Things parents say.

In my little world I see a common thread in the stories that I observe.

In the movie, "Precious" a sixteen year old girl is constantly told by her mother that she is nothing and has nothing to offer the world. she is told that she is dumb and should just get on welfare like her mother.

In the movie, "Avatar" the Blue inhabitants of the planet, Pandora, were seen as less than real people and like animals. Just kill them. We need their resources.

In the Book, "Have a Little Faith" by Mitch Albom, the Rabbi tells of an opportunity he had as a young Rabbi to talk to a group of Christian kids. This was in the 1950's and as he talked as asked if they had any questions. A little boy raised he hand and asked if he could see the Rabbi's horns. The boy's parents had told him that all Jews had horns.

Also in "Have a Little Faith" is the story of a Pastor in Detroit working with the homeless and those whose lives have been shattered by the economy, while the big suburban churches look the other way.

Today in church our Minister, Matt Gulley, who works among the refugees in Greece, told of meeting a man from Morocco who hated Americans. He was taught as a child by his parents to do so. He also told of Muslims that feared Christianity because they were taught that it was the Christian culture that created crime, pornography, decadent living and sin.

The question is: What are we teaching our young?

Just like the 50's when the Jewish and Black communities were seen as less than human, various parts of the media and Christianity are doing the same with Muslims. It is another version of "they have horns".

Some of our friends feel that the poor got in the mess they are in, and if they were worth anything they would change their lives. We would have to raise taxes or something to help them and that's not happening.

Seems as if we, Christians, are repeating ourselves again. I hope these stories will impact our young to go where we have not.

It is the Matt Gulleys, The Reb (Detroit Pastor), and others like Greg Mortenson ("Three Cups of Tea") that are on the Less Traveled Road. May God bless them!