I haven’t posted a blog for a while. I couldn’t  really compete with the interesting and important writing taking place.

We had an election!

Many wise scribes wrote about the work that had to be done to reunite our country. Sure there are important issues for our new government to work on: building new alliances here and abroad.

But getting down to the nitty-gritty of what everyday citizens can do to build peace and harmony, it all starts at home. Sometimes we all don’t realize the smallest words or actions are repeated by our children and grandchildren.

Try this little exercise in communication to relax boundaries and bring everyone into the same fold, free from discrimination  and prejudice. When someone asks if you have a cleaning lady, say “yes, her name is (fill in the blank), instead of saying,

“yes, I have a Mexican/”

Instead of saying,”I’m going over to Home Depot to get a Mexican to do the yard, How about announcing, “I’m going over to hire a guy at Home Depot to help me?

It’s easy to drop the descriptive ethnic title and just call them “my friend”. Try it. And remember the young ones are listening and will imitate your actiions. Before you know it some of those new “friends” may actually become friends.

I’m sure, like me, you all have had many friends in your lifetime. They come in all ages, shapes, and sizes. A friend is a person you meet who likes you for what you are, not what you have done. Somehow, they see beneath your outside shell to the real you. And they like you anyway!

Let’s start building a community of friends who have no other descriptive title except “Friend”.