Unsettled, but Determined

I came home today after listening to the news on the radio and cried. So much so, that my husband said I should refrain from looking at it the rest of the evening. What upset me so? Well, not just one thing, but a combination of things.

WSB Radio started broadcasting in FM today. That, in and of itself, actually made me smile. I enjoy the station and listen to it almost daily. Sean Hannity was on in the afternoon. While not in total agreement with all things Sean Hannity, I do find the show to be amusing, much to many of my more political friends' sometimes puzzled looks. Brigitte Gabriel was a guest on the show. She has been a guest on both the radio and tv show several times. I usually just dismiss her or listen with sympathy about what events must have led her to be so full of hate.

It was the combination of all that shook me. Especially when Gabriel was given the sole voice after the counterpoint for a debate about the "ground zero" mosque left. Why did it upset me so? Well, Sean Hannity, while far from a bastion of constant love, generally stops people from outright vitriol regarding issues. He did not do that this time. Sean Hannity and his listeners, for me, represent my neighbors, my friends and my family. I grew up with people who are conservative in many areas, but not hateful. These are people who were conservative, but would defend someone's rights with every bit of themselves. I no longer see that, but the trouble is, I do not believe people like Sean Hannity can see how the current views being espoused by people like Brigitte Gabriel are poisonous, for society and the United States. WSB Radio is now heard in many more places and today, being the first day the station broadcasted in FM, met audiences with such a narrow view.

It is a scary situation when a person is a bigot, but does not see it. It is even more unnerving when those same people give serious consideration to someone who capitalizes on bigotry.

I wanted to write Mr. Hannity, but at this point, I see little point. I am not generally a defeatist, but I am a pragmatist and see little reason why writing directly to the show would help. So, I am appealing to a wider audience, people who read mainstream news sources. I encourage those reading this to write people like Sean Hannity to help them understand how encouraging people, like Brigette Gabriel, is wrong. While Ms. Gabriel has every right to express herself, it is important a louder, counter voice should move against people like her to soften her voice. Love, not hate, should be the loudest in the cacophony of daily news.

Even if the voices of hate become louder, I do know there is hope. In Atlanta, religious and interfaith groups are mobilizing to show solidarity with each other. For example, the Atlanta Masjid, along with the American Islamic Fellowship, are Emergent Christian Cohorts and other groups, united under the name Allah’s Supper, are sponsoring a dinner to celebrate the meaning of Ramadan to Muslims and the meaning of the Lord’s Supper to Christians. A growing Facebook group is promoting National Don’t Burn a Quran, Read a Quran, Bible, Torah (and other inspirational/religious texts) Day. On a larger scale, is a planned Global Prayer for Peace sponsored by the group Project - Peace on Earth. Such events are a constant and help mobilization against groups that subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, promote views contrary to the spirit of America and humanity.

I will not lose my optimism. I know, in the end, the foundation on which this country was founded will prevail. I may lose myself in the moment, but, to quote Daniel Webster, "We may be tossed upon an ocean where we can see no land -- nor, perhaps, the sun or stars. But there is a chart and a compass for us to study, to consult, and to obey. That chart is the Constitution."