I watch
Sunday Morning every Sunday. It is a special show to me because it doesn't
concentrate on just the good or only the bad, it doesn’t linger on theatrics,
fears or politics. It speaks of truths and it connects us to the human
condition and leaves us inspired.
I love
to see stories about people who do incredible things from the simplest
backgrounds and beginnings. To me, it speaks not only of the human condition
but often the American ideal.
You get
to make your own decision and most often the person I didn’t think I liked
shows me something beautiful about their spirit, about who they truly are
behind the headlines and bias.
I enjoy
the collectors, writers and dreamers. I’m inspired by those that build planes,
building and businesses because they thought they could. It shows the
immigrant, both sides and from different perspectives.
It peals
away the outside of people, places and things and describes them without judgment.
It is a news show that tells the story the way it should be, allowing the
viewer the privilege to share just a glimpse into another’s life and see from
another perspective.
I’ve
never watched the late show with John Stewart but I think I’m going to start
watching Trevor Noah, his replacement. He talks about true racism, Apartheid
rule, where you can be arrested for marrying the wrong race and even worse for
daring to have a child.
He’s
from a black mother and Swiss father and his humor has the depth and truth of
his experience. He speaks about being pitied for his past and what he’s come
from, instead he sees it as triumphant. His mother is shot twice, once in the
head and her humor allows a young child to get through a terrible situation.
His
mother offers him two things that she can make sure he had, knowledge and food
and she delivered against all odds. They are heroes in my book and instead of
complaining and fretting about fair and unfair, they have lived extraordinary
lives.
I have
spoken with people who have lived in Africa and the one common thing they’ve
said is that America takes a lot of what they have for granted. Instead of
realizing how lucky we are, many look for lawyers to get us what we deserve,
demand the government give us what we need and cry about fair and unfair.
The life
of a victim is not a great life and if the people in other countries who have
lived through the trials and tribulations of true racism and oppression can see
themselves as fortunate and triumphant maybe Americans can find a positive
place to live in this great, not perfect but still great country.
The People that Make America
Great
Two
other stories I was impressed with was a man that cleans the tombstone for veterans
and a group that resurrected a B29 aircraft. It’s people in this country doing
small things that bigger and more important than what makes the news.
You see
into people’s lives and you realize there is good in this country. Regardless
of religion, race, creed, there is more that connects us than divides us. There
is great in this country, there are great people who love this country and love
each other and do great things. We just don’t often hear about them because
they are not sensational, they don’t know the Kardashians and they aren’t
tabloid fodder.
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