You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
---Maya Angelou
We went to a lecture yesterday that was given by a physician whose father was a decorated Nazi during World War II. When he was old enough to understand what his dad was part of, our speaker began helping the Jewish community in his hometown of Bamburg, Germany. He ultimately converted to Judaism and moved to Israel. Looking for a safe place to raise his family, he moved his family to South Florida a number of years ago.
That is what most of us want...a place to quietly and safely enjoy our lives. In order to do so, sometimes we turn our heads from the small element among us who are filled with hate. We stick our heads in the warm sand and say that things are so much better now. In many ways they are better. People in our country can no longer "own" other people, and our laws are striving to see justice for all.
This past election has brought out the uglier side of our wonderful country, and the hate mongers believe that their time has come. They have always been here, but now they believe that they can come out of the shadows. I say...Go for it...because these bigots, like vampires, are destroyed by the very sunlight that they seek.
We are stronger and wiser than in years past...because we are stronger together. Yes, the bulk of us fear Muslim extremists, as we fear extremists of any culture, but we will also work in unison to protect those who are being persecuted, simply because of their beliefs. It is not politically US against THEM when human rights are concerned. The greatest part of Trump followers supported him despite his bigoted following, not as part of them. The hate rhetoric is as appalling to them as it is to Hillary followers, and they will stand just as tall to fight it.
There are fringe groups, just as dangerous to our democracy as radical Muslim groups, who are trying to tear us apart to push their agenda. We must stand together and shine a light on their hypocrisy. Instead of fearing these bigots, we must stand up to them. Pope Francis said recently that "No tyranny finds support without tapping into our fears." Let's show those that wish us, or those around us, harm, a united front. We don't fear those that hate...we pity them their loss of humanity. No matter who we voted for, we are still the UNITED States of America, and stronger together, "still, like air, (we'll) rise."
Speaking of rising, Darla Cavannah seems to handily rise above bigotry and hatred in her job as a police detective in a small southern town. In Officer Elvis, the second in his three book series, Gary Gusick has his protagonist chasing after someone who killed Darla's ex-partner, who was an Elvis impersonator in his spare time. While this book is not quite as politically motivated as the other two, it is an interesting take on southern life and justice.
Attorney Beck Hardin, the protagonist in Mark Gimenez's book, The Perk, is also seeking justice. After moving back to his hometown of Fredericksburg, Texas, he is presented with several requests. Several people beseech him to run for the position of judge to replace the retiring justice. His high school buddy also asks Beck to help find the man who killed his sixteen year old daughter. Both situations contribute to an interesting story.
As always, complete reviews of both books follow this blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly