Our society has now gone from the recently popular cry of systemic racism to systemic victimization.  It's a reference to systems in place to allow nearly everybody to claim that they're a victim of just about anything.

            Everybody is a victim of something and social media is just waiting for them to logon and spread their story – true or not.  Main-stream media is waiting to hear your story too.

            You're not the same race as me; I'm a victim.  You're not the same sex as me; I'm a victim. You're not the same religion as me; I'm a victim.  You didn't smile when I walked by; I'm a victim.  I'm liberal and you're conservative; I'm a victim.  You didn't let me merge in front of you on the highway; I'm a victim. In school, you're not teaching my child what I want you to; we are victims. You don't agree with me on gun control; I'm a victim and you're a white supremacist.  I don't like the letters to the editor; I'm a victim and you're a racist. You don't share my opinion on      (fill in the blank)      I'm a victim and I hate you.

            It goes on and on and on.

            Systemic racism is being replaced by system victimization so everyone can get in on it.  After all, we need something to post online.  If you're popular, maybe you'll be able to sell your story to the main-stream-media or get in front of the TV camera.

            Celebrities and politicians love that last one.

            That mindset cheapens the pain of real victims – shame on you fraudsters.  You cloud the stories of people who were victimized by horribly true events.

            Hate is a powerful emotion.  It lives in all of us and grows out of anger, fear, and disgust.  Hatred inspires violent acts. 

            Instead of proclaiming how right you are and how wrong everybody else is, or buying into the all-or-nothing mentality, try listening and learning from the words and actions of others.  You don't have to agree, but you don't need to let your anger grow into hate.

            Out of the dismal Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday night (first time that less than 10 million viewers tuned in) came words of direction for all people.

            Producer, actor, and writer Tyler Perry received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.  During his acceptance speech he said "Refuse hate … Don't hate anybody. I refuse to hate someone because they're Mexican or because they are black or white, or LGBTQ. I refuse to hate someone because they're a police officer. I refuse to hate someone because they are Asian. I would hope that we would refuse hate."

            Exactly.  Just because you disagree with someone is not an automatic ticket for you to hate them. 

            And, don't fall for systemic victimization.  Pray for the real victims and ignore the frauds.