Joan and I , with our two small daughters, moved to San Diego in 1958. We rented a small house in East San Diego in a quiet neighborhood. Very quickly we became friends with many families who lived on that street. One of these was a divorced lady with 4 kids, the oldest of which was a 13 year old girl.

Now, “Lidia S.” (Not her real name) was very bitter at everything Navy, because her x-husband was a Chief with 16 years of service. Every wrong that came to her family was the Navy’s fault. Lidia never passed up a chance to bad mouth the Navy.

The command I was under at that time had “altered Hours.” We went to work at 6 in the morning and quit work at 3. This gave us a lot of time for our families. I would leave my house at 4:30 and get home at about 4 every day. I seldom wore uniforms at home, so many people did not know that I was in the Navy.

Joan and I became involved with the local church and Wednesday evenings, and Sundays were “Church Day.” Lidia asked if we could take her and her children to church, and, of course, we were delighted to do so. Lidia wasted no time in telling us how wonderful she thought we were, and how terrible she thought all Navy people were. Two days a week, and sometimes more often, she would expound just how awful she thought all sailors were.

One Sunday morning we were all in our Ford with kids sitting in the floor boards and adult laps, and Lidia went into her rant about how worthless and sinful all sailors were. I snapped. I asked, “Lidia, I would like to know what you think of Joan and I.”

“Oh, Tom,” she said, “You and Joan are the best people ever to come into my life. You have involved my children in Church and have done more to help the neighborhood than all the rest of the people here. I love you two so very much!”

With this I handed her my Navy I. D. Card. She sat silent for some time, then said, “It is hard to believe that you are in the Navy. Every sailor I ever knew was just trash. I just can’t believe it.”

“Lidia,” I said, “You have made the same mistake that thousands of other people have made. You see a sailor drunk and making nasty remarks to people and you think all sailors are like that. They aren’t. For every one you see like that, there are hundreds who are on duty or home with their families,, teaching their children to be good citizens. As a matter of fact, the Sunday School Teacher your girl is with, is a sailor, and you would not degrade that fine man. All sailors are just not like you think You have looked at the wrong side if life.”

Lidia changed a little, but still hated the Navy. I wonder if she also hated other slices of society. If her ex had been an Irishman, she would have hated all Irish? Or all Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas - well, you get the picture.

Of course, Lidia was not alone in her hate. I saw the signs that stated, “SAILORS AND DOGS - KEEP OFF THE GRASS” But, not in uniform, I was welcome to step there and relax under a shade tree…

The real secret is to get to know “those people.” If you believe all black skinned people are bad, get to know some. You may change your mind. But, do so with an open mind. Some are real heels. Most, however, are human beings who wants about the same things out of life as you and I. This is true with any other group of people, no matter what their background.

Not all Mormons are bad. Nor Baptist, Catholics, and - - - . Even some Moslems are fine people who would give the shirt off their back to someone in need.

I met a black man once who told me, “You have at least one more friend that that red neck” Yea, I suspect I have a LOT more friends than he does. I feel sorry for that man who cheats himself out of true friends.

Mark 13:10 “And the gospel must first be published among all nations.” Not just those that are inhabited with a certain race. ALL NATIONS! Even those that does not believe in God. ESPECIALLY those that don’t believe in God!

(See also Matt 28:19 24:47 Luke 24:47 Rom 12:5 Gal 3:8) There are many other scriptures…