For me, the
lyrics of a song are just as important as the melody. I like songs that tell a story or convey a
message. From time to time, I’ll write
about songs that touch on tolerance in
these blog postings.
Some time ago, I
wrote about a transgender youth who had appeared before me in juvenile
court. I closed by saying that we should
show a little kindness, instead of condemnation.
Whether
serendipity or synchronicity, I heard Glen Campbell sing one of his wonderful
country songs that had crossed over to the pop charts when I was in college.[1] The song was number two on the country
charts, and reached 23 on Billboard’s Top One Hundred.
The chorus of
the song sums up the message for me:
You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets.[2]
It’s a challenge any time to look at people’s
actions in the most positive light, but perhaps more especially in these
times. It seems like the cable network
news shows are full of “Narrow-minded people.”
It’s often hard to get past the yelling and invective displayed
there.
I’ve tried to find news outlets that are more or
less balanced and unbiased. I’ve
suggested a liberal site and a conservative site that are tolerable and try to
read at least a couple of articles from each on a more or less regular basis.[3]
But the simple message from this simple yet
profound song is the real key to understanding:
Show a little kindness, a little respect, a little understanding. Not everyone on the other side is a
demon. Most are good-hearted,
well-intentioned folks who just have a different point of view than I do.
And, really, this is more about me than
them. I need to “shine (my) light for
everyone to see.”
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