Thursday, September 6, 2018
It doesn’t affect MY life...
Families separated at the border
Basic healthcare is a luxury for some
Racism
Mass shootings
I could go on and on.
Some people’s response to the above is...it doesn’t affect MY life.
Oh, but it does.
I cannot begin to describe how disappointed I am in some people. Too many people think that because it isn’t happening to them personally, that they don’t need to be involved. That is how we got a reality “star” elected president. Well that and the archaic electoral college, but that is another blog post entirely.
This isn’t a blog post about political leanings or parties. It’s about right and wrong.
You know, I used to think LeBron James was a pompous ass. Everyone remembers the big prime time announcement on ESPN when he decided to sign with Miami. Well..basketball fans do. The city of Cleveland was quicker to forgive him than I was. Now he is giving back. He can afford to send his kids to the finest schools...poor school systems don’t affect his life. That doesn’t stop him from trying to make a change. People also have criticized him for speaking out against the current administration. I struggle with this. Should he just play basketball? Or should he be an example for kids that are watching. Of course he should do both. I think some of those criticisms come from people who are pissed that a black man would speak out that way. LeBron James’ view is no more or less important than anyone else’s. I give him credit for speaking up.
Those who criticize don’t get to dictate what he stands for, or what his truth is. Your opinion of it, tells the story of who YOU are.
If you have your panties in a twist about Colin Kaepernick kneeling for the anthem, let me ask you...would you be so irate if Tom Brady had been the first to kneel? Maybe Tom isn’t the best example because his GOAT status would give him a pass on some things. How about Blake Bortles?
I am sure the first time Colin Kaepernick knelt, he had no idea the firestorm he was unleashing. He was, however clear in the statement he was making; what he was speaking out against. Maybe he was affected by racism directly, maybe not. He was after he knelt. You can agree with him or not, however if you’re boycotting the NFL or Nike; that tells a story about YOU. I can also assure you that the NFL and Nike don’t care and neither are going away.
If you’re reading this and you don’t know me, I am white. I live a suburban middle class life. Racism is alive and well in America; hell, it’s encouraged by the current leader of the free world. I have seen racism negatively affect people I care about. I have also seen people I care about spout dispicable things about other races. They have said Colin Kaepernick has no right...
NO, in this country, he has EVERY right.
So last night...45 was blathering on about how the New York Times (it’s not failing, by the way) should “out” the anonymous op-ed author “for national security”. When I stopped laughing, I realized how desperate he sounds. This putz got elected because too many people thought Hillary’s emails were somehow worse than, sexual assault against women, a complete lack of any ethics or morals, Russian interference in the election...how much time do you have? Now some of you are thinking...well, that didn’t have an affect on MY life.
Oh, but it does.
Friday, August 10, 2018
It Happened So Fast
Two weeks ago I was in a pretty serious automobile accident. Totaled my car on a street near my house. I wasn't going more than 10 miles an hour when I was hit...or maybe I hit him. It happened so fast I am not really sure who hit who first; let's just say our cars met at some point.
I have been driving since 1987...I realize I am dating myself now but I also realize how lucky I am that this was my first serious accident. I am also saying a quick prayer than I haven't just jinxed myself by typing that out loud.
It happened so fast.
I was headed to the chiropracter (ironic, right?). Got to a stop sign, stopped and looked to my left and right. I was going to turn left. When I looked left and right, I didn't see any cars, so I went. There was a car coming from the left that I didn't see, there were parked cars blocking my view.
You know how when you see something shocking, your brain says, "What the hell?!!?" It happened so fast, my brain could only muster "What the?!!?" then BAM! Did you know that airbags deploy in a fraction of a second? And they smoke? Trust me when I tell you, you don't need to experience the deployment of airbags. Did you know that seatbelts lock on impact in order to keep what they are holding from flying around the inside of the car? And they leave the most spectacular bruises. Shades of purple I have never seen before.
It happened so fast.
I drove a Hyundai Sonata--her name was Stella (yes, I name my cars). I cannot say enough about airbag technology. I was basically encased in airbags when my car came to rest up over the curb on the other side of the street I was trying to turn onto. Did you know I am claustrophobic? I didn't know how claustrophobic until I was encased in airbags.
The entire front end of my car shattered...they're mostly made of plastic these days, designed to break up on impact and absorb the force of the crash. Did I mention I wasn't going that fast? There was actually a piece of styrofoam behind my front bumper that helped absorb the impact of a crash.
It happened so fast.
I live in a town that is basically bisected by a set of railroad tracks. I live on one side, my chiropractor is on the other. I purposefully leave 30 minutes before my appointment which is 7 minutes away so that I don't have to rush. I wasn't on the phone...I was just singing with the radio as I am known to do...Ed Sheeran-The Shape of You. I've been turning it off since the accident, it makes me anxious. The type A in me keeps trying to figure it out, why didn't I see the other car? It happened so fast.
2 weeks out and I am less terrified when I drive. I haven't traveled the accident route yet, and I might not again. I lean a little to the right in the driver's seat and I drive on the right side of my lane...hopefully that will ease over time. I am grateful that bruises fade and aches and pains subside eventually (hopefully soon). I am grateful that with the exception of the night of the crash, I am sleeping OK; stress for me often manifests in insomnia.
It happened so fast.
I am getting a new car in the next couple of days...wish I could say I was excited about it. Tossing around Chloe, Tess, and Trudy for names...I'll know when I see it. Edited to add...bought a 2018 Hyundai Kona...her name is Ruby.
It's ironic to me that something that happened so fast will more than likely haunt me forever.
I have been driving since 1987...I realize I am dating myself now but I also realize how lucky I am that this was my first serious accident. I am also saying a quick prayer than I haven't just jinxed myself by typing that out loud.
It happened so fast.
I was headed to the chiropracter (ironic, right?). Got to a stop sign, stopped and looked to my left and right. I was going to turn left. When I looked left and right, I didn't see any cars, so I went. There was a car coming from the left that I didn't see, there were parked cars blocking my view.
You know how when you see something shocking, your brain says, "What the hell?!!?" It happened so fast, my brain could only muster "What the?!!?" then BAM! Did you know that airbags deploy in a fraction of a second? And they smoke? Trust me when I tell you, you don't need to experience the deployment of airbags. Did you know that seatbelts lock on impact in order to keep what they are holding from flying around the inside of the car? And they leave the most spectacular bruises. Shades of purple I have never seen before.
It happened so fast.
I drove a Hyundai Sonata--her name was Stella (yes, I name my cars). I cannot say enough about airbag technology. I was basically encased in airbags when my car came to rest up over the curb on the other side of the street I was trying to turn onto. Did you know I am claustrophobic? I didn't know how claustrophobic until I was encased in airbags.
The entire front end of my car shattered...they're mostly made of plastic these days, designed to break up on impact and absorb the force of the crash. Did I mention I wasn't going that fast? There was actually a piece of styrofoam behind my front bumper that helped absorb the impact of a crash.
It happened so fast.
I live in a town that is basically bisected by a set of railroad tracks. I live on one side, my chiropractor is on the other. I purposefully leave 30 minutes before my appointment which is 7 minutes away so that I don't have to rush. I wasn't on the phone...I was just singing with the radio as I am known to do...Ed Sheeran-The Shape of You. I've been turning it off since the accident, it makes me anxious. The type A in me keeps trying to figure it out, why didn't I see the other car? It happened so fast.
2 weeks out and I am less terrified when I drive. I haven't traveled the accident route yet, and I might not again. I lean a little to the right in the driver's seat and I drive on the right side of my lane...hopefully that will ease over time. I am grateful that bruises fade and aches and pains subside eventually (hopefully soon). I am grateful that with the exception of the night of the crash, I am sleeping OK; stress for me often manifests in insomnia.
It happened so fast.
I am getting a new car in the next couple of days...wish I could say I was excited about it. Tossing around Chloe, Tess, and Trudy for names...I'll know when I see it. Edited to add...bought a 2018 Hyundai Kona...her name is Ruby.
It's ironic to me that something that happened so fast will more than likely haunt me forever.
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Better
I participated in the March for Families on Saturday June 30th. I continue to be appalled at the fact that the greatest country in the world is keeping children in cages while they sort out the fate of the children's parents. I am not going to engage in the right and wrong of coming to the USA illegally. I cannot possibly understand having to leave my home country because of persecution (yet).
I call the USA the greatest country in the world with a certain amount of skepticism these days. Until recently, I have always had a feeling that while America was great, we were always striving to be better. Better for everyone.
Not just for the rich, or the white, or the Christians, or the straight.
EVERYONE; even if they weren't born here.
You're lucky if you were born here but unless you are a Native American, you have ancestors that were not born here. Maybe they came here fleeing persecution, or famine, or disease or poverty. Maybe they came with hopes and dreams. Maybe they came with nothing but what they could carry in a small case. Regardless of the circumstances, they arrived and made a life here. I am not going to split hairs on whether it was legally or illegally. Honestly, it matters very little unless they were criminals. That is what is awesome about this country; you can come here with very little and with hard work you can live your dreams.
The other day someone I know who claims to be a conservative Christian posted regarding the separation of families at the border. I am not going to go into what was posted but let's just say, they are not as good a Christian as they think they are. But, part of what they posted struck me and I thought of it again when we were marching.
We need to do better taking care of our own. We have people who have lived in this country for years who are homeless, mentally ill, maybe both and we don't take good enough care of them. Healthcare is expensive, terms like mentally ill have a stigma attached. There are people who have physical illnesses that keep them from holding a full time job. Doctors have to pay huge amounts for malpractice insurance and in turn charge huge amounts to provide care. Insurance companies charge huge amounts to help defray medical costs and the cycle goes on and on.
America can do better.
While we marched Saturday, I saw a man sleeping on a bus stop bench in an overcoat; I am going to venture a guess that he was homeless. It was 94 degrees with a heat index of 108. He was probably wearing it so that a belonging of his wasn't stolen while he slept.
I saw the irony in my marching for families at the border and at the same time wondered, who marches for the homeless? Who marches for veterans? Who marches for abused children? Who marches for the environment? Why do we need to march for these things? Why aren't we constantly striving to make things better?
There are so many things that America can do better. Our elected officials are so busy trying to get re-elected, they have NO CLUE what is happening in this country or they don't care. They are so busy blaming the last guy or gal that held the office that they are completely ineffective in serving their constituents.
The gap between the haves and have nots widens daily. The tax breaks from earlier this year were supposed to help fix that. Guess what, big companies are buying up their own stock rather than passing on the savings to their employees by raising salaries. No one should be surprised by this. Trickle down economics didn't work back when Ronald Reagan thought it was a good idea.
America can do better. America needs to do better.
FYI--to the people saying illegals are "stealing your jobs". Most illegals come to this country and do jobs that the people who do the loudest bitching wouldn't stoop to do.
America is a great country...we didn't need a reality star in the white house to make it so...not going to go into what he has done to sabotage its greatness.
But we can be better, stronger, more inclusive, kinder, more diverse....and on and on.
We can do better.
I hope I post a year from now and things are different.
Time will tell.
I call the USA the greatest country in the world with a certain amount of skepticism these days. Until recently, I have always had a feeling that while America was great, we were always striving to be better. Better for everyone.
Not just for the rich, or the white, or the Christians, or the straight.
EVERYONE; even if they weren't born here.
You're lucky if you were born here but unless you are a Native American, you have ancestors that were not born here. Maybe they came here fleeing persecution, or famine, or disease or poverty. Maybe they came with hopes and dreams. Maybe they came with nothing but what they could carry in a small case. Regardless of the circumstances, they arrived and made a life here. I am not going to split hairs on whether it was legally or illegally. Honestly, it matters very little unless they were criminals. That is what is awesome about this country; you can come here with very little and with hard work you can live your dreams.
The other day someone I know who claims to be a conservative Christian posted regarding the separation of families at the border. I am not going to go into what was posted but let's just say, they are not as good a Christian as they think they are. But, part of what they posted struck me and I thought of it again when we were marching.
We need to do better taking care of our own. We have people who have lived in this country for years who are homeless, mentally ill, maybe both and we don't take good enough care of them. Healthcare is expensive, terms like mentally ill have a stigma attached. There are people who have physical illnesses that keep them from holding a full time job. Doctors have to pay huge amounts for malpractice insurance and in turn charge huge amounts to provide care. Insurance companies charge huge amounts to help defray medical costs and the cycle goes on and on.
America can do better.
While we marched Saturday, I saw a man sleeping on a bus stop bench in an overcoat; I am going to venture a guess that he was homeless. It was 94 degrees with a heat index of 108. He was probably wearing it so that a belonging of his wasn't stolen while he slept.
I saw the irony in my marching for families at the border and at the same time wondered, who marches for the homeless? Who marches for veterans? Who marches for abused children? Who marches for the environment? Why do we need to march for these things? Why aren't we constantly striving to make things better?
There are so many things that America can do better. Our elected officials are so busy trying to get re-elected, they have NO CLUE what is happening in this country or they don't care. They are so busy blaming the last guy or gal that held the office that they are completely ineffective in serving their constituents.
The gap between the haves and have nots widens daily. The tax breaks from earlier this year were supposed to help fix that. Guess what, big companies are buying up their own stock rather than passing on the savings to their employees by raising salaries. No one should be surprised by this. Trickle down economics didn't work back when Ronald Reagan thought it was a good idea.
America can do better. America needs to do better.
FYI--to the people saying illegals are "stealing your jobs". Most illegals come to this country and do jobs that the people who do the loudest bitching wouldn't stoop to do.
America is a great country...we didn't need a reality star in the white house to make it so...not going to go into what he has done to sabotage its greatness.
But we can be better, stronger, more inclusive, kinder, more diverse....and on and on.
We can do better.
I hope I post a year from now and things are different.
Time will tell.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Dear Mr President
I was driving home from work yesterday and this song randomly popped up in my playlist.
Take a listen.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wmMS9XVIa00
This song wasn’t written about the current occupant of the White House. Parts of it could have been.
Dear Mr President,
How do you sleep when you fill the twitterverse with lies and nonsense.
How do you sleep when families are separated at our borders and children are kept in cages?
How did this country become so small and narrow minded.
Dear Mr President,
We’re watching and a lot of us are disgusted.
We’re marching.
We’re voting.
I hope you experience first hand some of the divisiveness you have encouraged.
I hope you never find what you crave.
Wanna know why the 44th President was so appealing to us? It’s because he would have taken a walk with any of us.
Take a listen.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wmMS9XVIa00
This song wasn’t written about the current occupant of the White House. Parts of it could have been.
Dear Mr President,
How do you sleep when you fill the twitterverse with lies and nonsense.
How do you sleep when families are separated at our borders and children are kept in cages?
How did this country become so small and narrow minded.
Dear Mr President,
We’re watching and a lot of us are disgusted.
We’re marching.
We’re voting.
I hope you experience first hand some of the divisiveness you have encouraged.
I hope you never find what you crave.
Wanna know why the 44th President was so appealing to us? It’s because he would have taken a walk with any of us.
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Not So Different
So I read an article online the other day...it was posted by someone who identifies as a conservative. It was basically bashing liberals; I know, there's a shock.
We're really not that different you know. Especially those of us that are open minded thinkers and only lean in one direction or the other.
So no, the article wasn't clever. It wouldn't have been clever if it had been posted by a liberal bashing conservatives.
So here is what I think.
Re: Guns...I think there should be more laws or maybe more enforcement of existing laws. If you are a law abiding gun owner, I AM NOT TALKING TO YOU. Please go about your business. However, if your troubled teen shoots up his school one day with your gun(s), someone should come for you. If you are a gun toting right winger that thinks you have the right to have a AR-47 because the Constitution allows it, re-read the Constitution, it does not provide for automatic weapons. You may also qualify for the mental health exam that should accompany any future purchase of a firearm. The gun lobby shouldn't own an entire political party.
Re: Abortions...NO ONE without a uterus should be making laws about what a woman can and cannot do with hers. PS--this doesn't make me pro-abortion. NO ONE IS PRO ABORTION. Sometimes there is no opposite term. An abortion should be between a Dr and their patient ONLY. I am sorry right to lifers, just as you don't want to have to participate in activities related to abortion or planned parenthood because of your religious beliefs, there is a whole segment of the population that does not identify with a religion. You are each entitled to your thought process; but you are not entitled to push your beliefs onto others.
Re: Healthcare...everyone should have access to AFFORDABLE healthcare. I am not suggesting handouts but I am suggesting that a good long hard look be taken at the healthcare industry AND the insurance industry. Executives are getting rich beyond measure on the backs of America's poor. You shouldn't have to choose between groceries and meds if you are not lucky enough to make over $50K annually. You also shouldn't have to pay thousands out of pocket for routine treatments. Congress should have the same health insurance as those they serve.
Re: Term limits---ABSOFRICKINLUTELY No one should be a career politician. 2-4 year terms for President, 2-6 year terms in the Senate, 3-2 year terms in the House at the maximum. States should follow suit. I also think that everyone currently serving should be removed from office and we should start fresh, I am sick of the whole lot of them but I realize that may be my own personal issue.
Re: Political races and $$$; it should never be the richest person wins because they can choke their constituents with commercials. No political race should run more than 3 months; each candidate can make 1 TV commercial and 1 radio commercial and they can each be played once a day. For the sake of the environment, no political signs or flyers will be printed. Political "merchandise" will be considered in poor taste.
Re: Welfare...should require monthly drug screening and job training and it should be allocated in a way that the desired outcome for many is NOT to collect welfare indefinitely.
Re: Death peanalty...is warranted in some cases.
Re: Discrimination; If your religious beliefs are such that you do not want to bake a wedding cake for a same sex couple, that is fine. Please also realize though that the couple can write a review of your bakery based on your discrimination. People can also boycott your place of business for that reason as well.
Re: Immigration...I love how people talk about how easy it is to get into this country legally. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Dreamers should be allowed to stay, if they choose and become citizens. People who are here illegally and are criminals should be deported. People who are here illegally should be allowed to defend their reasoning for coming. Old white men shouldn’t be deciding what qualifies for asylum. There should be a clear path to citizenship for those wanting to pursue it; not bureaucratic bullshit. There should also be a place we can send Americans who are crappy citizens....maybe call it Deploraburbia. It’s just a thought.
Re: News Networks...keep your political beliefs to yourself. You're supposed to be unbiased. There are many people in this country that are not smart enough to discern if you are being biased to a political party or not so you need to offer the unvarnished TRUTH as ugly as it might be. Maybe a watchdog group is needed and news networks that spew party rhetoric should be stripped of their licenses to broadcast; that would apply to both parties of course. The same could be said about newspapers.
Re: Taxes...the more you make, the more you should owe.
Re: The Truth...if you lie running for office, you don't get to win PERIOD. If you lie while in office, you are removed immediately PERIOD. There are no such things as alternative facts, or "what I meant to say was...". Again, things need to be as clear as possible because not everyone is as smart as they think they are.
Re: Hypocrisy should be punished by public flogging. Just going to leave that here.
So, as you can see, I don’t fit into the clever cookie cutter definition of conservative or liberal. Frankly, in this day and age, either term can be considered an insult. Of course what is worse is on either side as well; the inability to see any view but your own.
We're really not that different you know. Especially those of us that are open minded thinkers and only lean in one direction or the other.
So no, the article wasn't clever. It wouldn't have been clever if it had been posted by a liberal bashing conservatives.
So here is what I think.
Re: Guns...I think there should be more laws or maybe more enforcement of existing laws. If you are a law abiding gun owner, I AM NOT TALKING TO YOU. Please go about your business. However, if your troubled teen shoots up his school one day with your gun(s), someone should come for you. If you are a gun toting right winger that thinks you have the right to have a AR-47 because the Constitution allows it, re-read the Constitution, it does not provide for automatic weapons. You may also qualify for the mental health exam that should accompany any future purchase of a firearm. The gun lobby shouldn't own an entire political party.
Re: Abortions...NO ONE without a uterus should be making laws about what a woman can and cannot do with hers. PS--this doesn't make me pro-abortion. NO ONE IS PRO ABORTION. Sometimes there is no opposite term. An abortion should be between a Dr and their patient ONLY. I am sorry right to lifers, just as you don't want to have to participate in activities related to abortion or planned parenthood because of your religious beliefs, there is a whole segment of the population that does not identify with a religion. You are each entitled to your thought process; but you are not entitled to push your beliefs onto others.
Re: Healthcare...everyone should have access to AFFORDABLE healthcare. I am not suggesting handouts but I am suggesting that a good long hard look be taken at the healthcare industry AND the insurance industry. Executives are getting rich beyond measure on the backs of America's poor. You shouldn't have to choose between groceries and meds if you are not lucky enough to make over $50K annually. You also shouldn't have to pay thousands out of pocket for routine treatments. Congress should have the same health insurance as those they serve.
Re: Term limits---ABSOFRICKINLUTELY No one should be a career politician. 2-4 year terms for President, 2-6 year terms in the Senate, 3-2 year terms in the House at the maximum. States should follow suit. I also think that everyone currently serving should be removed from office and we should start fresh, I am sick of the whole lot of them but I realize that may be my own personal issue.
Re: Political races and $$$; it should never be the richest person wins because they can choke their constituents with commercials. No political race should run more than 3 months; each candidate can make 1 TV commercial and 1 radio commercial and they can each be played once a day. For the sake of the environment, no political signs or flyers will be printed. Political "merchandise" will be considered in poor taste.
Re: Welfare...should require monthly drug screening and job training and it should be allocated in a way that the desired outcome for many is NOT to collect welfare indefinitely.
Re: Death peanalty...is warranted in some cases.
Re: Discrimination; If your religious beliefs are such that you do not want to bake a wedding cake for a same sex couple, that is fine. Please also realize though that the couple can write a review of your bakery based on your discrimination. People can also boycott your place of business for that reason as well.
Re: Immigration...I love how people talk about how easy it is to get into this country legally. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Dreamers should be allowed to stay, if they choose and become citizens. People who are here illegally and are criminals should be deported. People who are here illegally should be allowed to defend their reasoning for coming. Old white men shouldn’t be deciding what qualifies for asylum. There should be a clear path to citizenship for those wanting to pursue it; not bureaucratic bullshit. There should also be a place we can send Americans who are crappy citizens....maybe call it Deploraburbia. It’s just a thought.
Re: News Networks...keep your political beliefs to yourself. You're supposed to be unbiased. There are many people in this country that are not smart enough to discern if you are being biased to a political party or not so you need to offer the unvarnished TRUTH as ugly as it might be. Maybe a watchdog group is needed and news networks that spew party rhetoric should be stripped of their licenses to broadcast; that would apply to both parties of course. The same could be said about newspapers.
Re: Taxes...the more you make, the more you should owe.
Re: The Truth...if you lie running for office, you don't get to win PERIOD. If you lie while in office, you are removed immediately PERIOD. There are no such things as alternative facts, or "what I meant to say was...". Again, things need to be as clear as possible because not everyone is as smart as they think they are.
Re: Hypocrisy should be punished by public flogging. Just going to leave that here.
So, as you can see, I don’t fit into the clever cookie cutter definition of conservative or liberal. Frankly, in this day and age, either term can be considered an insult. Of course what is worse is on either side as well; the inability to see any view but your own.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave...
So we're back here again. The NFL has voted to require its players to stand for the National Anthem if they are on the field before a game.
I am as patriotic as the next person and love this country far more than the idiot living in the White House. I believe in the Constitution. Which is why it's OK to take a knee for the National Anthem. I believe in the WHOLE Constitution; not just a couple of amendments that suit my purposes in life. The Constitution is a living document and gets amended as needed; and should be amended regularly, in fact it could use some amending right now.
The right to bear arms was written when it took over a minute to reload a rifle. I am guessing the founding fathers had no clue what technological advances could be applied to rifles and ammunition. That's why they created a document that could be adapted as this country grew.
I have sung the National Anthem. It is a beautiful song. It is a difficult song to sing. I get goosebumps when I hear it sung/performed well. It has special meaning to me. I am sure it has special meaning to a lot of people. For some it has no meaning at all; and that's OK.
Here are a couple of facts about the National Anthem that you might not know:
"In 1931, Congress passed a bill to make "The Star-Spangled Banner" the official national anthem of the United States. ... The lyrics were written by American attorney Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, but the music was borrowed from the 18th century British song "To Anacreon in Heaven." --the music is NOT even orignal!
Trust me when I tell you, the person on Fox and Friends saying those who don't stand shouldn't be in the country doesn't hold the Anthem dear to his cold dead heart. He is simply pissed off at the press that Colin Kapernick got for kneeling. He doesn't have any deep feeling about anything other than himself. He isn't the standard for any type of patriotism or respect for this country; quite the opposite actually.
If you're going to condemn Colin Kapernick for the way he acts during the Anthem, you need to also condemn Roseanne Barr and Steven Tyler for their horrible (by normal singing standards) renditions. You will also need to condemn Chicago Blackhawks fans (of which I am one) for trying to raise the roof of the Madhouse on Madison before each game. You don't get to pick and choose to suit your needs.
I think it's time that a lot of people in this country go back to their history books. This country was founded by people wanting to escape oppression. They were looking for freedom. This country is a free country. With that freedom comes responsibility. It doesn't mean that we are free to do whatever we want whenever we want with no regard for those around us. But it does mean that we can speak out against oppression. It means that we can worship (or not) as we please. It means that we can adjust the right to bear arms to align with current reality. It means that you can love (and marry) who you want.
I have often wondered why the religious right thinks it is OK to push their beliefs onto others when they are too narrow minded to consider any other position but their own. That's not how it works. You cannot deny scientific FACTS because you don't think they align with YOUR religious beliefs. Facts and beliefs are two different things. You can believe in something that is factually false. You can also choose to not believe a fact; it doesn't make it any less factual.
If we blur the lines between church and state, we are going back to what the founding fathers were trying to escape.
So stand for the Anthem...or kneel/sit. Your choice; it's one of the many things that makes this country great. Defend your position with pride. Open your mind to beliefs other than your own.
I am as patriotic as the next person and love this country far more than the idiot living in the White House. I believe in the Constitution. Which is why it's OK to take a knee for the National Anthem. I believe in the WHOLE Constitution; not just a couple of amendments that suit my purposes in life. The Constitution is a living document and gets amended as needed; and should be amended regularly, in fact it could use some amending right now.
The right to bear arms was written when it took over a minute to reload a rifle. I am guessing the founding fathers had no clue what technological advances could be applied to rifles and ammunition. That's why they created a document that could be adapted as this country grew.
I have sung the National Anthem. It is a beautiful song. It is a difficult song to sing. I get goosebumps when I hear it sung/performed well. It has special meaning to me. I am sure it has special meaning to a lot of people. For some it has no meaning at all; and that's OK.
Here are a couple of facts about the National Anthem that you might not know:
"In 1931, Congress passed a bill to make "The Star-Spangled Banner" the official national anthem of the United States. ... The lyrics were written by American attorney Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, but the music was borrowed from the 18th century British song "To Anacreon in Heaven." --the music is NOT even orignal!
Trust me when I tell you, the person on Fox and Friends saying those who don't stand shouldn't be in the country doesn't hold the Anthem dear to his cold dead heart. He is simply pissed off at the press that Colin Kapernick got for kneeling. He doesn't have any deep feeling about anything other than himself. He isn't the standard for any type of patriotism or respect for this country; quite the opposite actually.
If you're going to condemn Colin Kapernick for the way he acts during the Anthem, you need to also condemn Roseanne Barr and Steven Tyler for their horrible (by normal singing standards) renditions. You will also need to condemn Chicago Blackhawks fans (of which I am one) for trying to raise the roof of the Madhouse on Madison before each game. You don't get to pick and choose to suit your needs.
I think it's time that a lot of people in this country go back to their history books. This country was founded by people wanting to escape oppression. They were looking for freedom. This country is a free country. With that freedom comes responsibility. It doesn't mean that we are free to do whatever we want whenever we want with no regard for those around us. But it does mean that we can speak out against oppression. It means that we can worship (or not) as we please. It means that we can adjust the right to bear arms to align with current reality. It means that you can love (and marry) who you want.
I have often wondered why the religious right thinks it is OK to push their beliefs onto others when they are too narrow minded to consider any other position but their own. That's not how it works. You cannot deny scientific FACTS because you don't think they align with YOUR religious beliefs. Facts and beliefs are two different things. You can believe in something that is factually false. You can also choose to not believe a fact; it doesn't make it any less factual.
If we blur the lines between church and state, we are going back to what the founding fathers were trying to escape.
So stand for the Anthem...or kneel/sit. Your choice; it's one of the many things that makes this country great. Defend your position with pride. Open your mind to beliefs other than your own.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Mayday, Mayday
Right before 45 was inaugurated, everyone was talking about how those of us that shuddered at the thought of him living in the white house shouldn't wish that he fail because that would be like wishing the pilot of a plane we are all on, crashes.
To those who support him, he's been dragging us all through horse shit for 16 months now. This is somehow better?
Frankly, I'd rather have him fail than make us the tone deaf isolated laughingstock of the world.
I am reading James Comey's book. These two men could not be more different if they were from two different species. I actually think they might be.
To those that support 45, without mentioning his opponent in the 2016 election, the 44th president, or political parties, please tell me why. I'd love to understand it but I simply cannot put my brain around it.
To those who support him, he's been dragging us all through horse shit for 16 months now. This is somehow better?
Frankly, I'd rather have him fail than make us the tone deaf isolated laughingstock of the world.
I am reading James Comey's book. These two men could not be more different if they were from two different species. I actually think they might be.
To those that support 45, without mentioning his opponent in the 2016 election, the 44th president, or political parties, please tell me why. I'd love to understand it but I simply cannot put my brain around it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)