The Beauty of Gray

If I told you he was your brother
We could reminisce
Then you would go about your day
If I said you ought to give him some of your water
You'd shake your canteen and walk away

The perception that divides you from him
Is a lie
For some reason you never asked why
This is not a black and white world
You can't afford to believe in your side

This is not a black and white world
To be alive
I say that the colours must be swirled
And I believe
That maybe today
We will all get to appreciate

The Beauty of Grey

Live
"The Beauty of Gray"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMvyD9e1A30&feature=related

Everyone has a story. Watching the supporters of two of our fine Democratic potentials going at one another with no respect for the opposing point of view whatsoever has me staring in astonishment. I can't believe how nasty it's gotten in such a short time.

Can we give one another a break here? Is it possible that some of those in Clinton's retinue have made remarkably racially insensitive comments without the whole campaign and Hillary herself being racist? Is it possible that people on the other side might be offended without deliberately engaging in "race-baiting?"

Maybe? Can there be some room for doubt? Some restraint on the rush to judgment?

I worry about the ultimate result of a mind-war like this one, because it's not just about which candidate one supports--it's a hell of a lot deeper than that. When it becomes THIS personal, and this cultural, wounds can be inflicted that cannot easily be healed.

DU is better than this. DUers are better than this.

I abhor racism, sexism, and homophobia. I think they're used against us all, not just those who are affected directly. They create artificial separations that those without conscience use to divide us and weaken us in the battle against those who would dominate, control, and exploit us. Culling us based on our varying differences rather than allowing us to discover our common strengths.

This is NOT about the candidates. It's about US. Neither of the two are my chosen candidate, but they both have qualities that might serve us well if one of them were to attain the highest office in the land. They are not perfect, but none of us are.

This is a call for those of us who are engaged in this running battle to stop and realize that the other side might have a valid viewpoint, even if one does not necessarily agree. Some of the statements made might have been racially insensitive, and some of the responses might have been excessive.

I am a strong voice for partisanship when it comes to facing the Republicans and their systematic destruction of everything good about this country. But when it comes to US, those who want to see a different kind of America, I can't see anything positive about this level of intra-party conflict. Nothing good can come of it. Nothing.

We have a battle to fight, and it's the battle of our lifetime. A battle for the hearts and minds of all Americans. A battle for the future of our country, our children, and our world. The true enemy lies outside our "big tent," not within it.

Racism, sexism, and homophobia has no place within our ranks. We are bigger than that. We have to be, lest we find ourselves becoming that which we despise.

Please.

I will say nothing more about this, but I implore you all to pay heed to my words. I want the best for us all.

If this continues unabated, we will all lose.

Please.

Ugly but precedented.

Well, this week we're into uncharted territory. I know we can do better.

(wags the skinny finger of shame)

Figures.

and it still gives me chills. I used to listen to Mental Jewelry daily, and it's still my all-time favorite album.

That very exciting (to me) and sentimental tidbit aside, I wholeheartedly agree with your post.