We didn’t start the fire but 2016 is burning

It’s hard to know what to say. Here we are just past the halfway point of 2016 and the world has lost its mind.
I’m reminded of the Billy Joel Song “We didn’t start the fire.” Remember that one from 1989 where he belts out a stream of names and events broken up by the chorus?
The chorus went like this:
“We didn’t start the fire.
It was always burning, since the world’s been turning.
We didn’t start the fire.
No, we didn’t light it.
But we tried to fight it.”
I think we could re-write the song around the chorus just using events from this year. Not in any particular order, here are some samples:
• Donald Trump
• Hillary
• Feel the Bern
• Cruz control
• Immigration
• Build a wall
• Fighting over gun control
• Cop killings, killing cops
• Black lives matter
• Baton Rouge
• Dallas, Minnesota
• Transgender bathrooms
• Orlando
• Nice, France
• Turkey coup
• ISIS, ISIL, Islamic State
• Obama won’t blame Muslims
• Pokemon on the go
• Selfie sticks
• Zika virus
• Brazos River over its banks
• Star Wars, Star Trek, Ghostbusters are coming back
• Superhero civil war
• R-rated comic movies
• Black Oscar nominees
• Noah’s got a new ark
• Putin stops evangelists
• Antonin Scalia
• Year in space
• Biden is the cancer czar
• Denver, Pittsburgh, Cleveland , Ohio
• Olympics down in Rio
• Rams are back in L.A., Chargers, Raiders gonna stay
• Tom Brady pays his dues
• Manning, Duncan call it quits
Whew! Certainly that’s not all, but come on – this is only half the year! Who knows what’s to come. The Republican National Convention will take place between the time of this writing and its publication. That alone could add fuel to this fire.
Who would have ever thought just six months ago that this country and our world would be so divided and enraged over differences in race and religion? People please; we are all in this together. We are one species living on the only planet we’ve got. There is no place for hatred and violence.
On Sunday I saw Islamic, Jewish, Christian and Hindu leaders praying on the same stage and holding up hands in unity. It was a beautiful sight to see. As more than one of them mentioned, we have more in common with each other than we do things that divide us.
Let’s focus our efforts on understanding and respecting one another and discard that hate and distrust that is causing so much hurt and pain. We only get one ride on this earth and like it or not, we’re in it together. So let’s make the most of it and see if we can’t enjoy the ride. The alternative isn’t pleasant for anyone.
Remember, we didn’t start the fire, but we can do our part to fight it. I’m ready to do my part if you’re ready to do yours. What do you say, are you with me? Let’s take back 2016 and make it a year to celebrate!