We have been told who the enemies are for the past few years loud and clear. It’s the left. It’s the right. It is the press which is the enemy of the people because they are all bad. It’s the traditional government officials because they are useless. It’s the Whites. It’s the Blacks. It’s the Hispanics or the Immigrants who can’t be trusted. These are the enemies, and we must fight them at all cost.
Hurricane Harvey mirrored a very different perspective on these so-called enemies.
A CNN reporter helped an older man into a boat and desiring to be sensitive he shut off his camera so the man’s wife who had Alzheimer wouldn’t be disturbed as she came out to get into the boat. He wanted to treat these people with dignity. Many reporters put themselves in the midst of the tragedy for hours to bring us the story so we could all feel connected to one another and share in each other’s pains and triumphs.
None of these people are the enemies.
Black and white helped one another into trucks and boats. A white cop carried two black kids in his arms to dry land. A Hispanic man lifted an older Asian woman into a truck. No one thought to ask if the people they were helping were on the left or the right or were immigrants. No one cared. They just wanted to help one another.
None of these people are the enemies.
Dozens of Texas and Louisiana towns’ government officials offered boats and trucks to help with rescues. A Harris County sheriff went around in his small boat during the night to help those that were stranded.
None of these people are the enemies.
Mexico offered to help with any assistance that was needed to help the afflicted areas. Mexico didn’t care that our president had just untruthfully named them as the worst crime ridden country in the world. They just wanted to help.
None of these people are the enemies.
It is time we quit believing there are enemies all around us and see the truth that Hurricane Harvey has revealed.
The goodness of humanity is everywhere and far outweighs a “few bad apples”. Our differences are not only our strength they are the best part of our humanity. We must keep our faith in our fellow man and not let anyone take that from us. Our neighbors are not our enemies, and our neighbors can be found all over this beautiful globe. Let’s not wait for the next disaster to remember this truth.
Until next time be the light the world needs and stay in love for all.
Joffre McClung is the author of two books The Heart of the Matter: A Workbook and Guide to Finding Your Way Back to Self-Love (“Powerful insights…life-changing” FOREWORD CLARION ” A virtual hug…enriching” BLUEINK REVIEWS, “enlightening self-discovery process” KIRKUS REVIEWS and How Learning to Say Goodbye Taught Me How to Live ( “A thoughtful think piece.” Kirkus Reviews )