Since I woke up to a plethora of thoughts and news nuggets, let me offer a potpourri of topics to ponder. In no particular order:
- This headline says it all – “Ahmaud Arbery’s killers get life sentences; no possibility of parole for Travis and Gregory McMichael.” A black man should not fear for his life when he is out jogging. Given we are almost sixty years removed from the passing of the Civil Rights Act, it would be my hope that stuff like what happened to Ahmaud Arbery and countless others should not be happening anymore. We have made progress, but we seem to have backslid some.
- The world lost one of its finest actors in Sidney Poitier yesterday. Several outstanding movies include: “To Sir with Love,” “The Defiant Ones,” “Guess who’s coming to Dinner,” and “In the Heat of the Night” to name only a few. “To Sir with Love” ranks on a short list of the best teacher movies. Seeing Poitier in the final scene tear up his offer letter to go teach elsewhere is poignant. Also, to see him and Rod Steiger in the last film is powerful as they showed what institutionalized bigotry looks like. He won an Oscar for the movie “The Lilies in the Field,” but I think each of his roles in the above films were more impactful.
- In the midst of all the year-end deaths, the world lost a peacemaker and humanitarian in Desmond Tutu. Along with Nelson Mandela, Tutu helped bring attention to the rights of the disenfranchised during Apartheid. God bless the peacemakers. Seeing Tutu interviewed always brought a smile to my face as he seemed to ooze joy and kindness. Here is one of many wonderful quotes of Tutu’s along those lines: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
- Reading Tutu’s quotes and knowing what he has overcome, I encourage folks to find ways to look past differences and find some commonality. There is far more good in our world than people realize as the bad news makes the headlines – “if it bleeds, it leads.” This may be one reason Tutu’s passing went by too unnoticed. Look beneath the headlines and find the good in people. We should celebrate those peacemakers, the truth tellers, the kind spirits that exist in our world. They usually don’t beat on their chests with false bravado, so sometimes you have to look harder.
Have a wonderful 2022. Be safe. Be wise. Be kind. Be civil.
musingsofanoldfart 
I’m trying hard to look past differences, Keith, and it is hard. It raises so many questions and I recognize I need to proceed with patience and open-mindedness.
Vj, it reminds me of the old quote that builds on a series of statements. Let me paraphrase to this point – when the world is uncivil, be civil anyway. When the world is unkind, be kind anyway…..We can only control how we act. Trust me, some people make me want to curse because of their inability to be truthful, but we must still treat others like we want to be treated. Keith
That’s a good one, Keith. Thanks.
Desmond Tutu and Sidney Portier – amazing people. They both brought much hope and dignity into the world. So glad you wrote about them today!
Thanks Rose. Class acts both.
Note to Readers: I left off one of Poitier’s best movies, “A Raisin in the Sun,” a reprise of his Broadway show performance.
PS – We read “A Raisin in the Sun” in college World Literature. I remember well the professor focusing on the dialogue between the wife of the part played by Poitier and his mother. No one in the class picked up on his subtle point. The wife called the mother by her first name, meaning they were friends not just in-laws.
A really great book by Desmond Tutu and the Dahli Lama is
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
It got 5 stars at Amazon with 8,322 reviewers –
Also –
Winner of the 2016 Books for a Better Life Award in Spirituality
Becky, many thanks for sharing this book recommendation. Some pretty fair co-authors. Keith
Note to Readers II: Actor Norman Lloyd died at the age of 106 this past May. Who is Lloyd? He played the strict
headmaster in “Dead Poets Society” with Robin Williams. He also played a seasoned doctor in the TV show St. Elsewhere. His bio noted he was in the same group of actors as Orson Welles.
A well-presented potpourri of ponderings by yourself and I most certainly would expect nothing less! The achievements of the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement at times seem to be floundering in the present. The verdict and sentencing in the Arbery murder case is reason for hope. One has to wonder who will fill the shoes of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. To name but two other spaces that remain unfilled, Tutu now joins John Lewis and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A few words about bad & good news come to mind : “Bad news travels fast. Good news takes the scenic route.” – Doug Larson. Thank-you!
Ellen, thanks. You are so right about those big shoes to fill. I love the quote. Keith