The Small Things to be Grateful for
By: Yuriy Lishanskiy
The small things to be grateful for.
I am going to talk about a very difficult and elaborate subject, the subject of gratitude. Let me start with a small story here, I volunteer as a docent attendant in Skokie Holocaust Museum . My work consists of answering questions and striking up conversation when appropriate. The day I am talking about three teenagers standing in front of Babi Yar exhibition got my attention. “How could people live through this?” One of the kids asked rhetorically.
“I for one can not be separated from my parents for a day without feeling discomfort.”
“And to be put behind barb wire.” His friend added. “Forget a day; I would have gone mad in an hour.” “Not to mention parents, who saw their kids killed in front of them.” The girl of around 12 broke in. “Come along it is driving me insane.” I sensed an opportunity.
“Excuse me guys. I started from a far. “I am volunteering here. I think I have a technique to keep sanity.” Apparently my first words were correct as they were interested.. The teenagers looked at me with interest.
First of All, I started. “The mass execution is a result of system of laws and thinking that makes it good to kill a human being for being different. Such were the laws and practices of Nazi Germany. The reality is that you live in a country where nobody could separate you from your parents. The law protects you and your family. I do not want to preach, but the idea that police can not simply break into my house and arrest me for being different is keeping me sane. This is a privilege of living in a free country.
It is good to say “God bless America from time to time. I for one do it every day.” The kids smiled and went away. I made my point.
Dear reader, stop to count your own blessings. Are you free and unafraid? Can you express any opinion without fear of being tortured or murdered? Are you able to follow whatever cultural or religious traditions you choose without fear of state sanctioned persecution? If the answer is yes, you are really a happy person. Thank God for that. Unfortunately, we as a cultural entity tend either to ignore or take for granted every single good thing we as humans possess.
And as a general rule answer to the question “How are you?” We answer “fine” without thinking what “fine” really means. We ask and answer without expecting and contemplating any other response. Meanwhile the context of some particular pronunciations of “fine” does make difference. This difference must be demonstrated.
About four years ago I saw a hostage video from Iraq in which a young woman said she was “fine.” New “fine,” “fine” of the Hostage situation got into me. For no particular reason I watched this video three times, trying to understand terrible parallel universe where common “fine” meant just being alive for the moment.
I said I was trying to understand it but I was well aware of the limitations. I was free and with my own family. I fortunately could never understand the real horror of being a prisoner. I could only wish for the hostage to be free. The hostage name was Jill Carol and happily she was eventually able to say. “I am fine, I am free.” She returned to the word “fine” its usual socially accepted meaning.
Dear reader, I hope you are really fine. If so, please demonstrate your gratitude for the conditions which are responsible for it. There are many ways to demonstrate it. One of the best is to learn and show respect for every opinion without being afraid to express your own. Better yet is to treat everyone with kindness. Especially those who are less fortunate than you.
