On This Night

 

Tonight all men should lay down their guns,

Quiet should fill the air, no cries of the young or old,

No grieving because no one was lost, no brother

Nor sister, father or mother or son has died.

People of all faith, creed or race

Should find the strength within to look

Beyond all of their differences, no matter small or large.

On this night,

Peace that mystical and elusive vision

We want for ourselves, should be the gift

Given to one another and shared with all others.

If only there was no need for guns, bullets or bombs.

On this night,

Instead of the sounds of pain, loss, and hunger;

Of hateful words screamed out in anger.

The singing of songs and prayers of hope

Would be heard from all corners of the world.

Only the sounds of breaking of bread and

Sharing of fruit could be heard.

On this night,

If only.

Copyright 2014, Dr Long

Happy Holidays



         As this holiday comes to an end, it is time to sit back and reflect on what we as Americans have to be thankful for. It seems as if depending on where you live defines a different aspect of American Society. I see people all day and night walking up and down the main highway that is close to my house and always wondered where they were going. They are old, young, white, black, most are partially homeless (some call themselves couchsurfers), alcoholics, drug addicts, plus whatever. They are the invisible people of America. No one really cares about them, and with actually talking to them just pass judgment. I see them and say to myself, "For the Grace of God, go I". Why should we care at all? Most people may age think it was of the choices they made to put them in that spot. The sadder part is about half of them are of my age, results of mental illness, drug abuse, veterans with PTSD from Viet Nam or Desert Storm, felony convictions which in may places disqualify them for trying to find a job or a place to live, or have given up on life. The other generation are the X-gens or Millennials have been disowned by families or have substance abuse problems, or even felony convictions because of draconian laws due to knee jerk responses by the legislature.