The Truth

BY: DR. FOREST LEWIS

I will never understand people who can hold onto a grudge for decades. Nonethless, there are these individuals who use up their valuable time that God has given to them to make hatred the focal point of their pathetic lives.

Many of you were not alive when a brash young black man came out of Louisville, Kentucky, spouting poems--and claiming to be "The Greatest Fighter Ever." His name at the time was Cassius Clay. He is known today as Muhammad Ali. Ali went on to prove to the naysayers, and I was one of them at the time, that he was indeed, "The Greatest."

Being black, and outspoken in the early 1960's was unheard of. Black men were taught to be submissive: and to be polite, especially to white people. If they didn't assume the role of "bootlicker," especially in the south, "Death Was Just Around The Corner."  Many times those taking part in the murders of black men were the same individuals sworn to uphold the law--police officers.

A  lot has changed in this country since the turbulent 1960's. Much of it for the good.  However, there are still some racist people in this country who just can't let go of their hatred. It eats at them day and night. They go to bed with hatred on their minds: and they awaken with "hatred on their minds. " America has done a complete 360 degrees since the 1960's, yet these people are still marking time in their sad, sick world.

Muhammad Ali and his wife have decided to move the "Champ" back to his home state of Kentucky. You would think that he would be welcomed with open arms. Not the case for some of the small minded people of Louisville, Kentucky. They are caught up in a time warp. Their little minds are still trapped in the "60's." These are the "Archie Bunkers." But hell, even old Archie evolved.  So, what is wrong with some of the residents of Louisville, Kentucky?

Wayne Love who is sixty-one years old said of Ali, "He's nothing more than a draft-dodger to me, and I'd say that's the consensus around here." Come on Wayne. The fact that Ali rejected the draft is not your issue. You are nothing but a card carrying member of the Ku-Klux-Klan. Well, maybe not a member of the Klan, but your hatred is certainly taken from the rule book of this terrorist group.

Love lives in a community that get this, recently saw racial tension flare over a plan to rename a city street for the late Civil Right Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Can you believe that? We are in the year 2007, yet we have these old relics still fighting over racial issues. And we wonder why America is in the mess that it is in. Pathetic!!! Simply, pathetic.

For God's sake, Muhammad Ali is an old man. He is sixty-five years old. The man suffers from Parkinson disease. Yet, these "Great Americans" can only hate this man for taking a bold stand. Sure, Ali could have shut his mouth and accepted being a draftee. His two years in the Army may have been a cake walk. Maybe not. Remember, he had made a lot of enemies, mostly white males, who possesed a lot of power. So, it is possible that Ali could have been shipped to Vietnam, out of sheer racism.

Let's assume that Ali was shipped to Vietnam, and died in combat. Do you think that would have satisfied the likes of people like Wayne Love? I doubt it. People like that are so full of hatred. They see the world, literally as black or white. People like Wayne Love are mentally ill. However, I doubt if he would agree with my assessment: he operates with a closed mind. If he has a family, I truly feel sorry for his offspring. It must be hell living with this angry, hateful man.

It must be frightening to people like Love to see their world closing in on them. They can no longer usurp the rights of minorities. They can no longer murder individuals because they hate the color of their skin. Yes, the world must be pretty frightening to little people like Wayne Love.

Yet, he clings to his constant ally, "Hate." It will be hatred that will eventually kill this man. Research is clear that people like Wayne Love suffer not only physical maladies, they also suffer psychologically as well, when they allow hatred to envelop their souls. In a way, I feel sorry for this poor man: stuck in time, and all the while the world is  constantly changing. No doubt he feels helpless. The only way that he can strike back at change is "To hate."

I recall a show from "All In The Family." In the show, it was explained to Archie that change was like a bridge. Either you cross the bridge he was advised: or "You Get Trampled." Archie elected to cross the bridge of change. Even Archie was more of a visionary than Wayne Love.

To the Wayne Love's of the world, "Are You Listening?"

By the way, isn't it interesting that Wayne's last name is "LOVE?" His ugly behavior is the antithetis of his surname.

FRIENDS OF "THE TRUTH"

WWW.CAPITOLHILLCOFFEEHOUSE.COM

WWW.TALKSTREAMLIVE.COM