The Rock & The Hard Place

Has there ever been a time in America when we have had so many contentious issues in the news, so many demands on our attention? It would be so easy, perhaps even inviting to throw up ones hands and retreat into apathy.

It reminds me of a forest fire scenario. Just when it appears that a spot fire may be under control, two more ignite near by.

Politically we are so severly polarized we are virtually paralyzed.

Apathy and withdrawal are inviting but altogether too easy.

Comments

[Nikki]

I want to touch on a couple of things here; but before i go into anything, excuse my spelling. I will at least try to get you as close as possible.

First POLITICS and POLITITIANS. None of them are worth a shit. Sorry, but I'm not going to mince words here. They sling mud, call each other names, and blame each other like children. I have enough of this at home, I don't want to listen to grown men and women doing it who are supposed to lead us "into the light". "Show us the way - oh more knowledgeable one than I" - yeah right. The sad thing about this is that this has been going on since the founding of our country and before. You could say that as a still young nation we are still growing and maturing and so are our politics - but I'm afraid that's a bunch of "hoowey". They're doing it in nations all over the world. World leaders are name calling a pointing fingers - "He did it! No, he did it! Did not! Did to! I saw you do it! Liar! Am not - I have satelite photos! Do not - those have been tampered with! Have not! Have to! Liar!" These are the people who have access to nuclear weapons, who decide what they think is best for you and me, our families, who make the laws for us, and so often live outside of them. It doesn't matter if they are left wing, right wing, democrat, republican, or an ADMITTED dipshit, they are all basically the same - reguardless of nation or nationality. The truely unfortunate thing about this is they are doing the exact things that their mother used to fuss at them about - whining and tattling and they never take responsibility for anything. "Mr President, Mr President, He kicked me under the table at an international conference!"
I am American first and then a Republican and proud of it. It doesn't mean I subscribe to the idiocy of most of the political bull shit international or not. It means that the idea and ideals of the Republican party here at home appeal to me. I believe we should take care of our own. I believe we should defend our country. I believe that as a woman, I have the right to be a republican and be liberated AT THE SAME TIME! I believe that someone out there is calling me an idiot. So what. If you don't like what I have to say, log off or go surf the net - don't tattle like a three year old politician. "mr web monitor, mr web monitor, she offended me". Which bring me to my next subject

POLICTICAL CORRECTNESS. There is a reason the word "political" is a part of this term. to get right down to the bones of it - it's a bunch of meally mouth crap the is spoon fed to us by the media and we are laping it up like a faithful and obedient dog. "Please mr media, may i have some more?" Have we become so petty and hateful that we can not stand by the very thing our country was founded on? TOLERANCE ACCEPTANCE RESPECT but most importantly FREEDOM. There's a few new words for you. The whole thing here is not whether or not you agree with him/her/it, it's all about respecting other people, accepting them for who they are and if you can't do that, tolerate them/it. The FREEDOM to practice religion or politics and FREEDOM to disagree with it. We are one of the biggest nations on earth, why does it seem that we have grown a small heart? You think we would have learned our lesson early on with the Quakers. We did not accept, respect, or tolerate them, but they are a part of our nation - yours and mine. Before someone start finger pointing and thinking I'm some kind of crazy liberal - let me get a few things straight. I don't believe in same sex marriage - but I am not the one to tell them no - GOD is the one to do that, if there is a price to pay - he will see that it is paid in His good time. I don't believe a woman's place is in the home, I believe she has the choice. I don't believe one religion is better than another, I am a Christian, but I do not automatically believe we should all be Christian just because I am. I believe we should all worship him with love and respect - just like he teaches us.

FAITH We should all be allowed to worship and pray to Him if we chose, not just one faith or a couple. I truely and deeply believe we are all praying to Him - no matter what you call him - GOD or ALLAH - He is the same no matter what you call him "A rose with any other name would still smell as sweet" The very things the Bible and all other Holy books teach us are kindness to our fellow man - but we are intentionally slapping each others hands and insulting each other despite the teachings we hold so dear - love and respect. I will quote a famous line here "Attitude reflects leadership". That doesn't mean that it is all the politicians fault. We must take the responsibility of putting them there - for the good or the bad. Am I the only one who is tired of all the religious war on the nightly news? It shocks me that a multitude of people who had lived in relative peace stopped doing that once we went over there and put linear borders where once the had ebbed and flowed. JUST TO BE CLEAR - i do not agree with the persecussion of the Jews - it frankly disgusts me - but there is something to be learned there of tolerance - it is up to us to make it better.

To paraphrase Mr. Paul Harvey

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue someone for singing a HO-HO-HO song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I'm not going to go out and hire a lawyer and sue the teacher who taught his theory in school. Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game."But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue. Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect-somebody
chanting Hare Krishna? If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer. If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad,
I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer. If I went to a ping pong match in China,
I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha. "But what about the atheists?" is another argument.What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand.

I think that about says it.

[Kathryn]

Hey-Ho, so think about this. So I go to my state candidates' campaign headquarters, pick up signs, check on the legality of posting them along roadways, etc., and spend a good half of my precious Saturday in following through (even though I'm about half-sick). I was optimistically thinking it might make a difference, having subconsciously assumed that people who participate in a democracy understand, accept and uphold the social contract which makes it all possible.

Next day, I drive the routes where I'd fulfilled that part of participating in a democracy. And BEHOLD! the signs had, for the most part, been taken down. The only ones that remain are those that are placed in places that are precariously difficult to reach on foot.

Not only did I feel violated, but also enraged, for the person (s)who removed the signs have denied me legal particiation and infringed on my right to free speech.

In short, and at heart, J.V. Nazis.

For purposes of this comment, it makes no difference which candidates I support or oppose. I would never remove signs for an opponent of my guy/gal.

Hunh, she grunted in disgust, arms crossed and lips tightly pursed, shining in the light of righteous indignation... and she muttered, Fie, fie on you, you slimeball! You and your progeny as well!!!

[Vera]

Hi Jim,
I just came home after a 15 hour workday, only to open my e-mail and read "LAST BLOG...!" Well, at least you won't stop writing all together.
I am a Secular Humanist (my religion). Some time ago I made the decision not to hate! Hard at first, with practice I managed to become more and more tolerant. Why stop here - I don't have to be right either! What a truly liberating feeling! I would like to invite "Nikki" to try the same.
I commend Jim for voting for the more dignified candidate.
After all, elected officials work for us! If one doesn't like how polititians behave, send a letter! (I once sent one to Senator Warner and got a very nice reply back).
Vera