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From a young age, I have always been appalled and amazed at the level of hatred in the world for no other reason than being different. In over 2000 years since Jesus told us this story, we as a society have not learned a thing. We have seen wars fought over religion, slavery, racial persecution, gay bashing, the rise of the Klan (still alive and well today, they have a website), racial profiling and indifference. Not even the horror of the holocaust has taught us to love. The Internet is filled with hate groups. I found 50 of them in just 5 minutes. I hope that didn't put me on any government watch lists.

In the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus tells us of a man who takes pity on another who was robbed and beaten and left for dead. While others walked past him this man took action. And not just any man, a Samaritan. Somebody who would not normally perform such an act. So like Jesus did, I am going to tell you some stories of my own.

The first one is from my childhood. Growing up, I had a Norman Rockwell childhood. I had parents who loved me, friends and family. I had a few issues at school but nothing out of the ordinary. As far as I knew the world was a wonderful place and everybody was equal. I lived in Somonauk; this is a town that actually had a pet deer. Remember Bamby? My parents taught me that we were all God's children and to treat all people with kindness and respect. It never occurred to me that there were people being oppressed. Until April 4th, 1968, that was the day Martin Luther King was assonated. I remember my mother telling me about it the next day. I knew he was a famous man but I didn't know why. I felt bad for him and his family and I couldn't understand why anybody would want to kill him. My mom was upset about it but I didn't know why. I left for school and walked with a little girl I walked with often. I told her what my mom told me. What came out of her mouth stunned me. She said that she was glad someone shot him and maybe now those people will know their place. (Actually she used a more colorful term but you get the point). I was so horrified at the hatred in her statement. In that moment, I understood everything. I understood why he was important and that he was killed because of hate. I didn't spend much time with her after that. She was repeating what her parents told her of course. Children don't know hate, they are taught it. Part of being a Good Samaritan is to teach our children love, not hate.

Recently I was watching on the

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