If you don't know this about me by now, then here's a revelation: I don't do political activism. I'm a political moderate, and that's a declining opinion in society. Once upon a time, we were well-balanced individuals. Now, we're dangerous and aren't to be trusted. It's a shame that we, as a society, have moved to a place where you're only normal if you drift toward extremes. It's also no wonder that the world is in the mess it's in now. Common sense is not common anymore. You have to be a stick of emotional dynamite to be considered normal.
How did that happen? I was raised to be a rational, logical, responsible adult. I practice my political activism at the polls on Election Day. I quietly support causes. I mind my own business and make my focus doing what I'm supposed to be doing: faith, working, living, taking care of home and family, helping others as I can. Once upon a time, that was the usual stuff. When did this become unusual?
It's a shame that we've de-evolved to a point where we're encouraged to engage in the "look at me" behavior that was once considered immature and an immediate sign to dismiss any credibility. We truly are at a bad point if we believe that changing the world comes from the hate and destruction that we've seen over the past couple of weeks. I know, the devil is in the details, and the media is biased. That's another problem with society - you don't know what to believe. It's why I read almost solely fiction books now. Reality is too weird to deal with!
I wonder if the protesters realize that most legislatures aren't in session right now due to COVID-19. Those State House demonstrations were happening in front of empty buildings. Nobody was home. The police they were screaming at are just doing the jobs. The people who make the actual decisions were watching everything on TV from the safety and comfort of their homes.
When you fight for everything, then you'll keep fighting. It sets up a spirit of competition, and in the end you lose when you do that. Worse yet, you'll burn bridges and destroy the chance of cooperative relationships that might just lead to the results you want - if only you can stop screaming and destroying things for a minute. Finding out who can actually do something and opening respectful communication about your concerns is what helps. It's a long process but that's just it - everybody is impatient. Nobody wants to do the right thing because that takes time, and effort, and research, and compromise. All that icky stuff that leaves a bad taste in your mouth, even though you do it every day in your personal life and relationships. I guess taking that same respect to the rest of the world is too shocking to comprehend. All people want courtesy and respect, not just my family? How rude!
But there's one more thing you need for a successful protest or to effect change, and that's a concrete goal. Outrage is too subjective. What do you want? Equal rights? And end to oppression? Fine. What action could leaders take to move you toward that goal. What does it look at? What concrete things could happen to correct the problem that sparked this? Not just throwing guilty parties in jail. The legal process is a delicate thing that must be handled properly, or people get off on technicalities. Do you want that? I didn't think so. So instead, let the system work as it does, and come up with something that can happen to bring about the change you seek. Then present that to your elected leaders and decision makers.
I'm a political moderate, but I'm dangerous because I won't pick a side. I vote in every election, but I'm unpatriotic because I won't dive into the insanity that I see around me. I'm a responsible adult who works and pays taxes and tries to do the right thing, but I need to be handled and managed because who knows what I'll do? I have no loyalties. At least, logic and reason don't count in that respect. Hell, reason is dead in this world now. We've crucified it. All that matters any more is whose the loudest, and who gets the most media attention.
The world has changed, and not for the better. Lord help us. This isn't the future our progenitors fought for. The real question is: what future is everybody fighting for ? Have we really thought about the obnoxious, violent seeds that are being sown and how it will affect our tomorrows? If you think violence will bring peace, well, that's an incongruence that even luck won't rectify. What you need instead is a goal to communicate, and action from a stance of mutual respect and love to back that thing up.
And please, for the love of it all, register to vote and get yourself to the polls in November!
That's all today. Take care, and have a great week.
Bye!
How did that happen? I was raised to be a rational, logical, responsible adult. I practice my political activism at the polls on Election Day. I quietly support causes. I mind my own business and make my focus doing what I'm supposed to be doing: faith, working, living, taking care of home and family, helping others as I can. Once upon a time, that was the usual stuff. When did this become unusual?
It's a shame that we've de-evolved to a point where we're encouraged to engage in the "look at me" behavior that was once considered immature and an immediate sign to dismiss any credibility. We truly are at a bad point if we believe that changing the world comes from the hate and destruction that we've seen over the past couple of weeks. I know, the devil is in the details, and the media is biased. That's another problem with society - you don't know what to believe. It's why I read almost solely fiction books now. Reality is too weird to deal with!
I wonder if the protesters realize that most legislatures aren't in session right now due to COVID-19. Those State House demonstrations were happening in front of empty buildings. Nobody was home. The police they were screaming at are just doing the jobs. The people who make the actual decisions were watching everything on TV from the safety and comfort of their homes.
When you fight for everything, then you'll keep fighting. It sets up a spirit of competition, and in the end you lose when you do that. Worse yet, you'll burn bridges and destroy the chance of cooperative relationships that might just lead to the results you want - if only you can stop screaming and destroying things for a minute. Finding out who can actually do something and opening respectful communication about your concerns is what helps. It's a long process but that's just it - everybody is impatient. Nobody wants to do the right thing because that takes time, and effort, and research, and compromise. All that icky stuff that leaves a bad taste in your mouth, even though you do it every day in your personal life and relationships. I guess taking that same respect to the rest of the world is too shocking to comprehend. All people want courtesy and respect, not just my family? How rude!
But there's one more thing you need for a successful protest or to effect change, and that's a concrete goal. Outrage is too subjective. What do you want? Equal rights? And end to oppression? Fine. What action could leaders take to move you toward that goal. What does it look at? What concrete things could happen to correct the problem that sparked this? Not just throwing guilty parties in jail. The legal process is a delicate thing that must be handled properly, or people get off on technicalities. Do you want that? I didn't think so. So instead, let the system work as it does, and come up with something that can happen to bring about the change you seek. Then present that to your elected leaders and decision makers.
I'm a political moderate, but I'm dangerous because I won't pick a side. I vote in every election, but I'm unpatriotic because I won't dive into the insanity that I see around me. I'm a responsible adult who works and pays taxes and tries to do the right thing, but I need to be handled and managed because who knows what I'll do? I have no loyalties. At least, logic and reason don't count in that respect. Hell, reason is dead in this world now. We've crucified it. All that matters any more is whose the loudest, and who gets the most media attention.
The world has changed, and not for the better. Lord help us. This isn't the future our progenitors fought for. The real question is: what future is everybody fighting for ? Have we really thought about the obnoxious, violent seeds that are being sown and how it will affect our tomorrows? If you think violence will bring peace, well, that's an incongruence that even luck won't rectify. What you need instead is a goal to communicate, and action from a stance of mutual respect and love to back that thing up.
And please, for the love of it all, register to vote and get yourself to the polls in November!
That's all today. Take care, and have a great week.
Bye!
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