In the past days, from the corners of the world as we know it, stupid people, racist people, bigoted people, evil people have found a way to injure and slaughter innocent people. The events in Burkina Faso, West Africa and in Charlottesville, VA, while seemingly unrelated, are actually a reflection of the same mindset among the vicious and hate-filled morons who carried out crimes against innocents. The horrific events, like others that have preceded them, and potentially will follow, have roots in the most perverted of ideas – that there is one colour, one creed, one viewpoint, and that other colours, creeds and viewpoints should be attacked. This uncivilized attitude and the heinous actions that go with it must be fully condemned and must be subdued through the global social conscience and forces for diversity and acceptance of all peoples as important members of the human race. The tee-shirts worn by the coaching staffs of the BC Lions and the Saskatchewan Roughriders last night, emblazoned with Diversity is Strength, were a small but important statement against the moronic behaviours of the white supremacists in Virginia and the terrorist groups who prey on aid workers and visitors and locals in the various vulnerable establishments around the world, including in Burkina Faso.
It would be unfair to lay all of the stupidity at the feet of one group, one country, one faith, one person. But there has been a political validation of hatred in the USA during the past 18 months, led by Donald Trump and a few of his most obsequious and miserable followers. This is not about right wing or left wing, this is about crass uncivilized behaviour brought along by rhetoric that has been hateful, random and unfocused. It has created an environment of polarization, and one which abhors diversity. The events that arise in this atmosphere of superiority – inferiority, strong – weak, male – female, Christian – Muslim, white – black, USA – Mexican, rich – poor, educated – uneducated, open-minded – closed minded, non-immigrant – immigrant, lying – truth telling, etc., are going to be terrible. They are going to lead to deaths. They are going to lead to despicable acts. They are going to reduce human beings to the lowest denominator of repulsive identity. The atmosphere of hatred is being fostered in the USA, and spilling out in other venues, originating from malfunctioning, pitiful self-absorbed ingrates. This must stop, for the sake of all humanity.
Another word or two…….there is something wrong with the male brain. While a few women are seduced into believing in racism, anti-diversity, and other malodorous ways, generally speaking conflict is the genre of the males. Males like to war, males like to dominate, males like to kill, males like to bring terror, males have a thermostat for life that is off-set, not fitting of modern life. The genetic and environmental interactions that foster and actually lead to the commitment of genocide, injury of women and children, the thievery and deceit of white and blue collar crime are not solely the province of males, but largely. Males need to take a hard look at what value they actually bring to life. They must be re-programmed to behave in a truly civil fashion, to speak in a civil fashion and to mentor in a civil fashion. Otherwise, Virginia and Burkina Faso will just be footnotes on a journey of hellish proportions for a human race that is under extraordinary stress to survive and to help other life on our planet and the planet itself survive. Wake up!