do Dr. King's legacy any justice, nor does it celebrate any aspect of the human spirit.

It is my intention to celebrate and respect Dr. King's legacy, through my own life stories and my appreciation for his life's work.

Dr. King was a gift to everyone. He lived a life devoted to one ideal: Love "Only love can conquer hate!", King stated in a speech in 1963. On the surface, it was simple and elegant in its delivery. However, as history reminds us, tolerance continue to be a struggles for Americans. However, amidst the outward tensions that have existed throughout my life, for whatever cosmic force or will of faith, and in spite of many trials and tribulations, I have continued to find examples of both Love and Tolerance. All of which, have made me a better person and professional than I was before.

I was brought up Catholic and spent sixteen years in Catholic schools, including all of elementary, middle, high school and on to graduated school, where I graduated from Loyola University of Chicago, with honors. It is elementary for me to say, that like anyone else, I have my shortcomings and limitations.This is very true. I am literally standing on the shoulders of many great people, who have come before me or who are active in my life. I am also blessed to live in a country where I can literally say that I am here today, because of great doctors and modern medicine. Yet, amidst all of the heartache and good fortune, I am just as equal to anyone else, no matter what they look like, where they come from, what language they speak or how they choose to live their lives.

I know this because it has been woven and cultivated into my very being, by mother and grandmother's fierce beliefs in the teachings of Jesus Christ (My mother is a devote catholic and my grandmother was Greek Orthodox.), and I was fortunate to go to school with a literal United Nations of classmates, from Europe, Asia, the Pacific Rim and even South America.

And, I was exposed to all this before setting foot in high school.

Having experienced medical setbacks early on life, I was forced to work through and relearn to perform many skills, in order to maintain my faculties. The truth is, that for all that I have gone through physically, emotionally and spiritually, my success would not have been possible, in a world without the modern teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King. His relentless dedication to the lessons of his own Christian faith and personal character, are qualities that make America great and always will.

On on this day, the anniversary of Dr. King's birth, I want to personally share my gratitude for the impact that his teachings have had on my life, and through the many examples from people I have been blessed to know and encounter. All of which have provided me lessons in both Tolerance and Compassion, and have reminded me of the power of love to heal and transform.

In a less tolerant world, I may not have received a vital blood transfusion that helped save my life, from a stranger of color, only recognized by his blood type, and not revealed to me years later. When someone helps to save your life, it's a time to rejoice and express gratitude-period.

In a less compassionate world, I would have been written off by Medical Science and Education, and would not have been encouraged and disciplined enough to develop habits, that have enabled me to be a life long learner and professional. In this instance, I may have simply been pittied, ridiculed or written off. the fact is that I wasn't. My very existence is a testament to this assertion.

In a less tolerant world, in one of my life's weakest moments, I would have never thought in my wildest dreams, that a black man, would choose my hospital bedside,as a "stop over", on his way to being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. I would never would have known about the backstories of future African-American Hall Of Famers, and how players I admired like Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Ernie Banks were forced to behave, the and the great pain they had to set aside, to succeed in a sport that did not welcome them. I never would have been able to look into the eyes, and see the real life smile, and joy for living, as I did a real life. I never would have been able to begin to understand the great pain and exuberance, in one afternoon. Ultimately, I never would have bared witness to one of the most important acts one must take to move forward in life: reconciliation. This is a consistent theme throughout the teachings of Dr. King, which he shared through his study and belief in Christianity. This topic is also a central theme in many other religions such as Buddism.

In a less compassionate world, I would have never bared witness, to see the aging star basketball player at my 10 year high school reunion, apologize to my dear friend, for the way he bullied and toyed with him all through high school. In a world that did not allow for reconciliation, I would have never witnessed the marvel of an entire student body rejoice and revel in amazement, and unbridled joy. I never would have bared witness to see this man's life transformed into one full of meaning and purpose.

In a less tolerant world, I never would have dared to date women of color. I never would have been exposed to different cultures and values. I never would have learned how people from different cultures and places, view the world that we share. In this same world, I would have never learned how to temper my passions and allow others to be as they allow me the same. I never would have felt love and the hope for a better life.

In a less compassionate world, my friend Andre, would have simply written me off as another "white boy". I would never had the opportunity to jostle with him about our cultures and race, only to find that he made sure I got home from work safe every night.

In a less tolerant world, I never would have met my best friend or my first serious girlfriend, simply because one was not of the same religion, and the other was from the far East. I also would have never met my girlfriend and her family, who are from Central America, and had the privilege of experiencing their culture, their love and kindness.

In a less compassionate world, I would have never met a Baptist minister, who I never knew, but knew me, simply because people from his congregation, parents of many of my students, offered up prayers for my health, after a bout with pneumonia. Stunned, and caught up in the brilliant magic of that simple gesture, I simply stood in awe and thanked him-repeatedly.

In a less tolerant world, I never would have been able to have been blessed to be hired in my current job, in the manner that it happened, by people who are different from me, and with students who continue to teach me and guide my career in ways I could never have imagined.

In a less compassionate and tolerant world, I never would have encountered a total stranger, who was visibly different from me, and reached out to put her hands upon my chest, in order to bless me and vanquish my fears.

In a less compassionate world, no one would have taken the time with me, to consider my limitations and talents and encourage me to do, what has become my life's work, nor would I have ever had the courage, to reach out and network, with so many wonderful people. Many of whom, are responsible for helping me get back on track professionally and personally.

In a less tolerant world, I would have never been allowed to learn and grow from my mistakes, in order to become a better person and professional. It takes Tolerance to help one to grow intellectually and emotionally. It takes tolerance to take others views and opinions under consideration.This is essential for personal and professional growth.

Compassion is simply caring for someone other than yourself, and allowing yourself to align with and embrace an ideal over something greater than yourself. Only love can do that. Nothing that I just wrote would have occurred without the kindness and understanding of others, who were different that I am.

Happy Birthday and thank you for your legacy. Because of your example, I have been blessed. Because of your work, America is still that "shining city on a hill", because, "only love can conquer hate".

#ThankYouDrKing

#LoveandTolerance