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Tiny Ripple of Hope
I’m over here early in the morning listening to one of Bobby Kennedy’s greatest speeches, if not one of the greatest speeches of all time, titled “Tiny Ripple of Hope”.
Tiny Ripple of Hope
I’m over here early in the morning listening to one of Bobby Kennedy’s greatest speeches, if not one of the greatest speeches of all time, titled “Tiny Ripple of Hope”.
In his moving oration, he strikes out in the name of love instead of returning animus with anger. It made me reflect of the times we live in and the actions I myself keep reveling in, as much as I believe in universal justice,
all too often, what I am drawn to is retribution. In the name of equality, I want those who hoard to have their possessions decimated. In the name of truth, I harbor seething antipathy towards those who rule through deception.
I find myself over and over again paying virtue to integrity by lowering myself to the standards practiced by those who I rail against. This much is true, if we are to change this world eventually, it will not be by replicating darkness but by shinning our light upon the world.
This is what RFK was talking about in his speech, the imperative of mercy above retribution and the need to be love in the face of those who are filled with animosity. We have choices in this world, we can let the ugliness of this world change us and pall shadows over our souls
or we can defiantly seek redemption in all things. Hate is a wave but love is a ripple, when change arrives by way of hatred, it sweeps aside all things, destroys the status quo and installs a new order that will eventually give rise to tyranny.
Love, to the contrary, is a tiny ripple that takes a long time to gather momentum. Far from being a revolution, love is an evolution that transforms lives through kindness instead of shifting minds through hubris. I decided to take a small respite from writing about politics,
how long I’m not sure; maybe 24 hours maybe longer, what I must ponder is the way forward. I can keep writing in ways that incites people’s emotions by exposing the fraudulence of our politics and the mendacity of the status quo,
or I can inspire by presenting an alternative vision. The ego is a bedeviling friend, giving voice to people’s resentments leads to many likes and followers, but the ones who advance justice are those who lead with compassion and speak to our better angels.
I don’t want to make waves anymore, those billows are addictive and feeds vanities. What I desire is to be about love at all times even as I point out the iniquities of the world. I can highlight wrongs without resorting to fury, I can stand for the little guy
without kicking the shins of the mighty. I say this because my faith lets me know that in the end justice will be delivered and that wrath must be reserved for He who observes all. Demanding things at my pace and wanting control of outcomes is nothing more than a god complex
which never ends well. So I shall redouble my efforts to be light instead of starting fires with my words. I pray for humanity, there are dark days ahead for all of us, one that will lead to unfathomable deaths and unimaginable agonies,
what we are seeing now is but a down payment of a rent that is coming due. If we are to endure this crucible, we can only do so through love, empathy and grace. The tiny ripple of hope starts within our hearts,
from there is emanates heart by heart, block by block until a swelling of goodwill washes away suffering and delivers justice::
Below is the RFK's speech "Tiny Ripple of Hope" that I was listening to while writing this missive.
-THE END-
Below is the RFK's speech "Tiny Ripple of Hope" that I was listening to while writing this missive.
-THE END-
