Take the High Road

As we go through the insanity that is this modern World, we are confronted with rudeness, violence, and depravity. Those have always been a part of the human condition and I suppose they will continue to be with us for long years to come.
It is so easy to fall into such traps, or so it seems. Actually, it is quite difficult. You tax your soul, your spirit, to the breaking point. Yes, there are people who behave horribly, and, sometimes, they are successful. Often, their lives descend into chaos and misery. Even if they retain their surface worldly success, they suffer in their personal lives. True, sometimes they wind up with people who are as mentally ill as they are, and yes, horrible behavior is a mental illness, they will pay retribution when they leave this life. Make no mistake. We do have immortal souls and they do pay for past mistakes, unless we repent and do penance.
I am not preaching a sermon, just stating facts about how the Creation works. If you don't like that, too bad. I certainly have not lived a saintly life, far from it. I have repented, which simply means to have a change of heart, and I have done penance. I still make a lot of mistakes, but I try to correct them quickly.
Part of our problem stems fro our constant bombardment, by the media, with depraved images of sexuality, violence, greed and decadence. They should remember the words of Jesus, " Woe unto you who lead these children astray. It would be better if you had a millstone tied to your neck and were cast into the seal. He was not one to mince words.
We all need to learn to tune out the garbage we are being fed. If you find certain presentations titillating, but uncomfortable, you need to get away from them. This does not mean banning content, censoring. That never works. Nor does it mean that you can only view Sesame Street and read Mother Goose. There are many programs, books, movies and pieces of music that can hold the interest of grown ups without boring them silly. Also, beware the news. Sometimes they are far too graphically violent.
You cannot, and should not, try to control the World. The Creator grants freedom to the Creation. But, you can choose what you allow to penetrate your consciousness and how you react to the input.  Always, take the high road. Rise above the disease. It's not that hard. Have a very Blessed day. 

Americans on the Edge of Survival - Those with Mental Difficulties

There is a peculiar idea floating around the US these days. Every time we have one of our periodic mass shootings, a fairly frequent event, gun control advocates, including our current President and those running for that office, bewail our need for greater mental  health care. I am not sure they understand, although I think they do, that they are stigmatizing those of us with mental difficulties. This creates a very unnecessary negative reaction to any one suffering any mental trouble.

Not all people who have psychological issues are ranting, drooling maniacs awaiting the chance to open fire on the rest of us. Such people do exist, but they are exceedingly rare. Most mental issues, while serious, are not that extreme and are pretty well treatable. Depression, attention deficit disorders, manic-depression are all controllable. Even the milder instances of schizophrenia are manageable. Just because someone has a mental problem, even one that has required hospitalization, is no reason to panic when they come around. These people need shelter, food, work and, maybe most importantly, patience and understanding, just like we all do. Is that really asking too much?

There are also those with another form of mental difficulty, those who just cannot learn too quickly. The tendency, for far too long has been to shut these folks away. Why? They are as human as you and me, often are pleasant, warm and loving, and, more often than not, capable of functioning in the workplace and in social situations far better that many think they can. Helping these people move into the society we all live in is not that hard; it just requires a little patience and time, and is way more important than most things we waste our time on. Far more rewarding too.

Another type of mental difficulty I will admit to knowing nothing about is autism. I will not pretend to know how to deal with that but, I will say that for some reason, it is growing rapidly more prevalent and it might be a good idea to figure out why. In the meantime, from the little I have heard, these folks can be successfully socialized and as that happens we all need to be kind and patient.

The Government leaders need to stop calling for mental health initiatives only when another nightmarish shooting occurs. That only makes people grow wary around those with mental issues. Instead, as I have said about almost every issue I have discussed in this series, they need to stop wasting our money fighting unwinnable wars and giving tax breaks to the wealthy corporations and devote some of that money to helping those of us who need it. And the rest of us just need to be compassionate and patient when dealing with folks who are really simply having trouble understanding. That is not asking too much.

Americans on the Edge, of Survival - Introduction

Today, I am beginning a multipart series on Americans who are struggling just to get by, to survive in the Nation's current climate. Because the weekend is upon us, the next 2 blogs will be of a lighter nature, but Monday I will get back to this topic. Most of what I write is just me sounding off about things that I find humorous or things that anger me, but this series is about what I believe is the most serious problem in America.

This is an incredibly wealthy land but there are many, many of its citizens who are ignored, even abused, and left to suffer. Homelessness is far more prevalent than it should be and many who do have homes are sharing overcrowded dwellings with relatives or living in tiny, pay-by-the-week efficiencies. Trust me, the latter are often barely fit for human habitation and yet, you often find children, often several per room, dwelling in them.

Medical care is woeful. Do not tell me about the wonders of Obamacare. There are many who fall between the cracks, folks with just enough not to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to pay for a half way decent insurance policy. Medicare is expensive and does not cover a whole lot of procedures. Many states did not go along with the Federal plan and have not increased Medicaid funding and those living in said states are left hanging. Dental care, not for cosmetic issues but for necessary procedures is just not there. And still, costs of Medical care rise.

Many in this land, which produces so much of the World's food, go hungry. Even if those folks are not actually hungry, they are malnourished because they can afford only the cheapest foods, starchy, fatty, sugary junk that fills the stomach without providing a damn bit of nutrition.

Mental health is said to be a vital concern and, when someone acts out enough to get in trouble they may be given a handful of ridiculously powerful drugs to stun them into submission but that is no way to treat human beings.  Are we really all so busy that we cannot take a little time to help those who are having trouble coping with this mad World we have created. Unfortunately, often  those who are force fed pills and told to behave are those least able to help themselves, children.

We, the American people are guilty of ignoring, shunning, and on occasion, abusing the elderly, children, damaged war veterans, impoverished young women and men, the physically and mentally disadvantaged and should hang our collective heads in shame. Those who run this land should be taken from their positions of wealth and power and imprisoned for this unconscionable behavior. Jesus taught that "he who does these things to the least of you, does them to me." He also said that "as you sow, so shall you reap." A day of reckoning will come and answers will have to be given for this detestable behavior.  Good luck to those who choose to ignore these really very easily solved problems.

Have fun, it is the weekend and I truly do wish everyone a fine one. I hope you read my next 2 posts. They will be lighthearted and interesting, but, more importantly, I want you to read the next few after that and give some thought to them.