Blogs by Flo Fitzpatrick
Jake, L'il Boy, and Houdini
12/31/2025 6:22:03 AM
My across-the-street neighbor, Jerry, is dog-dad to a two-year old black Rotweiller, Jake, and an eight-month old gray pit mix, L’il Boy. They reside in a large yard with a chain-link fence that keeps them safe but is apparently irresistible to a golden mix puppy who lives down the street and is a Houdini in escaping his own yard and getting into Jerry’s. When Houdini is there, the three of them race around doing zoomies, playing tug-o-war with a now-frayed piece of rope. Houdini and L’i’l boy eventually watch in awe and admiration as Jake attempts to eat the tire Jerry placed in the yard after Jake ate every chew toy known to man in record time. Then all three plop down together for well-deserved naps, secure and safe.
Three colors, three breeds, three ages and they get along. No one told Houdini he should hate Jake for being a Rot mix or run in terror from Li’l Boy because pits are supposed to be killer dogs (what they are …at least in L’il Boy’s case are affection-hogs who love belly rubs more than food…well… maybe the love is tied!)
Which brings me to ask how did humans end up with the not-desirable trait that leads some to hate? I understand the reasoning (if reason has anything to do with this) in “leaders” using hate to obtain power. They see it works and if it works, they don’t care about the morality or the consequences.
What I have NEVER understood is why someone hates another because of color or faith or gender identity. Why they seem to think allowing a trans kid to feel comfortable with their own body somehow wrecks their life. Why should anyone care what anyone else believes (or doesn’t believe) about a possible afterlife as long as that belief doesn’t espouse harming another? Millions throughout centuries have been tortured and put to death because their faith was concerned “wrong”. Millions of people throughout have been tortured and put to death because of their color or ethnicity. And it continues to this day.
The song “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught” from South Pacific gives us the simple answer. It’s not genetic. Small children don’t hate their playmates. They might get angry if one of their toys is nicked but they just want the toy back. They don’t care if the kid who took it was Jewish or Catholic or Muslim or Buddhist. Or Chinese or Mexican or African. Or whether the kid was wearing a dress or trousers.
Which brings me to…if you can be taught to hate, you can be taught to tolerate. At some point you you can be taught to love but there are too many people who are so hate-filled they need the progression of tolerance and acceptance before they can understand that love IS possible.
This year when your MAGA uncle is ranting about blacks and Mexicans and Jews and gays, ask him “Why?"
" What harm does it do to your life if you stop hating anyone who isn't white and straight?"
“How does it harm you if the Muslim family originally from Somalia moves in next door to you?”
“How does it harm you if your white cheer-leading daughter goes to the Prom with the black chairman of the chess club?”
“Uncle, you used restrooms that hadn’t been cleaned for years on that trip you took in May. How does it harm you if the person using the pristine restroom in front of you at the high school basketball game happens to be the trans kid who packs your bags at the local grocery?”
“How does it harm you if your neighbor’s son loves cousin Joey and Joey loves him back?”
And then bravely point out the truth…the only harm is inside Uncle’s head.
Be like Jake and L'il Boy and Houdini. Get out there and run around with folks who have different beliefs or a different ethnicity or have made a gender transition. Play some games. Get some exercise (that alone might provide you with a few good endorphins you lack.) Watch with awe and admiration when someone different take on an insurmountable obstacle and crushes it.
Then relax and feel safe. People who are different from you aren’t the problem. Old, misguided beliefs leading to nasty feelings are.
Wishing for all a Love-Filled New Year…and Life !
Post a Comment
More Blogs by Flo Fitzpatrick
• Commercials and Diversity - Sunday, September 27, 2026
• A Second Remembrance - Saturday, September 12, 2026
• Legacy - Thursday, August 27, 2026
• The Founding Fathers...Good and Bad - Tuesday, August 25, 2026
• The Saga of the Printer - Saturday, August 1, 2026
• What do you want? - Monday, July 20, 2026
• Playing Detective - Tuesday, July 14, 2026
• Mick, Mick, Speak English! - Monday, July 13, 2026
• Bills and Bins - Thursday, July 9, 2026
• Father Joe - Wednesday, July 1, 2026
• Land of Confusion - Tuesday, June 30, 2026
• Do What You Love - Thursday, June 25, 2026
• Crayons and Flight 800 - Monday, June 22, 2026
• Be Kind - Thursday, June 18, 2026
• Words - Tuesday, June 16, 2026
• Pride and the 10 Commandments - Thursday, June 11, 2026
• French Fries and The Full Monty - Wednesday, June 10, 2026
• More scams - Tuesday, June 9, 2026
• Ferris Wheels and Color - Wednesday, May 20, 2026
• The Journey Continues - Thursday, May 7, 2026
• I'm so Confused ! - Thursday, April 30, 2026
• Tales from the Floor, the Hospital/Rehab and Beyond - Sunday, April 26, 2026
• The Oldest, Established, Permanent, Floating, Work-in-Progress in History - Tuesday, March 31, 2026
• Past Time to Fix Things - Sunday, March 22, 2026
• Holding out for a Hero - Thursday, March 19, 2026
• When Fear Wins - Monday, March 16, 2026
• The De-evolution of Humanity - Wednesday, March 11, 2026
• What Do You Want? - Monday, March 9, 2026
• Do No Harm - Thursday, February 26, 2026
• Hope in a crowd of strangers - Sunday, February 22, 2026
• Sweet Cream Ladies and a Valentine's Card - Sunday, February 15, 2026
• No regrets - Friday, February 13, 2026
• Give Peace a Chance - Thursday, February 12, 2026
• Four for Texas - Tuesday, February 10, 2026
• A nation of sociopaths - Thursday, February 5, 2026
• Moondance...When Characters Take Control - Friday, January 30, 2026
• Clansey's Point of View (Moondance) - Friday, January 30, 2026
• The Why - Monday, January 26, 2026
• Frightened for the Children - Thursday, January 22, 2026
• Beauty - Tuesday, January 20, 2026
• Elements of Hate - Sunday, January 18, 2026
• Julio - Wednesday, January 14, 2026
• Reality - Monday, January 12, 2026
• Dancing to Care - Saturday, January 3, 2026
• Jake, L'il Boy, and Houdini - Wednesday, December 31, 2025
• Hope for 2026 - Tuesday, December 30, 2025
• Propaganda and Disinformation - Monday, December 22, 2025
• All I Want for Christmas - Saturday, December 6, 2025
• Illegal Orders - Tuesday, December 2, 2025
• Pick up the Pieces - Reunions and Stevie Nicks - Saturday, November 29, 2025
• Fake Promoters Upping the Game - Tuesday, November 25, 2025
• Scarecrow's Dream: And the Ghost Fell in Love with the Dead Man - Sunday, November 23, 2025
• Cold Wind to Valhalla - Naked Actors and a Minstrel in the Gallery - Sunday, November 16, 2025
• Another Scam - My Author Friends Beware! - Thursday, November 13, 2025
• Legacy of Silence - Spooky Houses and Hot Air Balloons - Saturday, November 8, 2025
• Chia Seeds - Powerhouse Protein! - Thursday, November 6, 2025
• Another Batch of Kolaches and a Pack of Tonys - Sunday, November 2, 2025
• Kolaches and Mozart - Aria in Ice - Tuesday, October 28, 2025
• Great again...WHEN? - Saturday, October 25, 2025
• Sweet Dreams - How They're Made - Friday, October 24, 2025
• In the year 2050 - Wednesday, October 22, 2025
• Deadly Deja Vu - In Time for Halloween! - Tuesday, October 21, 2025
• What is Your Bridge Too Far? - Sunday, October 19, 2025
• The "Making" of Remake the Song - Friday, October 17, 2025
• Paris Nocturne: Inspiration - Saturday, October 11, 2025
• Haunting Melody: Inspiration - Monday, October 6, 2025
• Silence is Unrelenting - Friday, October 3, 2025
• Inspiration: Hot Stuff - Wednesday, October 1, 2025
• Why the Hate? - Saturday, September 27, 2025
• Ghosts, Wandering Here & There: Inspiration - Wednesday, September 24, 2025
• Shall we Dance? - Sunday, September 21, 2025
• Children Should be the Priority - Wednesday, September 17, 2025
• Moronic - Saturday, September 13, 2025
• Alleged - Friday, September 12, 2025
• Fanaticism and Empathy - Thursday, September 11, 2025
• "Review Packages" - Monday, September 8, 2025
• GO VEGAN - Saturday, September 6, 2025
• Creepy- with a Side of Intent - Monday, September 1, 2025
• P.O.S.S. (Perfect Older Sibling Syndrome) - Saturday, August 23, 2025
• Pushing Back On - Monday, August 18, 2025
• From Compromise to Inspiration - Sunday, August 17, 2025
• Ptiching to Authors...A Nearly Daily Annoyance - Saturday, August 16, 2025
• A Discussion of Literary Agents - Friday, August 15, 2025
• Reach Out and "Touch" An Author - Tuesday, August 12, 2025
• Here, There, and Everywhere - Wednesday, August 6, 2025
• Reviewing the Situation - Monday, August 4, 2025
• Music and Movement (In a beach read!) - Sunday, August 3, 2025
• Remake the Song - coming VERY soon! - Saturday, August 2, 2025
• Writers Who Care - Tuesday, December 20, 2011
• A WRiters Work - Monday, December 5, 2011
• Tell Me a Story! - Tuesday, October 25, 2011
• A Gentle Ghost Story - Sunday, October 9, 2011
• I Got a Name - Part Two - Saturday, April 16, 2011
• Self- E and POD versus Trad - Wednesday, March 23, 2011
• More Dialogue Tips for Writers - Friday, March 18, 2011
• How I Spent Spring Break (A Cautionary Tale) - Wednesday, March 16, 2011
• I got a Name - Friday, March 11, 2011
• Want to help name a book? - Tuesday, March 8, 2011
• Spring Break - Break! - Saturday, March 5, 2011
• Dialogue Tips for Writers - Wednesday, February 23, 2011
• Writing Tip - Singing -Keep it OFF the Page - Tuesday, February 15, 2011
• Respect - A Writing Nudge - Friday, February 11, 2011
• To Stupid to Live? Ouch - Wednesday, February 9, 2011
• Writer's Tip - Know Thyself - Tuesday, February 8, 2011
• "Risky" Business - Sunday, February 6, 2011
|
