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Health & Fitness

New Year Resolution: Promote Patience and Tolerance!

Right after midnight on New Year’s Eve, many of us adopt a New Year resolution. It could be weight loss or getting a better job or quit smoking or quit drinking or make more money.  There is one resolution I would like us as a community and Nation to adopt: Promote Patience and Tolerance!

If Congress is representative of the nation then we are not only divided but we hate each other, and give credence to negative remarks. Are we truly reflection of the Congress? In recent remarks by Congressman Mike Rogers at the Detroit Economic Club he suggested the division and hatred in Congress is the way it is because of the people. On one hand it is a shame that he not only practices hatred and division but suggests that he is reflective of the people and if so then he does not have better moral standards. However, if it is true what he is saying than we should be ashamed of ourselves.

I disagree with Congressman Mike Rogers’s notion that we as people hate each other and that’s why Congress is so divisive. Even if it were true, he should demonstrate higher moral standard and work towards a better society for everyone. Do we spend more time of our life criticizing or hating someone? Does that give gratification or indicate superiority. Either way, if so, it demonstrates a weakness in us.

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I know of a different world where many reach out to others in helping out and show tremendous respect towards a fellow human being. I have seen courtesies being extended among various age groups and ethnic groups. I have seen people donating their time, money and resources to help fellow human beings.

2013 showed what humanity means through a young 16 year old Pakistani Muslim girl, Malala Yousafzai, who stood up for the right of every girl to get education was shot in the head and neck by the Taliban. Despite being shot and facing such adversary Malala has promoted tolerance and advocated education for every child including those of the Taliban.

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The World lost a gentle and noble person when Nelson Mandela passed away. I have always admired him for his principles and his advocacy for tolerance. In the book - Long Walk to Freedom - his quote ‘No one is born hating another of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.’ After being jailed for 26 years and later becoming President of his country and for all the struggles and mistreatment he has endured…he not only forgave his torturers but worked to change the system to create a better democracy for all citizens of South Africa regardless of their race and ethnicity. Mandela established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which was chaired by Bishop Edmond Tutu. I had the opportunity to listen to Bishop Tutu, which I felt very fortunate. He mentioned there is no such thing as someone being born bad. Everybody is born as a good person. These words resonate with me every time when I face a challenging situation.

The four leaders in Congress of the Majority and Minority Party, Harry Reid, John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell gave impressive remarks about Mandela, when he passed away, of which they do not practice any. It is a shame of how they behave. Congressman Mike Rogers and every congressional leader can learn a lot from Malala and Mandela.

We cannot look to local or state or Congressional elected leaders either to set a higher moral standard or demonstrate tolerance towards one another.  Let us not get carried away by false accusations, negativity or hatred but together in 2014 and future we should Promote Patience and Tolerance towards each other.

Ravi Yalamanchi

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