If you haven't been sitting in your 1950's bomb cellar you may have heard whispers of a certain speech that was given today to our nation's school-attending children. It was given by a man who goes by President Obama. Heard of him? Thank goodness the speech is over. If I had to hear one more Yay or Nay about it I think I would have to remove myself from the internet and Facebook forever! (Crap, does this mean that I am going to have to give up FB? Because certainly people are going to update over and over about it. Forever.)
Do I have to agree with his exact wordage? Do I have to agree with his health policy? It doesn't matter because I do agree with the basic message of today's speech - education, education, perseverance, accountability. I asked my 2nd grader if he watched the speech. He excitedly told me yes. I asked him what it was about and he said, "I don't remember. Staying in school?" What can we do? He is in 2nd grade.
I was speaking to a friend about the whole Democrats vs. Republicans issue. We do not see eye to eye on most of it. I would say that I lean more towards one side, but am not a straight party thinker. She was saying that "my" side's media spews hate at "her" side. And I said that "her" side throws it out too. But really, which came first? Who starting throwing the rotten eggs first?
What I would really love is someone in the media to be COMPLETELY neutral. Report things based on facts and not tainting the information with political bias. Is that too much to ask? I hate reading in between the lines.
America is great for many reasons. Fro-yo. Drive-thru windows. A little something called democracy. Being able to campaign and hold popular elections is good. Being able to form one's own opinion is also good. Not being stoned for it, way good. What gets me is when someone tells me that I HAVE to think their way or I HAVE to be an idiot to think the way I do. So I have to respect their political beliefs and opinions but the favor is not returned?
What I would REALLY love is for everyone to stop complaining and just start respecting one another! It has to start somewhere, why can't it be here? Why can't it be with you and me? I realize that in order to have progress we need to be able to "complain" a bit, but can't we do it with consideration for another's viewpoint? Can we not do it without being "infuriated", "offended", or calling names? And let's be honest - both "sides" are at fault. Both "sides" need to cut it out. Both "sides" fuel the contention with just a few radical statements here and there. Or everywhere. Oh, and if you just want to jump on the proverbial boat and post "infuriated" or "offended" statements on your FB or some other social forum (except this blog of course, because I totally know what I am talking about) (I really don't and can probably be called out on about a million things on this post, but please refrain from infuriated offendedness), please know what you are talking about.
Oh, and to be fair, 18 years ago when President George H. W. Bush gave an address to the nations' school children, the Democrats denounced it and even asked for congressional hearings into the matter. I found some information here, but I am sure you can find more out there.
So I am thinking something along the lines of Dove's Carnation Revolution. Can we not all be a little less politically peacock-y and a little more of the "here, take this beautiful flower and keep an open mind" type of peeps?~mavis
