A jarring note
Machel Hogan
Friday, December 21, 2007
THIS IS the season for health, family and friends. This is also the season to remember the things you take for granted. I recently spent a week with my wonderful in-laws, because of power outages over here in southwest Kansas. Thankfully though, because of the hard workers of Midwest Energy, we are all back in full swing. We are able to sleep in our own beds once again, go back to work and try to get our lives back in order.
So why am I writing this? I was unable to read the Gazette for the entire time we were out of power. I was looking forward to getting back online, reading to see if everyone in the Emporia area was doing well and if they’d escaped the troubles we were burdened with. I was also looking forward to reading light-hearted Christmas headlines, hoping it would help me get back into the holiday spirit.
Yet when I finally got online this morning, what did I find? I found a letter complaining, once again, about the Somali community.
This is the season when you are supposed to forgive and forget. A time to be with family, to be thankful for all you have. A time to go out and help others in need. It would be wonderful if everyone would drop the whole Somali story for the rest of the month and just celebrate the things we have. I am ashamed of those who are acting like this. Never once did you write a letter about how grateful you are for your heat, your home, your food or even your jobs. Even if you don’t like the Somali community, this is not the time to complain. It is time to have a joyous holiday season with your loved ones.
Machel Hogan
Kinsley