Creative Cruelties

I could not choose one specific moment that history would burn, so I highlighted a few. Each one deserves a more indepth look, for us to appreciate where we come from. But each one also is more than enough for us to know, without doubt, to be better.

It has been said; that if we don't learn from our history, we will be forced to repeat it.

What an eclectic tapestry of lies and deceit we have created. Kept hidden in the name of love and preservation, as the proud nation of the free and home of the brave.

How proudly we stand, hats in our hands, hands on our hearts, tears in our eyes as the anthem plays and the breeze gently blows over the hundreds of stadiums we've filtered into, to celebrate our freedoms our passions and our triumphs or desires, of which are many!

Smiles on our faces, hope in our hearts as we anticipate the sweet memories we are sure to make, and the freedoms that were bought for us in blood.

Some of us completely oblivious to what has transpired. We have no clue who had to suffer or what incredible sacrifices were made to provide us the privilege to stand where we are and to have what we have, if not only just the opportunities to have, that will NOT be extended to everyone.

But, please don't take this wrong, for we are not alone in these selfish endeavors to be "one up."

From the beginning of time, we have been improving ourselves at the cost of another.

The blood of countless people have wet the swords and lined the pockets and streets of those well meaning pioneers and explorers expanding the doors and borders, for the good of the many.

* Cain and Abel:

Depicted in Genesis, as the first two siblings to justify hate and violence to achieve an upper hand and higher favor with a greater power. Forgetting love to achieve personal gain. Brother killing brother. Reward; monetary gain and self promotion.

* Christian crusades:

Soldiers aggressively took over lands and peoples, killing and raping in the name of God to achieve what was not theirs. Violence pursued by a group of people under the guise of a higher calling and just reward. Death and destruction to anyone that got in the way. Justified by faith. Reward; monetary gain and self promotion.

* Establishing America:

Leaving England to "conquer" America. Running from British rule to establish good will and freedom, while....

* Taking "America" :

From the indigenous people, abolishing freedom accordingly...Killing and enslaving, administering the very thing they ran to escape from. Reward; monetary gain and self promotion.

* Slavery:

Keeping slavery, ending slavery and the battles and civil wars that ensued to back the righteous. Claiming dominance because of the color of another's skin. Again repeating the lessons our forefathers fought to ignore and sentenced us to relive, again and again. Rewards; monetary gains.

* Holocaust:

The world watched as the Jewish people suffered at the hands of Hitler as he intended to build his master race. Some six million people died in the most inhuman ways, because one man said it should be.

I have read where certain parts of our world have begun to teach that this never really happened. An ignorance that once again will propel us into reliving it.

In every instance mentioned above, what would have happened if we had learned our lesson? The other atrocities might never have happened.

Violent actions, induced and excused by an endless desire to follow and teach man-made moralities and greed all to promote a specific group. Supported by...sheep?

what if the little guy would have stood up, what if that majority ruled? Why are we so prone to silence towards injustice?

We all struggle everyday to be seen, we fight so hard to be heard and only desire to have the simple inalienable rights of every other person around us, as promised to us by our forefathers. To be treated with respect and dignity. To be given love and consideration, while we enjoy life and pursue our dreams.

All men are by nature free and independent, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights — among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights and the protection of property, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

These rights cannot be given away or taken away, even by government or other powerful individuals. Because they are considered fundamental and essential to human existence. Yet we see it happening everyday. As long as we deem ourselves as more important, more deserving or above the law...we will continue to be condemned to repeat our history.

What if we defied the gnawing pressure to conform and stood together to protect one another. Would we fight amongst ourselves like Cain and Abel? Would we sit back and allow political or religious zealots push agendas that suit the elite? Would we learn to respect boundaries and personal differences, allowing growth outside a comfort zone? Would we stand on truth and principles that we are each of us, valuable and priceless? Would we bend our own needs for the sake of another?

If we did, what lesson would we be leaving behind for our children? Wouldn't you want to breathe the air of a world like that, I would.

Sure, stand for injustice, vote for better, have your opinion, but do not use it to bully or belittle.

"Everything I ever needed to know, I learned in kindergarten."

What did you learn? Be kind, share, encourage, help, love your neighbor, be inclusive. The simple A,B,C's of being a good human.

Love

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It has been said; if we don't learn from our history, we will be forced to repeat it.

So, what have you learned? What are you repeating?

Is it only injustice if your side is wronged or are you justified if the majority backs you and believes it's right.

So, why are the darkest moments of our history shrouded in secrecy and cover-ups? Because we are ashamed and horrified by our behaviors and want deeply to create something better or because we can't face up to the ugliness of our pasts?

Whatever the reason, it's time for a change...and it starts with you (me) Michael Jackson

"I'm starting with the man in the mirror

I'm asking him to change his ways

And no message could've been any clearer

If they wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make a change"

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Hurry, before history burns it down.

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I had written the following article a couple years ago regarding what the walls might say about the cruelties it has witnessed at the hands of humans. Please feel free to read, if you haven't.

What would the walls say about you?

A/N

I am a proud American, a true believer in God and in the good nature and loving hearts of all humans.

This story was only meant to highlight the facts that we are as guilty as we are good, and that our goal should be to spend our lifetimes doing our best to make tomorrow better for all.