Saturday, August 14, 2021

D.L. Gardner: One Will Free us From All This Futility

Why is everyone so divided? Why is common accord, much less peace so elusive? The world is divided into nations, and nations are divided by their own citizens. Why are life and living so seemingly futile? We all share common needs as well as common interests.


Last spring Columbia University announced six “Multicultural Graduation Celebrations” separated by categories of Black, Asian, Native, “Latinx,” “LGBTQIS+,” and “first generation and/or low-income.” These were separate events from a university-wide graduation ceremony. 


Columbia was not the first university, or the only university to accommodate identity groups’ requests for separate celebrations. Harvard, University of Portland, and Chapman University all held graduation celebrations for multiple identity groups. 


Critical Race Theory (CRT) has been taught in our schools for years, but has drawn more attention this past year. Parents have been actively learning what their children are being taught, and becoming outraged and organized to remove this radical theory from their children’s curricula. CRT has roots in Marxism, and similarly divides the human race into identity groups. Marx focused on classes of people. CRT focuses on race and gender identities. 


Those of a certain age grew up under separate-but-equal segregation. In America, that changed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Those who lived the transition, particularly in the South, have much different perspectives of race and culture than most of the rest of the population who have merely read opinionated accounts of what happened. Why are younger generations so eager to separate into racial, gender, or other identity groups to celebrate an event like graduation? 


Traditional college students who jump from the high school frying pan right into the university fire, especially far from their home towns, are forced to make similar transitions to new surroundings and routines, as well as new friends and acquaintances. Many questions arise: Now what? Who am I? Is anyone else like me? What do I want to do after college? Campuses are filled with all kinds of identity groups competing for students’ attention.


It’s one thing for a person to try out different groups or organizations, and then choose a path that’s comfortable. It’s quite another to be grouped or organized by one-size-fits-all arbitrators who believe “those people” all share the same experiences and feelings. We know who “those people” are. Mainly, “they” are not us. 


In an episode of Star Trek, the crew of the Enterprise discovered a planet with human-like beings whose faces were blue on one side and white on the other. When the captain asked them why they continually argued with one another, one answered, “Can’t you see we’re different? He is blue on his left side and I am blue on my right!”


Those who have lived long enough realize the whole human race is corrupt, hellbent on self-destruction. The Bible says it this way: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In our corrupt condition, the only thing that has ever united us is a common enemy. Unfortunately, the world has no common enemy big enough to unite us, not even the pandemic. 


Thankfully, One has promised to return, end all conflicts in the world, and redeem the whole creation from the futility He imposed. (Romans 8:20-21)  Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

 

 

Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com.



14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Next

Anonymous said...

Good thought. We are sadly divided and need uniting.

Anonymous said...

Kumbaya!

Anonymous said...

"those who have lived long enough realize the whole human race is corrupt, hellbent on self-destruction. The Bible says it this way: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In our corrupt condition, the only thing that has ever united us is a common enemy. Unfortunately, the world has no common enemy big enough to unite us, not even the pandemic."

Danny, shame on you and I am surprised you wrote this.

I've had a privileged, wonderful life with many things for which I am grateful. I hope I've been successful in "paying it forward." I've tried. But more importantly than anything I may or may not have done, I've met a lot of people who are evidence that this sad allegation isn't accurate. It isn't that there are no decent, good, and wonderful people but it may be that it isn't put forth in this online social media society. But they - we - are here and I think decent people know it.

I've seen it all my life. If you have any doubts, try being nice to someone, anyone, of any color. And then, do it again. Don't sell someone a fish, teach them how to fish. I've had extraordinary experiences just asking a stranger in a strange land about themselves and then just listening to their answer. Then, they asked me. Pretty damned reaffirming and simple. On the other hand, telling folks things who are under no obligation to listen, and worse, demanding that they conform to it, rarely seems to work. Is that really a surprise?

Before anyone responds about "Pollyanna-ish" suggestions, no, you cannot "be nice" to a thankfully rare few, but as to the whole of humankind? You pretty much get what you give.

Does any of that sound remotely familiar?

I'm A Realist said...

Who says 'we all have common interests'. NO! We do NOT! We might have vague common interests in terms of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, but that's where it ends. It's fiction and folly to suggest (yet alone, believe) we are all one common people with the same goals of unity and common interest.

There is no way a large group of 'things' (people, plants, or otherwise), with uncommon interests, needs, likes, dislikes, goals, wishes, dreams and things being desired...will ever 'unite'. Nor should that be a goal, since it's impossible.

All we need to strive for is sectioned-off tolerance and the ability to exist in occasional proximity without hostility.

Anonymous said...

@2:44 AM - Well said. I hope Danny takes your words to heart as people just like him, as expressed through his writings, are a primary cause of our social dysfunction.

Anonymous said...

Trump divided the country.

Anonymous said...

We are headed toward eventual Balkanization. Inevitable.

Anonymous said...

The problem is that leftists are all under the influence of demonic forces and actually believe that moral corruption is a good thing. The truth is that every single social problem our society suffers is due to failed leftist policies and a morally bankrupt version of “tolerance” that has turned every American city into a violent ghetto hellscape.

Never forget that in the early 1960s you could walk every street in Jackson with no fear. Liberal tolerance took that from us.

Anonymous said...

DL, you really need to take a course on logic and read the history of religion and a few sociology books on how societies successfully function or fail and why.

And,the continued superficial understanding of Maslow's pyramid is astounding. It does not occur in a vacuum and is not static. Nor should every advancement in knowledge of human behavior and brain function( or lack thereof) over the last centuries be ignored.

Common human needs to get food, be safe, and to succeed in using our skills and talents have always required cooperation outside our tribe.

In the days of segregation, you seem to forget or ignore that the white "tribe" had other tribes cooking in the kitchens and planting and picking the crops.

And, I continue to be amazed how Christians rely on the Old Testament and ignore The Sermon on the Mount. Nor was Jesus' message limited to one tribe. And, if you study the history of religion, you begin to see how all of them incorporate some of the " heathens" myths and rituals.

Perhaps, you could consider that God blessed those who developed the vaccine or whose hands build or teach or fine solutions to the problems of His children.
But, if you are deaf and blind and see people in terms of their skin or language or religion and see no commonality or contribution from others, you are blind. For example, DL, our medical advancements were never limited to
male white Anglo Saxons. And, while those folks were working to find cures, someone was tending their hearth and home and getting food to their tables.

Find the passages for not being so " puffed up". And, too bad that the Scripture that read " Those who are holier than thou are like a smoke up God's nose and a fire that burns all day and all night" was edited out of The Bible.

Anonymous said...

"Never forget that in the early 1960s you could walk every street in Jackson with no fear. Liberal tolerance took that from us."

A few points:

1. That isn't really true, although it was a lot truer for white folks than black folks. Or does it only matter that the white folks felt safe? And no, I'm neither black or "liberal."

2. If there was a bastion of liberal tolerance in the early 1960s, it was certainly Jackson, MS.

3. I agree that tolerance of misbehavior (or worse) and (modern) "liberalism," along with race-baiting and all that comes with it, has certainly caused all sorts of problems throughout the US. I can understand why a lot of black folks, especially older folks with painful personal experiences with hardcore institutional racism every day of their lives, have a lot of hesitation about trusting white folks. But I also know that black folks have as much an obligation to make things better for everyone as white folks do. And a bunch of paternalistic horseshit from misguided, even if well-meaning, white folks will make things worse, not better. It gives some hope that younger folks of all skin tones are becoming more and more genuinely "color blind." Maybe encouraging the better aspects of that rather than bitching at them about any and all of it is worth considering.

Anonymous said...

We are divided because Americans have allowed communists to infiltrate every organization and corporation in the country. The very fabric of the communist doctrine is to divide and conquer from within. Anyone who thinks otherwise are numb on both ends!

Anonymous said...

There isn't any ignorance, like Bible ignorance, ain't that right, 2:44, and 9:23. I don't even know where to begin with this much ignorance, but we'll try.

Your problem isn't with this article, or the writer, oh no, your problem is with the God whose Word he quoted. God said, Romans 3:10-12,Psalm 14:1-3,Psalm 53:1-3, you were no good, not any of us, and you got your poor little fefes hurt. So, getting your little fefes hurt, you did the saintly thing of attacking the writer. Well, that's a hard no, that isn't what the scripture teaches. 1 Corinthians 4:12 says that we bless those that curse us. Y'all were probably absent that Sunday school lesson, I'm sure you're Bible scholars, well maybe not.

Some of you people continue to amaze me at how much useless, there's no other word for it, shit you know. Here's an FYI for you, if you find an old enough Bible, that has the red writing in the Old Testament, yes, there are such things, you will also find the word shit used.

What is with your preoccupation with race? Are you a white nationalist? The Klan maybe, Aryan brotherhood, just what is your problem? There's only one race in the Bible, that's the human race.

I will leave you this on my way out, Romans 3:4, let God be true and every man a liar. That's how I see it.

Anonymous said...

There are "forces" who see their mission as dividing Americans into teams, tribes, or camps -- whatever you want to call these loosely formed groups. Whether Jackson was safe in the '60's is of absolutely no moment currently.

These same "forces" absolutely hated Trump and they are devoted to continuing this hate. Nothing good can come from this hate. Hate by its nature is not a positive thing and positive results cannot be born of hate. The press merely mirrors this hate as part of its function as liberal policies. Independent thought by the press is discouraged just as it is in education.

There are lots of good, religious, and patriotic Americans left who care about this country and they are not limited to any particular race. Keep pushing us and you will hear us roar! Only the government insists on keeping us divided by race. Watch it happen.


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Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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