It's a rainy Monday morning here in SE Kansas; a bit on the cool side as well, but I'm sitting in my cozy office, contemplating the state of affairs in our once proud Country. What the heck has happened?
I'm not a particularly political guy, and usually skirt those conversations when confronted by someone trying to convince me that they're right and I'm wrong. Maybe I am, but maybe it's in the gray area of "to be determined", and it's them who may be proven to be wrong.
But really, can't we just agree to disagree on the issues where we have different points of view?
We've become a humorless society. No one can say anything that someone else doesn't take offense. I mean, folks have become so adamant about diversity that we no longer have any unity. Remember when we celebrated the fact that we were the United States of America, not the many fractured, individual segments that previously united together as one....I miss those days.
Yes, I'm considered to be just another stodgy old man, whose opinions are to be cast aside by those who believe they know better. Perhaps they do, but maybe, just maybe, history will play out differently than they imagine. I struggle every day with some of the ideas that are put forth as being "main stream". Some of those are so radical, and foreign to my way of thinking that I've never even seen the "stream" they're talking about, let alone ever drifted downstream in it.
Tomorrow is election day, and the news is filled with the typical rhetoric, polls, and projections of which party will take control. The hot topics are fairly typical, except that there is more volatility from the people espousing both sides of every issue. In some cases, it borders on pure hatred for the opposition, rather than civil discourse regarding their opinions.
I'm tired of the mess that has become politics in our country. I'm tired of the terms "far left" and "far right". I'm tired of the divisive nature of the various factions that propose that their way is the only way, and if you don't agree, you're an idiot. But, most of all, I'm tired of what we've allowed our country to become. Yes, I'm old-school, and it's doubtful that, at this point in my life, I'm going to change my views on some of the issues that are deeply embedded in my soul.
So please, if you want to convince me to come over to your point of view, be prepared to have a civil conversation, based on facts, figures, and sound reasoning. Raising your voice does nothing to support your cause. Using profanities, threatening violence, or calling me names will lead me to quickly dismiss the validity of your argument, so please don't waste your time.
I realize that my words will have very little impact on those who oppose my views of our politicians, our divisive rhetoric, or on the issues which I hold close to my heart.....I weep for what we've lost in this once proud Country. But, once again, What do I Know.
Monday, November 5, 2018
Monday, February 12, 2018
Big Headline, No Substance....
The 2018 Winter Olympics are in full swing, so I was browsing through the headlines to see if there was anything extraordinary going on in the way of the athletic performances. Of course, it's the Olympics, so every performance is over-hyped, over-stated, and over-analyzed. It makes for interesting stories, but nothing I've seen so far has been earth shattering.
Then, there it was, in bold letters at the top of the page; Gay Athletes Make Huge Statement.
"How is that" I asked myself. What kind of "huge statement" was made, and who did they make it to?
It certainly couldn't be the fact that gay athletes were competing at the highest level, that's been happening for years. Perhaps there was something else, but as I scanned the article it was severely lacking on anything of substance, just the same old tripe about how important it is that "these people" are making a statement. Nothing really about winning a gold medal, or setting a world record, or even introducing a new political agenda. No, it was just some reporter trying to stir the pot where there was nothing of substance to be shared.....Big headline, no substance.
The statement was made long ago. We live in a country that allows freedom of choice, whether 100% of the citizens agree or not, it's a freedom everyone has. Women, Men, Blacks, Indians, Gays, Asians, and every other American citizen can pretty much participate in whatever endeavor they choose, and have been able to do so for years. Yet, we have those in the media who continue to find controversy where none exists. Under the guise of inequality, they continue to publish the big headlines, no substance.
True equality will only exist when the headlines don't begin with the words, Gay, African-American, Asian-American, etc. etc.. As long as we feel the need to attach an identifying label to every person who makes the news, applies for a job, or participates in the Olympics, we continue to create the division among our citizens.
Those are my thoughts on the subject, and they come from my heart, not my political beliefs. I refuse to assign labels to my friends and acquaintances, and certainly not written in big bold letters in the headlines. No, they are just my friends, some old, some new, and some yet to be made. But, as all of you know by now, I'm just an old man, so What Do I Know?
Then, there it was, in bold letters at the top of the page; Gay Athletes Make Huge Statement.
"How is that" I asked myself. What kind of "huge statement" was made, and who did they make it to?
It certainly couldn't be the fact that gay athletes were competing at the highest level, that's been happening for years. Perhaps there was something else, but as I scanned the article it was severely lacking on anything of substance, just the same old tripe about how important it is that "these people" are making a statement. Nothing really about winning a gold medal, or setting a world record, or even introducing a new political agenda. No, it was just some reporter trying to stir the pot where there was nothing of substance to be shared.....Big headline, no substance.
The statement was made long ago. We live in a country that allows freedom of choice, whether 100% of the citizens agree or not, it's a freedom everyone has. Women, Men, Blacks, Indians, Gays, Asians, and every other American citizen can pretty much participate in whatever endeavor they choose, and have been able to do so for years. Yet, we have those in the media who continue to find controversy where none exists. Under the guise of inequality, they continue to publish the big headlines, no substance.
True equality will only exist when the headlines don't begin with the words, Gay, African-American, Asian-American, etc. etc.. As long as we feel the need to attach an identifying label to every person who makes the news, applies for a job, or participates in the Olympics, we continue to create the division among our citizens.
Those are my thoughts on the subject, and they come from my heart, not my political beliefs. I refuse to assign labels to my friends and acquaintances, and certainly not written in big bold letters in the headlines. No, they are just my friends, some old, some new, and some yet to be made. But, as all of you know by now, I'm just an old man, so What Do I Know?
Sunday, January 7, 2018
I felt very small...
This year for Christmas, Miss Elizabeth's gift to me was an old set of books. I had mentioned that, although I had watched it many times on television, I had never read the Lonesome Dove series by Larry McMurtry. To my surprise she was able to locate a used set of the books and made the purchase. I'm already enjoying the first book.
I've always been an avid reader, even when I was very young. I would read anything I could get my hands on, magazines, newspapers, paper backs, or comic books. It didn't really matter, I just loved getting lost in the pages and seeing the characters develop in my mind. Heck, I even enjoyed reading See Spot Run, and the other introductory reading primers back in elementary school. As I got older I read a lot of sports books, mysteries, science fiction, and of course, many of the Mark Twain classics like Huck Finn, Life on the Mississippi, and Tom Sawyer.
Today, most of my reading material comes with the push of a button or the click of a mouse. I can browse through my Kindle, and with one click, have a new book at my disposal. Technology is wonderful, but it's robbed us of the pleasure of either giving or receiving the gift of a book.
One of my oldest friends, someone I met soon after we moved to town from the country, doesn't, to this day, know the impact he had on me regarding gifts and books.
We must have been eight or nine years old, and were fast friends, Every weekend I would be at his house, or he would be at mine, having sleep-overs or just hanging out. We would hike in the woods, swipe pears from old Mrs. Brittan's tree, or lie in the sun swapping tall tales about various escapades we'd either experienced or imagined. Young lads, living life and having fun.
That year, as Christmas approached, each of us was given a dollar to buy a Christmas present for the other. His mother took us downtown to the J.J. Newberry store where we were to find the perfect gifts and give them to her for wrapping. We split up and began our search. I spent my time in the toy section and found what I thought was something he would enjoy. He was lost elsewhere in the store, but delivered his selection to his mother as well.
Later, when we tore off the wrappings to unveil the gifts, we were both excited to see what the other had bought. Expecting a toy of some type, I was speechless when I saw a brand new book. I still remember it....Treasure Island. It was the first real book I'd ever received, and I was in awe that my friend had given it to me.
I also felt very small.....My gift paled in comparison, a toy versus a book!
He seemed to be thrilled with his new toy, but I felt as though I had failed to deliver anything of substance. I know it's supposed to be the thought that counts, but I've always felt a little guilty about the inequality of those gifts.....I still remember his gift to me like it was yesterday.
A dollar well spent my friend.
I've always been an avid reader, even when I was very young. I would read anything I could get my hands on, magazines, newspapers, paper backs, or comic books. It didn't really matter, I just loved getting lost in the pages and seeing the characters develop in my mind. Heck, I even enjoyed reading See Spot Run, and the other introductory reading primers back in elementary school. As I got older I read a lot of sports books, mysteries, science fiction, and of course, many of the Mark Twain classics like Huck Finn, Life on the Mississippi, and Tom Sawyer.
Today, most of my reading material comes with the push of a button or the click of a mouse. I can browse through my Kindle, and with one click, have a new book at my disposal. Technology is wonderful, but it's robbed us of the pleasure of either giving or receiving the gift of a book.
One of my oldest friends, someone I met soon after we moved to town from the country, doesn't, to this day, know the impact he had on me regarding gifts and books.
We must have been eight or nine years old, and were fast friends, Every weekend I would be at his house, or he would be at mine, having sleep-overs or just hanging out. We would hike in the woods, swipe pears from old Mrs. Brittan's tree, or lie in the sun swapping tall tales about various escapades we'd either experienced or imagined. Young lads, living life and having fun.
That year, as Christmas approached, each of us was given a dollar to buy a Christmas present for the other. His mother took us downtown to the J.J. Newberry store where we were to find the perfect gifts and give them to her for wrapping. We split up and began our search. I spent my time in the toy section and found what I thought was something he would enjoy. He was lost elsewhere in the store, but delivered his selection to his mother as well.
Later, when we tore off the wrappings to unveil the gifts, we were both excited to see what the other had bought. Expecting a toy of some type, I was speechless when I saw a brand new book. I still remember it....Treasure Island. It was the first real book I'd ever received, and I was in awe that my friend had given it to me.
I also felt very small.....My gift paled in comparison, a toy versus a book!
He seemed to be thrilled with his new toy, but I felt as though I had failed to deliver anything of substance. I know it's supposed to be the thought that counts, but I've always felt a little guilty about the inequality of those gifts.....I still remember his gift to me like it was yesterday.
A dollar well spent my friend.
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