| Commentary and Philosophy Non-Fiction posted May 20, 2022 |
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Common Ground is Our Only Hope
The Green Shirt
by Annmuma
Notes to the Grandchildren Contest Winner
Several years ago, I was visiting my daughter's home, sitting in the backyard watching my five-year-old grandson play with some T-ball friends.
One of the kids threw a ball and it went over the fence into a neighbor's yard. George came running over to me.
"Grandma, can you get the ball for us?"
"Yeah, sure. Whose ball is it?"
"It's Jerry's"
"Who's Jerry?"
"He's the boy in the green shirt."
George was playing with five other little boys, four of them were Caucasian and one was African-American. Jerry was African American and the only real difference George saw between Jerry and his other four friends was a green shirt.
It struck me then, and I still think about it. I have told that story hundreds of times.
That's what I want for my grandchildren: the realization that there is only one race, the human race, and it comes in many colors, with many religions, many customs and all with the same needs for love, forgiveness, compassion and honesty.
I wish for each of my grandchildren, great-grandchildren and those to come generations from now, the awareness that each of them is 'enough' in and of themselves. I wish for them the wisdom to look for that completeness in every other person, to search for the common ground. For it is only that common ground that can save our world, both collectively and individually.
Watching my children and my grandchildren exhibit this wisdom and instill this desire in their own children is among my greatest blessings.
There is hope, and I believe in it.
Several years ago, I was visiting my daughter's home, sitting in the backyard watching my five-year-old grandson play with some T-ball friends.
One of the kids threw a ball and it went over the fence into a neighbor's yard. George came running over to me.
"Grandma, can you get the ball for us?"
"Yeah, sure. Whose ball is it?"
"It's Jerry's"
"Who's Jerry?"
"He's the boy in the green shirt."
George was playing with five other little boys, four of them were Caucasian and one was African-American. Jerry was African American and the only real difference George saw between Jerry and his other four friends was a green shirt.
It struck me then, and I still think about it. I have told that story hundreds of times.
That's what I want for my grandchildren: the realization that there is only one race, the human race, and it comes in many colors, with many religions, many customs and all with the same needs for love, forgiveness, compassion and honesty.
I wish for each of my grandchildren, great-grandchildren and those to come generations from now, the awareness that each of them is 'enough' in and of themselves. I wish for them the wisdom to look for that completeness in every other person, to search for the common ground. For it is only that common ground that can save our world, both collectively and individually.
Watching my children and my grandchildren exhibit this wisdom and instill this desire in their own children is among my greatest blessings.
There is hope, and I believe in it.
One of the kids threw a ball and it went over the fence into a neighbor's yard. George came running over to me.
"Grandma, can you get the ball for us?"
"Yeah, sure. Whose ball is it?"
"It's Jerry's"
"Who's Jerry?"
"He's the boy in the green shirt."
George was playing with five other little boys, four of them were Caucasian and one was African-American. Jerry was African American and the only real difference George saw between Jerry and his other four friends was a green shirt.
It struck me then, and I still think about it. I have told that story hundreds of times.
That's what I want for my grandchildren: the realization that there is only one race, the human race, and it comes in many colors, with many religions, many customs and all with the same needs for love, forgiveness, compassion and honesty.
I wish for each of my grandchildren, great-grandchildren and those to come generations from now, the awareness that each of them is 'enough' in and of themselves. I wish for them the wisdom to look for that completeness in every other person, to search for the common ground. For it is only that common ground that can save our world, both collectively and individually.
Watching my children and my grandchildren exhibit this wisdom and instill this desire in their own children is among my greatest blessings.
There is hope, and I believe in it.
Notes to the Grandchildren Contest Winner |
 Recognized |
#20 May 2022 |
As I watched the nightly news with the hate crimes, the mass shootings and war in Ukraine, I thought about my grandchildren and this contest. It becomes more clear each day that our only chance as the human race is through, not only listening, but also hearing each other. The hope lies in our children and grandchildren.
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and 2 member cents. Artwork by VMarguarite at FanArtReview.com
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