I have been blessed to have been born into two great lineages; from my fathers side Pioneer stock that came across the plains as Mormon Pioneers and across the ocean from Denmark, from my mothers side later pioneers who joined the church in West Virgina and came west when my mother was a teenager. As a child we almost shared backyards with my mom's brother Dick and his family. Dick has always been a bit of an icon to me. He was a barber by profession who used to give my brother and I his version of a bulldog haircut that we called a bullfrog because when he was finished we had about as much hair left as a bullfrog. Dick was a true rough houser. He loved to play with all the cousins and he played rough. The thing that most impressed me with Dick though was in his small back yard not really zoned for it, Dick had a small farm. He raised rabbits, chickens and even turkeys and a very nice vegetable garden and still does to this day. I even followed his example and raised rabbits , chickens and ducks myself when my kids were little. We always had fresh eggs, chickens and rabbits to put on the table.
Uncle Dick has always been very generous with the fruits of his labors, especially his wonderful tomatoes that I have used to make many quarts of salsa over the years.
Last night my parents told me an experience that Dick had with a friend. Generous guy that he is he took some eggs to one of his friends. My uncle Dick has several breeds of chickens, some of them lay brown eggs some white and some even green. Dick took some eggs to his friend who upon seeing the brown eggs actually got mad at Dick and told him he was no n..... and would not eat brown eggs. According to my parents this person will not even speak to Dick anymore.
This story has raised several emotions in me:
Sadness: it makes me sad that there are still people in this world that are so ignorant and prejudiced. I am sad for this person for having such destructive and damaging thinking, I am sad that this person who works in the temple sets an example to people around him and could potentially tarnish the reputation of the church in the eyes of others. Most of us work hard to be a loving kind and accepting people.
Sorrow: I am sorry for those who might be offended or who might get the wrong impression of Mormons because there apparently are still members of our church who hang on to this un-Christ-like way of thinking.
Anger: My initial reaction to this story was that of anger toward this person and his ignorant bigotry and the realization that there are still people in this world that feel this way. My anger has subsided and now I feel just sadness and sorrow.
The fact of the matter is that nutritionally there is no difference between white, brown or green eggs. When I raised chickens myself all of my chickens laid brown eggs and I can assure you that the only difference is the color of the shell. Just like eggs people come in different colors but we are all Gods' children.The color of our skin does not make one person better or worse than another. I am happy to say that the vast majority of members of our church love all people without regard to race, a few rotten apples do not spoil the whole bushel. I just hope that more and more of us can show love and compassion for everyone. And those who might have some of these old and destructive views can be touched by the Lord and gain the Christ-like love we all need to have for one another. The kind of love Uncle Dick has for everyone. Thanks Uncle Dick for being a good example.
Below is a poem I wrote several years ago about this subject
Brothers and Sisters
I’ve never understood why the color of our skin
Brings so much hate and anger to the world we live in
In this progressive time how is it possible we still hate?
I find it hard to believe anyone would still discriminate
To be so ignorant to think one person is better than another
Simply because their skin is a different color
The thing that I find very odd
That many discriminate in the name of God
His Son commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves
Remember the Good Samaritan and the woman at the well?
He did not teach discrimination, hate or envy
To do it in his name is blasphemy
We must learn to love like Jesus and follow his example
To make this world a better place and we a better people
We must open our minds and learn of one another
Accept and share our customs with each other
Hate is such an ugly thing it only makes us bitter
Look at history what it did for the followers of Hitler
Take time to understand your sisters and your brothers
Accept the beauty inside and out regardless of our color
Enjoy diversity and learn different ways
Culture is a beautiful thing it will broaden your gaze
It’s a blessing we’re not all alike how dull our world would be
Seek to find the good in your neighbor and you’ll begin to see
We are all Brothers and Sisters, Children of a loving Father
Our thoughts and feelings are not so different we all have things to offer
He sent us to this world that we may learn and grow
If we accept Jesus as our Savior we need to show
That we will follow him and all he says
Love our Father with all our hearts and our Neighbor as ourselves
Never did the Savior teach one race above another
Quite the contrary he taught us to love all our Sisters and our Brothers
Steve Coleman July 2001
