Don's Tuesday Column

           THE WAY I SEE IT by Don Polson Red Bluff Daily News 7/23/2024

            Hate for hate; no forgive and forget

I’ll elaborate below; there’ll be no mention of political leaders, parties, ideologies or organizations. Just some personal philosophy that may or may not be very Christian.

I learned after including an anecdote from my Burger King management days that Joe Wong sadly passed about 10 days ago in Southern California. It’s safe to say, considering that I hired thousands of employees over my 12+ years of managing Arby’s, Taco Bells and Burger Kings, that Joe Wong gave hundreds of thousands of young people a step on the ladder of earning a paycheck.

He gave this SoCal transplant a job in management and, although at a lower rate of salary than the compensation down south, the lower cost of living made our salaries go just as far. The man was all business, all the time, even on a cruise he earned for his franchises’ performance. A fellow cruiser told me that Joe had little interest or conversation unrelated to business. I sensed, however, a warm and kind heart. Rest in peace, Joe Wong.

***

You might envy spending months RVing to beautiful locales and cool locations. Believe it or not, a break from camping and traveling does a soul good; indoor plumbing, hundreds of additional square feet of “elbow room,” and the entertainment from internet and broadcast channels for movies, sports, etc.

Our ten-day break at our Bend, OR, home got us fired up for a couple of months of camping in state parks, RV parks, and dry camp spots. We went from our home to a snow park that becomes an ATV staging spot all summer. When packed with rigs and off-road vehicles, it’s not comfortable, but after the weekend it empties out and we got to sit outside with a beer and enjoy—no neighbors, and mountain views.

Camping at Honeyman State Park was the opposite: hundreds of neighbors and no mountain views. The thick, bushy foliage provided visual isolation—and the 200-foot tall trees made us forget about the mountains.

The sounds carried, giving us an audible window into families, friends and even a choral group’s occasional singing. The amenities of a state park—flush toilets, hot water and showers—make it conducive to adults and kids of all ages. It always warms the heart to see the “munchkins” frolicking on their little bikes, scooters and skates; the families give us faith and hope for the future of this nation.

The nearby dunes inspire memories of running, leaping and sliding on dunes at Pismo Beach and Oceano on the Central Coast. Oh, for the legs we had in our thirties and forties. Now it’s just vicarious enjoyment from a perch near our campsite. Our neighbors from Red Bluff were making their annual off-road trip, complete with about 8 ATVs, in a Winchester Bay campground; we visited, had some laughs, good cheer and corn-hole games.

Our campsite is a bit above the rest of the campground, giving the illusion that our motorhome is perched in the trees. The cacophony of sounds in the evening almost drives me to using earplugs; wee hours, however, are almost spooky quiet.

***

To explain my title: I cannot forgive and forget without some acknowledgment of a wrong done to me, some show of remorse, and a desire to be forgiven. This can have nothing to do with cultural, political or other wrongs; there are situations where gross misrepresentations and vicious slanders are hurled at people who are entirely innocent of the accusations.

Let readers use their own judgment as to how that might apply in America’s current so-called “uncivil war.” Let those who claim to want lowered rhetoric, temperature and animosity demonstrate their sincerity by making their regrets known over fostering hatred and anathema, and apologizing for their venomous contributions.

Hate can be a dangerous emotion and mindset. It can inspire, and often has inspired throughout our history, violent attacks and murder of those being hated. Racial and political hatred, being the precursor of said violence, can bring about in-kind hatred back at the original hater.

In wartime, hatred for one’s national enemies goes with the motivation to kill and destroy those enemies. Can such killing and destruction be accomplished absent visceral hatred on the battlefield? Maybe not but the subsequent peace would seem to demand an end to hate. It’s not always so simple. We Americans are not, however, at war with each other; hatred for one’s fellow Americans should have no place among us.

It must also be said that those cultivating, nurturing, and spreading hatred should not be surprised to find that, not unlike on a battlefield, that same measure of hate may well be returned their way. Saying “love your enemies” may apply a measure of healing; or it may be a delusion to think that those hating for political reasons will abandon their hatred simply because they are loved in return. Think about it.