Divided We Fall

What's the first thing you notice about someone when you are talking to them?  For me it's the eyes.  I've been called intimidating because I look into your eyes when I speak to you.  I had to chuckle at that.  I don't trust people who can't look me in the eye.  It is said that the eyes are the window to the soul.  I believe this to be true.  In passing, clothing, hair color and tattoos will typically draw my attention to someone, but then isn't that part of their intended purpose, to be seen?    Either way, I have never been one to notice skin color first and foremost.  I give a person the chance to prove themselves for who they are, from the heart.  Isn't that the way it should be?  

The division in this country has my heart hurting.  Social media is currently at the heart of this division.  People are free to post their thoughts no matter how hateful and crude, no matter their beliefs, no matter who they hurt.  They do this with no regard for their fellow (wo)man, even if it could potentially destroy them.  

Recently I was thinking about The Golden Rule.  I wondered what happened to it?  Some of you may need to look it up to see what I am talking about.  Do unto others as you would have done unto you.  Every religion has its own version of The Golden Rule.  Maybe that is where my answer is.  It seems so simple, but where does one learn this anymore?  

There has been a recent uprising on one particular knitting and crochet site that has caused more division than I've been witness to in my lifetime.  People have left this sight because of that and started their own pages.  Some of the comments I have read on those new pages are really no better than the site they left.  The need to tear people down, chew them up and spit them out is just beyond my comprehension.  Do they have any idea what that kind of hate and discontent is doing to them personally, not to mention the person they intended it for?  Do they know how that makes them appear?  As I write this, I seem to have a lot more questions than answers.

I have had visitors here on the farm from over 25 countries.  All are welcome here.  As a matter of fact, in order to use the booking system I use, I had to take that pledge.  That wasn't so in the beginning, but apparently some hosts were discriminating for various reasons and that made the change.  The change was to INCLUDE everyone.  The change wasn't made to include everyone EXCEPT a certain demographic.  

The photo is one of me with 2 guests from Taiwan.  They have a population of almost 24 million people.  This is a population density of 1,680 people per square mile.  Montana just passed 1 million in population with a density of just over 6 people per square mile.  The contrast for us and them is shocking.  They had never been this close to farm animals before, except in a grocery store.  My reality and theirs are so completely different and had I judged or been biased, I never would have had the pleasure of meeting them and learning from them.  

I don't have the answers.  I just know it's way easier to divide than it is to unite and I am sadden by it all.  I will do my part here to unite.