You Hate ~ But You Take ~ Racism and Bigotry

Someone once said that "Justice Is Blind". Heard that more than once, right? But, how about racism and bigotry? Can these things also be blind? Before you answer, think about this situation. There is a traffic accident late at night. The driver and his wife are taken to the hospital, where sadly they soon die. This is a tragedy that is all too familiar the world wide. If you read much from me, you know that I do not like conflict. I don't like human suffering in any way, and I especially don't like HATE. I know that militarises are a necessary evil in this world. I know that people have different opinions and goals, but I don't understand how and why these things can develop into hate. But that is material for a different BLOG. So, back to this subject. As for normal procedure, these two people are identified using their driver's licenses. And what is quickly discovered? They are both "Organ Donors"!

Another medical team is quickly assembled and the two unfortunate people are taken to a surgical area where the harvest of specific human organs is conducted. Not having any medical training, I really don't know what happens under these circumstances, but I do know that harvesting human organs is a common practice in today's world. I'll leave all of the technical aspects to you, and if you want to comment, great. But the harvested organs are soon available to be used in organ transplant procedures. Procedures that can extend or impact some other persons life. What a marvelous example of technology, organization and skill this entire process is. But, again, I digress from my intended subject, sorry.

Somewhere else, a little girl is in another hospital. She is gravely ill, not expected to live more than a few more days, because her kidneys have failed. She is only 12 years old. Constantly at her side are her Mother and Father. Hope is quickly running out, the hour glass of time nearly empty. But, it is their little girl, and they will not abandon their vigil. They share so many unspoken thoughts, thoughts of dreams that will never come true, graduations that will never happen, a marriage that can't be possible, of the grandchildren that will never be born. They don't speak because they don't need to speak, each knows what the other is thinking. Words are not necessary, and they both harbor the same thought that if they don't say these things, then maybe they won;t come to pass. As they look up, a doctor enters and summons them into the hall.

In that hall way, the doctor tells them that a Donner has been found. A new kidney is now on route, one that can possibly save their daughter. There is silence. Both parents look at each other with looks of confusion and disbelief. The moments pass very slowly as the realization begins to take hold deep within them. Hope begins to renew, and they ask feebly, "What now?", and the doctor rushes them to a small office where they are given some information, that they can not possibly absorb or understand under the circumstances. The usual disclaimers are expressed, they are given the odds of success, told about the things that can go wrong and then asked to sign a bunch of forms and medical releases. Of course, they have hardly heard a word, their minds have all but shut down. They can only think of one thing, there is a chance their daughter will live. So, like all of us who are parents would do, they sign the forms and releases. And a flurry of activity is thrown into action.

A medical team begins to be assembled for the surgery. Another is sent to the little girls room to rapidly move her to the surgical area. There is another team tasked with preparing her for the surgery. Again, I don't know everything that is now happening, but I do know that things are now in motion in many areas. In my mind, it is like a dance number in a New York musical. People entering stage left, leaving stage right, each doing their part in a choreographed sequence of events, all well rehearsed, all with parts to play that combine to make something special happen flawlessly. And soon, the pieces all come together, the young girl is brought into the surgery, the organ to be transplanted arrives, and the surgical team goes to work. Now, the parents are in the waiting room. But they are still so very silent.

Thoughts of everything they would never experience with their daughter are gone now. Thoughts of the future have taken their place. Thoughts of seeing her back in her hospital room, with all of the ugly life support devices gone. Thoughts of bringing her back to her home. Thoughts of her as their little girl, alive and smiling, laughing and playing with her friends. I hope that you will never have to experience the passage of time in a hospital waiting room. I have, and I assure you that it moves so very slowly, painfully slow. Your mind is moving at the speed of light, thoughts barely realized before they are replaced by other thoughts, but the second hand on the clock seems to be moving not at all. But, it is their little girl, their princess in that operating room. They wait. They endure. They suffer.

In time, the transplant is completed. The little girl is moved to a post-op area, and the surgeon comes to talk with the parents. He tells them what was done, he tells them that their little girl is now in recovery, he tells them what to expect over the next 12 hours. He suggests that they go home and get much needed rest, but they are parents, and they will have none of that. So, once again, they wait. They think. They dream of better times. They refuse to allow themselves to think dark thoughts. Time passes, and the parents are told that their little girl is being moved from recovery to intensive care. Soon, she is moved again, to a regular hospital room, and in a few days, the parents are told that they can take their little girl home.

The little girls recovery goes as though scripted. She has regular doctor visits to monitor her recovery, but all is going well. Her life returns to normal, she attends school the following semester, and life in the household returns to normal for all. Thanks to the couple who donated their organs, this scenario is repeated in other hospitals across the land. More people have had their lives reborn through the gift of organ transplant. I am not a religious man, but I have to admit that I see this as very nearly a miracle. Life being given through a gift given in death.

This is a remarkable story, repeated in real life everyday. But, here is the twist. Here is what I didn't tell you. The couple that unfortunately died were Black Muslims. The little girl who received the gift of life from them was the daughter of leaders in one of the White Supremacist movements. So, this begs the question, would the unfortunate accident victims have donated their organs had they know they would be used to save someone they truly hated? And, would the parents of the young girl been so quick to accept the organ had they known that it came from a hated enemy? I really don't know. But I see an area where, in this case, race was blind. Life was more important than hate.

So, I submit to you, that people are just people. Learn to live with one another. You don't have to like everyone you meet, and you don't have to love everyone. But you don't have to hate them either, hate them because of their race or religion. Hate is a choice! A conscious choice that you make. Don't go down that path. Tolerance, understanding and acceptance of others is also a conscious choice, and the world would be a much better place if more would choose these over hate. But this is only the opinion of an Old Hippie. Send me your comments. Have A Great Day...

The Old Hippie