Who Me?

My brain is ruminating. 

The dictionary says to ruminate is “to go over in the mind repeatedly and often casually or slowly.“ 

The news media would like us to worry about all of our leaders and what they are saying/doing/thinking/supporting. It’s a “he said/she said” battle of epic proportions. 

The fact of the matter is that none of the politicians lives with us. Not one of us — unless we are related to them — has daily contact with ANY of them. Our only contact is through what we see, read, and hear. 

Like everyone else, I find it extremely difficult to separate myself from all that is happening. I feel like I need to know. But what does that do to me and my family and friends? How does it affect those who have direct contact with me?

So I got to thinking...who is responsible for fueling all the hateful speech that is going around? Me. And who is responsible for preventing/changing hate speech and thoughts? Me again. 

It isn’t our president or the media or any other politician or movie star or athlete or singer or anybody at all. 

If each of us — myself included — spreads love and fairness and grace and civility, it WILL happen. It’s contagious.

No one needs to “kick anyone” who goes low. 

As I learned several years ago — and continue to learn — grace and love ALWAYS win. 

Let’s try it. 

Perspectives

My parents always taught us to look at both sides of something. Sometimes that meant playing the "devil's advocate," but it was still an important lesson. Things aren't always one-sided, even if we want -- or hope for -- them to be.

This was an important tool to have in my toolbox when I became a reporter. It's easy to want to make the narrative fit the issue. But is the narrative truth...or at the very least, the whole truth? How much braver to look at an issue and face that it might be different than we wanted -- or hoped.

No one is perfect. Everyone has some skeletons in his/her closet.

A diamond has multiple sides, and the sun hits each side differently, causing a different amount of sparkle and shine and light. Just the same, people have different ways of seeing the world -- or even an event.

None is wrong...just different.

Maybe when we finally realize and grasp this, the world will become a better place?

Maybe.

Have One's Cake...

There's a famous expression that goes something like this: You can't "have one's cake and eat it, too." 

According to Wikipedia: To have one's cake and eat it too is a popular English idiomatic proverb or figure of speech, sometimes stated as eat one's cake and have it too or simply have one's cake and eat it. This is most often used negatively, to connote the idea of consuming a thing whilst managing to preserve it. This may also indicate having or wanting more than one can handle or deserve, or trying to have two incompatible things. The proverb's meaning is similar to the phrases, "you can't have it both ways" and "you can't have the best of both worlds." Conversely, in the positive sense, it would refer to "having it both ways" or "having the best of both worlds."

I did the unthinkable today. I don't know why I did it. Afterwards I wished in many ways that I hadn't done it.

But I did. 

So there you have it.

What was my heinous crime, you might wonder?

I went onto Dan Cathy's Facebook page and posted some kudos to him.

(I'll pause whilst you gasp and choke and decide whether or not you can associate with me anymore.)

I know. I know. I should have stayed away. After all, it's only the ones who oppose his views that are allowed to comment on his recent statements.

Or is it?

It's an interesting world we live in at the moment. 

Interesting in that only one side of any given issue is "allowed" to be spoken. Everyone else must be silenced or else threatened, bullied, and basically made to feel vile for having an opinion opposite of the politically correct/acceptable one.

Um...whatever happened to Freedom of Speech?

Seems to me that it goes both ways. I have to listen to your thoughts and respect you for having and/or sharing them...and you are obligated to do the same.  That's a polite society...that's called respecting one another.

Respecting you doesn't mean I agree with you. But it does mean that I don't hate you...or wish you were dead...or think you're a bigot, ignorant a**hole for your viewpoints.

But that's exactly what people who disagree with Dan Cathy's personal statement on his beliefs think. I posted the following and within seconds got the comments below it:

"Thank you, Dan, for being a public figure who stands up and is HONEST about his beliefs. It is so refreshing and such a blessing to have someone for our kids to looks up to. We will always support your business. And we thank God for you!!"

Comment 1: Learn to be a good Christian and not hate.

Comment 2: What an interesting parent you must be to want your kids to look up to the president of fast food who advertises his "Christian" morals of hate!

Wow!

What did I say that made them think I hate anyone?

And, for that matter, what did Dan Cathy say?

Here's a snippet from an article I read:

Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy said this week that his privately owned company is "guilty as charged" in support of what he called the biblical definition of the family unit.

The Atlanta-based chain opened its first location in a Georgia mall in 1967 and grown to more than 1,615 restaurants in 39 states and Washington, D.C., with annual sales over $4.1 billion, according to its website.

"We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that," Cathy told the Baptist Press, the news agency of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Later in the article:

Chick-fil-A released its own statement, saying it has a history of applying biblically-based principles to its business, such as keeping its stores closed on Sundays.

"The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect — regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender," according to the statement.

"Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena," it said.

Seems to me that people want their opinions heard, but they don't want to listen or read or see or know that the other side is disagreeing -- respectfully -- with them. And that's sad to me. I hear and read and see and know that the other side disagrees with me...but I never call them names or belittle their ideas or hang about on sites they like and wait to post mean comments. 

Whoa.  It's called Freedom of Speech? Something that we're all -- on both sides of the aisle -- guaranteed.

That I could post something personal and seemingly benign that within seconds had comments against it just makes me wonder if these people have too much time on their hands.

Or maybe I just live in a bubble most of the time...  Maybe this is really how the world behaves...

I think I'll go back inside that bubble for awhile...and maybe I'll take a piece of cake with me.

Friday Funnies

The following is meant for entertainment purposes only...it is not an endorsement of any kind for any political figures. It's just a bit of silliness.

Enjoy! And have a funny last Friday BEFORE 24 returns!!

Thoughtful Thursday

It's been hard to post this week...

I'm going out on a political limb here -- something you won't catching me doing often -- but I know that my billions few readers either agree with me already, or will "agree to disagree" with me because they love me... Confident in myself, huh?

In the wake of another bitter political election, I'm always left pondering many things.

My brain has been working overtime as it tries to fathom all the changes that will occur in the coming months and years. But it works even harder to understand this great need for "change" people feel our country needs. Is it the people who say this, or is it the news media?

As a former card-carrying (and, yes, I did have an actual PRESS card) member of the journalistic world, I am very sad. VERY sad. It grieves me to see and hear how one person can skew the news in a way to influence another. A very irresponsible use of the power of the pen, in my humble opinion...

Political reporting becomes a great big game of "Whisper Down the Lane."

I am even more saddened to see how the media far and wide taints our government and its officials so that it's like acid in the mouths of the people. Funny that no other government in the world gets such coverage.

Why?

Why is President Bush evil? Why do people want "change" from all that he's done? Do they really know that might mean? Did he start the war in Iraq? Or did he merely fight back after a terroristic attack on our nation? Didn't he have the blessing of Congress though? Hmmm...last I read, he had their approval...but according to the media the war is all his fault. Everything seems to be his fault. Yet, he's only one man.

Our government is made up of three (count 'em: executive, legislative, judicial) branches. President Bush did not cause the fiscal troubles we've faced...nor can he "fix" the economy. He can only execute the directives that Congress legislates...they're the ones with monetary power.

I wonder what it feels like to be him. How hard it must be at times to wake up in the morning, with the weight of the world on him, knowing how much he has to do in a day. Yet, he's done so willingly and humbly for eight years. How weary he must feel -- especially weary knowing that so many, many people hate him.

While I never say people don't have the right to an opinion, I think it's sad to base that opinion on what is read or heard instead of on actual experience. It's kind of like trying to describe the taste of chocolate based only on what you've read, not on actually taking a bite of it.

Walk a mile in someone's shoes...especially before you criticize them. If you think you can do the same job -- or do it better -- then by all means criticize, but if not, maybe show some compassion and give the person his due, realizing that NO ONE is perfect, especially not a political leader.

Am I happy about our new choice for president? No. But you won't see me criticizing him the person. I might not agree with his policies or his choice of appointments or even his attitudes, but for him the person I will pray daily. He'll need the strength to withstand the weight of the world on his shoulders...and he is, after all, only one man.

Okay...climbing down from my soapbox. *wink-grin*