LETTER: Listen to the song: what the world needs now is more love

To Ozaukee Press:

Perhaps now, more than ever, it is necessary for us to take a deep and honest look at ourselves, our mindsets and the ways we think. We all strive to feel justified in our decisions, wanting to be right even when we are wrong. Too often, when our choices fall apart, we look for something to blame. Do we accept responsibility for our actions? Or instead attribute mistakes to forces outside our control. This tendency to project blame outward may at its core be fueled by hate. Hate is a powerful force that is dividing America and threatening the foundations of our democracy.

When you cast your vote, do you do so with justice and the greater good of all Americans in mind, or do you simply follow party lines without considering the consequences? Is your vote motivated by a dislike or hatred of the opposition? When you share your opinions, are you driven by a desire to retaliate with harsh words of hatred or actions? Do you find yourself rejecting truths simply because they don’t align with your beliefs?

Do you genuinely feel free? There is a saying that “the truth will set you free,” but sometimes what we consider our own truths may just be an illusion—a fading mirage, a suffocating dust devil. When making choices locally, especially when voting, do you support candidates who aim to protect and promote the integrity of say, education, or do you favor policies like book banning that suppress youthful curiosity and critical thinking? American students have a failing report card in math, science and reading while world students move forward. 

Are you quick to find fault in the words of those who oppose your views, using selective condemnation to reinforce your own religious or personal ideals?

A long-forgotten song lyric laments, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love, it’s the only thing there is much too little of.” In reflecting on our actions and motivations, we must ask ourselves: Do we possess any of that love, or are we letting hate, grievance and retribution guide us?

Ken Bretl

Fredonia