Why the Hate? | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Any watching my Facebook timeline have observed the political banter going on. My friends come from both sides of the political tracks. Some are devout Democrats while others are dedicated Republicans. What is concerning me so much is the HATE I see on the Republican / Conservative / religious side of life.

    My friends, Winston and Ken are both good, if not great men. Winston spent his career ministering as a Chaplain in the Air Force. He is intelligent enough to have been an Adjunct Professor at 2 well-known purposely minority colleges. One is skewed black while the other is skewed Native American. He was with the Freedom Riders over in Alabama back in the day. He is a true man of integrity and courage -- but he is so filled with political hate these days as to be somewhat obnoxious.

    Ken is as good a friend as I have had among fellow Life Underwriters. We met when he came to town to try and stop another agent from working over all his clients. It was a Replacement issue. It has been the boon of the industry that unscrupulous agents would roll their clients to another company --- to get the new commissions and awards from the used and trusting clients by the busload. They were following the Agent rather than the facts of money lost. Ken is such a man of integrity that I called him to visit with me on my own insurance needs. I can trust this man to do the best for me --- but he is filled with hate as well when it comes to politics.

    I DON'T UNDERSTAND. If either or both care to explain, I would certainly welcome it.

    In this environment of hate --- so reminiscent of the Kennedy Presidency working to have a second term ---- shots rang out in Dallas. A young man was taken from his 2 small children and wife. We were deprived of the strong possibility of getting out of Vietnam before it became the monster war of my time. It took so many Americans to their graves on foreign soil. Even worse, was the hate engendered across the land. It resulted in protests / people spitting on brave troopers deplaning to home soil / people ranting and raging at PTSD-prone minds with shouts of "baby killer."

    I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

    My grandaddy, S.C. Democratic Farmer of the early 1900's, used the "N" word frequently. One would think he was full of racial hatred. I am so glad he died before Strom Thurmund became a Republican! To make matters worse, it is now known that Strom has a daughter "of color" by a black woman he obviously loved. He was a "Dixiecrat" who stood up strongly against Integration. His actions belied his words about race.

    My grandaddy had a black tenant on his farm who lived in a shack house within eyesight of the big wood frame house on the hill where grandaddy and grandmomma lived all their lives. On a Saturday night, with alcohol involved, this man shot his wife to death behind the house. He was immediately arrested and taken to jail. Come Monday morning, my grandaddy was the first person there --- with a pack of cigarettes and a lawyer to help him out in his defense.

    THIS I DO UNDERSTAND: Much of the old South "racism" was just talk. In most small southern towns when there was a funeral for a white family, the people of color" who worked with them sat with the family! The same was true for black families with white friends. I once attended a funeral for the mother of our church Custodian. I wore my white sports coat and gray pants. As I entered the church, I was escorted to the front pew. The Preacher asked if I would like to say a few words. How I wished I had worn my dark suit!!!

    It didn't sound good to the un-knowing person from other parts of this country. They will never understand it, but race relations supercedes empty words uttered pretending to keep the barriers up over race. Today we seem to have reverted to a "reverse racism" --- In other words, serious hate coming from some black leaders making a living promoting hatred of whites.

    This is unconscionable to me. I am greateful I have seen NONE OF IT in Beaufort County! It may exist, but it is so remote as to NOT RISE in the public eye here. Other communities elsewhere in Eastern NC have it , BUT it does not exist here. White politicians are just as prone to pull the race card. It is sad when hate is used to motivate voters on any issue.

    Some would say I am talking about something we don't want to discuss. It is like the elephant in the room nobody wants to acknowledge. I am tired of hate in politics / religion / any part of American life. Jesus said, "By this shall all men know you are my disciples---if you love one another."

    I will side with the Master.