How do we solve America's problems? It all starts with 1 word. Respect. Nothing will change until we learn to respect ourselves and others.
People do not respect themselves. If you do, you will behave sensibly, Work to improve your life. Get yourself in good physical shape. You don't have to be a gym rat or a vegan. You don't have to shovel down vitamins by the handful or totally abstain from alcohol. Just use some sense. Stay active, physically and mentally. If you are misbehaving, you know it and the only real way to stop, is to stop. Folks can and will help you, but you must do the stopping yourself.
Respect others by looking at them and looking at yourself. Then, compare the two. What you see in the other person, will be a reflection of your own behavior. I know no saints. I certainly do not qualify. Who are you to judge? Criminal behavior must be stopped, but you do not then throw the criminal on the trash pile. They are still human and they can still change, just like you. True psychopaths, despite what you might believe if you watch Law and Order, are very rare.
Men, respect women. They are not your play toys. Women, respect men. Do not immediately assume that any man who flirts with you is a mad rapist. Most men just have trouble understanding women and most women don't really understand men. The fun part of the game is figuring each other out, so stop being so touchy. At the same time, don't take real abuse, not for 1 minute.
Labels. liberal, conservative, left, right, Christian, Jew, Moslem, even young and old, are just labels and can never describe the whole person. They can, howevr, be used by advertisers, politcians and the media to manipulate the public and they do so very effectuvely. Recognize thus and stop paying attention to this dangerous nonsense.
When facing disagreement, discuss the issue using reason and fact and listen to the other side. Almost always they have valid points. Then, be ready, in most cases, to comptomise. The middle ground is usually where the best solution kies.
Respect is the first step towaed solving our priblems. Either that, or we keep on without accomplishing anything.
Showing posts with label respect. Show all posts
Showing posts with label respect. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Thursday, May 3, 2018
When Did We All Become Enemies
I truly believe that the USA has not been this divided since the Civil War. It is quite extraordinary. I lived through the 60s and, yes, that was bad, but the real hardcore hatred was actually quite limited, confined to a small group of radical leftists and a few extreme right wingers. Folks squabbled over the war, the sexual revolution. civil rights and drugs, but, mostly, there was at least a sense that we were all Americans. Most people condemned extremism of all sorts and, after much angst things settled down in a sort of middle ground. The whole thing was a kind of family quarrel, albeit a nasty one.
Now, well, it is much different. I have never seen such venom. Congressional leaders have no intention of compromising on anything. Insults have replaced dialogue, on all sides, although the Democrats are the most guilty by far.
The non religious now openly mock believers and believers seem determined to take full control of the Nation as part of some fear reaction. The Churches are scared of scientific thought and scientists seem ready to push the left into complete acceptance of their world view, which seems to be a weird kind if neo-pagan secularism. What they plan fir those who don't accept their every word is not pleasant to contemplate. No one seems interested in the simple fact that throughout history, science and spirituality walked hand in hand.
Women seem to have come to think of men as their enemy and men seem to not really have a clue what is going on. Just wait. Such tension will nit end well.
Kids, left alone with huge amounts of electronics have decided that picking on kids they dislike is a fine pastime and have done much damage. In the recent past, psychologists noted that kids who pick on and torment animals tend to grow up to be at least a bit psychopathic. Spending the days of your youth tormenting your peers cannot be good, but there it is.
We no longer talk, we scream, we argue and we mindlessly complain. The left, mostly confined to the West Coast and the NE, by all standards think of the rest of America as a bunch of simple minded bigots and those folks are sorely fed up by that condescending attitude.
I have no idea how this will turn out, but I do know that it cannot go on much Either we learn to talk, reason and show respect to those we disagree with, or it will end badly.
Now, well, it is much different. I have never seen such venom. Congressional leaders have no intention of compromising on anything. Insults have replaced dialogue, on all sides, although the Democrats are the most guilty by far.
The non religious now openly mock believers and believers seem determined to take full control of the Nation as part of some fear reaction. The Churches are scared of scientific thought and scientists seem ready to push the left into complete acceptance of their world view, which seems to be a weird kind if neo-pagan secularism. What they plan fir those who don't accept their every word is not pleasant to contemplate. No one seems interested in the simple fact that throughout history, science and spirituality walked hand in hand.
Women seem to have come to think of men as their enemy and men seem to not really have a clue what is going on. Just wait. Such tension will nit end well.
Kids, left alone with huge amounts of electronics have decided that picking on kids they dislike is a fine pastime and have done much damage. In the recent past, psychologists noted that kids who pick on and torment animals tend to grow up to be at least a bit psychopathic. Spending the days of your youth tormenting your peers cannot be good, but there it is.
We no longer talk, we scream, we argue and we mindlessly complain. The left, mostly confined to the West Coast and the NE, by all standards think of the rest of America as a bunch of simple minded bigots and those folks are sorely fed up by that condescending attitude.
I have no idea how this will turn out, but I do know that it cannot go on much Either we learn to talk, reason and show respect to those we disagree with, or it will end badly.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
America -- Time to Move On
At long last, our nightmarish election is over. Yesterday, I admit that I spent a bit of time listening to our various pundits rattling off their opinions. Enough, it is done, and we have too much work to do to keep rehashing the whole mess.
I heard some trying to turn this whole mess into a racial issue. It is not. It is a cultural issue. The Nation is horribly divided. I lived through the violent demonstrations of the 60s, the Watergate troubles, the Iran-Contra scandal, the Clinton impeachments, and the several clashes between traditional values and several different 'new' movements such as feminism and gay rights.
Right now, this is about the worst I have seen. There is a violence simmering and about to boil over if we do not start respecting each other. To those who value the old traditions, I am with you, but, you have to respect those who are different. No one is saying you have to be best buddies, but there has to be some tolerance when you share common spaces. At the same time, I understand the frustration that comes when you realized that the Obamas and Clintons and their ilk view you as primitive, dangerous, simpleminded throwbacks to another era. We have got to just let that ride, ignore it, and get on with living our lives in what we believe is the correct manner.
Maybe, just maybe, we have elected a President and a Congress that will allow us to do just that. I still do not quite trust them, but I fervently hope that they prove me wrong.
To the more liberal members of our culture. You need to stop treating traditional Americans as if we were some sort of anthropological example of primitive culture. You are very sadly mistaken. Traditional values are traditional simply because they work. That does not mean that change is rejected, but it does mean that there need be a good reason for the change. You are free to live how you want but you really need to stop looking down your nose at people, good people, that you do not understand. Respect is a two way street. Do your thing, just don't rub people's noses in it.
The new Administration may work, it may not. We will just have to see, but I will almost assure everyone of one thing. Anything resembling a free ride, except for those with extreme physical and mental difficulties, is about over. We are all going to have a lot to do, so, if your side lost, get over it. Last night there were several large demonstrations around the country. Fine, that is a Constitutional right, but there is no right to set fires, smash store windows, and block both auto and train traffic. All violence needs to be stopped immediately, either by the protestors themselves, or the police. It is intolerable.
Other that that, give the new Administration a chance. And remember, we inhabit this Country and we will all be served by trying to get along with each other. That means respect and tolerance need to be practiced by all.
I heard some trying to turn this whole mess into a racial issue. It is not. It is a cultural issue. The Nation is horribly divided. I lived through the violent demonstrations of the 60s, the Watergate troubles, the Iran-Contra scandal, the Clinton impeachments, and the several clashes between traditional values and several different 'new' movements such as feminism and gay rights.
Right now, this is about the worst I have seen. There is a violence simmering and about to boil over if we do not start respecting each other. To those who value the old traditions, I am with you, but, you have to respect those who are different. No one is saying you have to be best buddies, but there has to be some tolerance when you share common spaces. At the same time, I understand the frustration that comes when you realized that the Obamas and Clintons and their ilk view you as primitive, dangerous, simpleminded throwbacks to another era. We have got to just let that ride, ignore it, and get on with living our lives in what we believe is the correct manner.
Maybe, just maybe, we have elected a President and a Congress that will allow us to do just that. I still do not quite trust them, but I fervently hope that they prove me wrong.
To the more liberal members of our culture. You need to stop treating traditional Americans as if we were some sort of anthropological example of primitive culture. You are very sadly mistaken. Traditional values are traditional simply because they work. That does not mean that change is rejected, but it does mean that there need be a good reason for the change. You are free to live how you want but you really need to stop looking down your nose at people, good people, that you do not understand. Respect is a two way street. Do your thing, just don't rub people's noses in it.
The new Administration may work, it may not. We will just have to see, but I will almost assure everyone of one thing. Anything resembling a free ride, except for those with extreme physical and mental difficulties, is about over. We are all going to have a lot to do, so, if your side lost, get over it. Last night there were several large demonstrations around the country. Fine, that is a Constitutional right, but there is no right to set fires, smash store windows, and block both auto and train traffic. All violence needs to be stopped immediately, either by the protestors themselves, or the police. It is intolerable.
Other that that, give the new Administration a chance. And remember, we inhabit this Country and we will all be served by trying to get along with each other. That means respect and tolerance need to be practiced by all.
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