Dear people of the world, please stop with the name calling and the veiled innuendos or frankly overt meanness... Being a Liberal or Conservative isn't inherently bad, nor does it make the person of either label stupid or smart. For many, in my humble opinion, it means clinging to an ideology you don't fully understand, but one that helps you be very quick to judge the person with the "opposite" label. We have far too many problems in the country and the world for this labeling and name calling to continue. It either feeds into the mob mentality or automatically puts people on the defensive.
Are guns an issue? Whether you want more gun control or not, people dying is an issue...I think we can all agree we'd like less of that...seems to me there should be a way to help that happen...seems to me most people think back ground checks are a good thing...even at gun shows and for private sales...will closing loopholes prevent attacks like Las Vegas? maybe. Do we need better mental health care in this country? You bet! Do we need to take away guns from responsible gun owners? No. I don't know what the answer is, or even where to begin, but in doing nothing, more people are dying.
Kneeling during the National Anthem...Here again, whether you support the athletes kneeling or not, we need to recognize that those athletes kneeling are doing so as a sign of protest, as a sign of frustration, and a sign of distress. No athlete I know would ever kneel during the anthem, because they felt like it on a whim. I kneel a lot given my job in all kinds of situations and never once have I been told the action is disrespectful. It's not like the athletes are turning their back to the flag, or have anything but respect for our military. But clearly something is wrong with systems in the country if athletes are willing to make that bold of a statement. And before getting all hot and bothered about how disrespectful it is to our military or our veterans or our county...have you noticed the state of veterans affairs lately? Have you asked a vet how long it takes to get seen at the VA? Have you wondered out loud about what kind of pay they are getting? Most of the answers to those questions are downright shameful, and are not in any way part of the thanks of a grateful nation. If you want to get all hot and bothered about something, get all hot and bothered about that.
Healthcare. Really? Really? Hello Congress, until you all have to deal with the same health plan I do, I don't want to hear a word...not one peep. Y'all don't live in the real world. Y'all talk a big talk about how terrible health care and health insurance is in the country, but you don't have to worry one bit about it. Your health care costs are covered from now until death. Do things need tweaking? Sure, but not in any way I have seen any of you attempt it so far. Stop saying what you think we want to hear to get you reelected and actually do some work for the people you serve.
Am I frustrated? Can you not tell? People in Flint still don't have clean water, we can send people to the moon but we can't get needed supplies to a devastated island, we are antagonizing North Korea, the Klan and their ilk are alive and well and the president needs to be banned from twitter. Nothing to be frustrated about there... Seriously, we can't keep doing this! Just stop it already...
And in the morning light...go call your congress people, donate blood, volunteer in a school, tell someone that needs to hear it that you value them as a person just the way they are, give money to a reputable organization. Keep being frustrated. Make better choices. Give someone a hug(after asking their permission). Keep Crying in the wilderness. Have a civil and frank discussion with someone in the "other" category. Try to see where they might be coming from. Resist. Persist. Know that you are not alone. Sigh, and then sigh again. Keep on keeping on.
Until the next time I get so frustrated I have to get this all out, and don't dare to post it on facebook,
-C
