Can You Believe This Still Happens?

With liberty and justice for all.” Is that phrase familiar to you? We used to say it every morning when we pledged allegiance to the flag in school. As I age, however, I wonder how many people truly understood what they were saying, how many people actually believe in the concept of liberty and justice not just for select people, but for all people. Since I had a little extra time this morning and I’m old enough to appreciate a print newspaper, I glanced through the Washington Post.  There I came upon this story about housing bias for seniors.

You’ve probably heard the litany of complaints many older people have. Life often revolved around doctor’s appointments, aches and pains, and the adult kids don’t call, email, or come over often enough. My grandmothers and my mother all complained, “I’m lonesome” even though I lived in the same city as my folks and visited them frequently. Just imagine if they had no kids or grandkids, if people had ignored or avoided them based on one facet of their lifestyle. They would have felt even more isolated. This is what happens to many gay or lesbian couples who are less likely to have offspring than are their heterosexual peers.

Do you welcome people into your community? Do you make them feel included and valued? If not, why not? What would it take for you to change?