The 80’s band, Depeche Mode. I heard them daily during my high school and college years. Not only on the radio in the car (yes, am/fm people!), but over the speakers in the quad at lunch. And oh, don’t forget, even on the LP, or 45 single (Sorry, folks, I’m talking about VINYL RECORDS).
It occurred to me the other day, when this song came on, how the lyrics still sadly rang true. How crazy is that? A song released in 1984?!
Perhaps Depeche Mode’s own, Martin Gore wrote it to help all people find UNITY back then I read. But, jeez, this is something we, as a human race struggle to do almost 40 years later!
Here is the first verse:
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully
We hear it daily. We see it throughout the week, and we witness it far more than we should. Why then, if I might ask, is it so difficult for us to see each other, listen to each other, hear each other, and actually get along. We don’t need to embrace our differences to seek unity. We don’t need to agree wholeheartedly to become united. How about agreeing to understand someone else’s story, perhaps get a deeper meaning and reasoning into they “why” they believe, think, or act that way. Hey, we may even learn a bit and open our own learning path wider.
Another verse:
So we’re different colours and we’re different creeds
And different people have different needs
It’s obvious you hate me though I’ve done nothing wrong
I’ve never even met you, so what could I have done
Let that sink in. Mr. Gore was spot on! Almost 40 years ago, my friends. Crazy right? Colours, Creeds, Needs and the big almighty word; HATE. This almighty emotion, feeling, or sentiment (I won’t argue with you), is spewed onto the world faster than a Lucille Ball chocolate factory assembly line!
Let’s make hatred the lesser used emotion or feeling. Let’s make it normal to “out” kind each other. As humans, we should be elevating each other to solve things like homelessness, inflation, wars, economy issues, climate change, over-polluted oceans and more!
The kicker verse:
I can’t understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
Well, I bet we can understand what makes us hate. Conditioned responses. Upbringing. Violence at home. Inequity in justice. Poverty. Mental Health challenges, and more.
However, for those of us who have it better than others, perhaps we can regain the traction and push hatred to the caboose of our humankind train?
There are ways around this action of hatred, my friends and here are just a few.
Pause, don’t react.
Exercise daily.
Get doses of Vitamin D.
Eat healthy.
Meditate (Over 5,000 current studies on the benefits, btw).
Laugh more.
Play games with friends and family.
Work less (not sure it is possible for some, but it does reduce stress).
Talk to humans, without a phone, and really listen. Yes, eye contact and listen.
Less time on our devices.
Read a book, yes a book bound by paper products.
I don’t know a lot, but I do see our world heading to overly dangerous waters. Waters in which I don’t want to see my own two children drown in.
We can do better.
People are People.