Humanity, Greater than the Sum of its Stereotypes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

We live in a troubled world. Even so, for most of us, our faith in the essential goodness of human nature remains unshaken if somewhat battered; on balance, good, kind people in the world far outnumber their opposites, and hopefully always will.

Like many gay people, I have been physically as well as verbally abused for being gay. Homophobia, racist, religious intolerance...once, these made me angry, bitter and resentful. Now, at 70+ years-old, they just makes me sad, very sad.

We are a common humanity. As I have said many times and will say again, we need to respect each other for our differences not fight over them; try to support each other as and when we can even as we are (sometimes) struggling to get to grips with life  ourselves.

Is that really too much to ask?

When push comes to shove, what does anyone's colour, creed, sex or sexuality have to do with their humanity anyway?

Now, inhumanity, that's another story...

Yes, we all know it makes common sense…so what holier-than-thou fool threw that out of what window on the world centuries ago, I wonder?

HUMANITY, GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS STEREOTYPES 

There is a place in this life

for everyone,

space enough in this world

for everyone,

love’s flowers enough to share

with everyone,

happy hours enough to care

for everyone

There is a place in this life

for everyone,

pain enough in this world

for everyone,

inhumanity enough laid bare

to everyone,

healing ways enough to care

for everyone

There is a place in this life

for everyone,

(gay or straight) in a world

for everyone,

individuality enough to share

with everyone,

humanity enough (surely?)

in everyone

Though hard choices imposed

on everyone,

divided voices superimposed

on everyone,

let humanity make time enough

for everyone,

happy hours enough to care

for everyone

So come on, world, out with it;

what’s your problem with that?

Copyright R. N. Taber 2008