We can all live next to one another. It's simple if we try. [View all]

[dballance]

You know, many, many, many years ago when I was back in TN my first grade class was the first class in my county to be totally integrated.

For those of you who don't know what that means it means my class was the first one where African American kids were in my class from the very beginning of my schooling. From Day One in first grade. Until that time whites and African Americans attended different, segregated schools in my home town.

I was a kid of about 7. I had no idea what was going on and the tumult it was causing in my little Southern town. Integration. My mother was aghast and afraid of what my happen to my older sisters. The abuse and the possible rape at the hands of those "other" people.

For my part, I really didn't think there was anything different about the kids who had a darker skin color than me when I entered first grade. They were just other kids along for the ride with me.

Thank goodness my parents didn't raise me to think differently of other people just because they have a different skin color.

Also, at that time in my life I hadn't the foggiest idea what an Asian, Jewish, Arabic, Native American, etc. person was given my little white, white, white town in TN. Thank the Spaghetti Monster I've had a bit more life experience now.

All of this diatribe comes around to me posting this great picture of a Palestinian kid and and Israeli kid. They seem to have no problem at all being friends.

Hatred and divisiveness is not something that one is born with. It is something one is taught.

I realize that Isaiah 2:4 Isn't part of the Torah nor the Q'uran. But I believe all of those who have descended from the Abrahamic religions can take a lesson from it.

Isaiah 2:4 (KJV version)

"And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

Isn't it time we beat those mighty swords into mighty plowshares?