Thursday, March 18, 2010

Listen to your mother

Do you watch the news?
Do you follow politics?
Do you try to keep up with all that is happening in our government?
Does your head ever feel like it might explode?

Good. I'm not the only one.

I listen to the news. I have my favorite station like most people but I change it up now and then. I think it's good to see what different sources are reporting. I feel like that's become especially important in recent years because news has somehow morphed into something subjective.

Remember when we got the news without commentary?
Without eighteen talking heads weighing in on everysinglesolitary word that is uttered in Washington?
Have y'all heard about health care reform?

Calm down. I jest.

You might not know this but I first started toying with the idea of blogging sometime around the last Presidential election cycle. I guess I dished out my own commentary often enough for my husband to repeatedly say I should start a blog.

Did you know I have a lot of opinions?

When I started blogging I figured I'd introduce myself and then I'd talk issues. Somehow though I ended up talking about England. And travel. And the empty nest. And a whole lot of random. And I loved it. It was nice. I like nice. Bringing politics into the 'nice' didn't seem like a fit. So I didn't. And I won't. Occasionally a snarky comment slips thru the editor.

Or my head really does feel like it will explode and all the words must go somewhere.

Hello words.
I'm not going to go into a political rant here.
Well, maybe just a little.
Have you heard about health care reform?
Kidding!
Kind of.

Every now and then I hear something and I think to myself, 'I have an opinion and somebody needs to hear it'. Today is one of those days...

I read alot. ALOT people. I listen. I enjoy learning. I try to keep up with what is going on in the world. I'm not unintelligent. Hey, I work crossword puzzles. But, sometimes I feel like I cannot express my point of view eloquently so I keep quiet. Plus I absolutely detest confrontation. I'm the third born child in my family and I'm pretty sure we're all peacemakers aren't we? Oh I can give my husband an earful. He and I are the same shade of political color though so it's kind of like preaching to the choir.

Today I heard a political figure make a remark which I have heard uttered several times by several different people in the past week or so but for some reason today when I heard it for the umpteenth time I kind of wanted to leap thru the car radio and shake someone. And then I remembered I had a blog and it's the perfect platform for scolding don't you think?

And today it is Party A talking trash but tomorrow it could just as easily be Party B and applies no matter if you are red, white or blue.

Dear Mr. Politician,

You are the latest in a long line of people who have uttered the expression 'Well, the 'other party' did it. And they did it more than once!' when you were questioned about the advisability of using reconciliation. You are not the first to say it and I'm fairly certain you won't be the last.

Do you have children Sir? Because when I heard your excuse answer I immediately thought of a five year old child getting caught in something that as a parent I might consider 'ethically questionable'. And if upon questioning my child responded with, 'Well, Susie did it first' I want you to know I would not reply with, 'well alrighty then...I guess that makes it okay.'

My child would be on the naughty step. Or copying verses in longhand from the book of Proverbs. Or something. They for sure would get a 'talking to' and that talking to would be a gentle reminder of a few truths our family holds dear. So for a minute please just think of me as your mother. Or a member of the voting public.

Just because 'everyone else is doing something' or has done it in the past doesn't make it right.
Do I really need to explain this to a grown man?

Remember who you answer to. My child answers to me, and to the God who made her.
Coincidentally so do you.

Act always with the utmost integrity. Do not be swayed by whichever way the wind blows.
Or the latest Gallup poll.

Take personal responsibility for your actions.
For good or bad, actions have consequences.
Stop placing blame and making excuses.

People respect honesty, even people who disagree.
People respect honesty, even people who disagree.

Really Washington...grow up.
The world and my children are watching.

Whew.
I feel better.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled blog.

15 comments:

  1. Did you see the movie The Incredibles? Do you remember the part where the little boy watches his neighbor's house blow up while he's sitting on his tricycle in their driveway? Do you remember what he said? Because that is exactly how I felt when I read this post...

    "THAT WAS TOTALLY WICKED!!!"

    And I mean that in the most positive way imaginable...

    And I may forward it to everyone in Washington.

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  2. I concur, totally. I have had to turn off the TV/radio a lot the last few weeks because I start to get so irritated! I realize that basically it is all out of our control, they are going to do whatever they want...regardless of what WE want. We live by the motto: It is what it is.

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  3. Absolutely excellent post!!!! Well said.

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  4. Who says you're not eloquent?!? Bravo! Perfectly said in every way. I'm a third child too, and I say it's your blog--rant whenever you want.

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  5. You need to send this in to Washington, for sure. They act like a bunch of little kids, except they're worse.
    I completely understand about being the peacemaker and not liking confrontation...same way here! Great post today!

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  6. I've used up all my big words sending e-mails to Congress, so I'm just going to say "PREACH IT!"

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  7. I have an opinion about everything, including (especially!) politics. That's why I started a separate blog just for that topic, from a common sense, conservative point of view. I loved your post because I've often felt the very same way. The mommy in me just wants to give some thonks on the backs of heads in Washington...or grab them by the ear and give them a talking to and tell them to behave.

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  8. Cheers, my friend! Well written.

    Kudos to you for conquering those crossword puzzles! ;)

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  9. There are lots of naughty steps leading right up to the Capitol building that the entire Congress should be sitting on right now. Well said!

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  10. Good for you. I have done several "soapbox" posts in the past and I could tell by the amount of comments those days that most people didn't really like what I had to say. I like what you had to say. I do not watch the news or read the paper. I live in my own little world because I can't handle all the ugly out there....
    I love how you referred to a 5 year old saying "well so & so did it" and I wanted to say "if so & so jumps off a bridge are you going to do it too?" I love the way you got your point across. Honesty is greatly appreciated, in all cases, by me even if I don't like the person or didn't vote for them.
    Thank you for sharing your opinion.

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  11. Way to go Joyce, you tell them. Thanks for sharing your opinion. You always have a great way with words. Love & blessings from NC!

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  12. I think you should run for office. Any office. Because I think this is exactly the sort of thing everyone needs to hear, and often.

    Fantastic words, Joyce.

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