I’ve had enough! More than enough, actually! I’ve had enough of breaking news alerts talking about an active shooter in whatever school in whatever community. I’ve had enough with the live news feeds from behind police barricades with reporters who don’t know any more than we do. I’ve had enough of sobbing parents whose hearts have just been ripped out and can’t have even a second of privacy because there are cameras stuck in their faces. I’ve had enough of body counts going up, and up, and up. And, in particular, I’ve had enough of the completely meaningless thoughts and prayers. Don’t misunderstand me; as a Christian, I know there is a lot of power in prayer. I’ve seen it firsthand. The thoughts and prayers I’m talking about are coming from the mouths of feckless, craven politicians. If you have it in your power to do something, to make a situation better, but you do absolutely nothing, then your thoughts and prayers are empty and meaningless. I have seen this movie so many times I’ve literally lost count. Shooting happens. Multiple children dead. Huge emotional reaction not only in the country but throughout the world. But then the politicians start flapping their gums. No, the problem isn’t guns. It’s mental illness. It’s violent video games. It’s because we kicked God out of schools (spoiler alert: Nobody kicked God out of anywhere). It’s the woke agenda. And on and on. Also, it’s too early to start politicizing this terrible tragedy. So, ultimately and predictably, the furor dies down, particularly when something else starts dominating the news cycle, usually within 1 or 2 days. And it’s all buried—until the next time. Our politicians are failing us in so many ways. Whenever even the most reasonable and sensible gun legislation is discussed, the tropes immediately come out regarding slippery slopes, government tyranny, jackbooted thugs kicking down your door to take your guns, etc., etc. Most, if not all, of this can be blamed on what a friend refers to as the nation’s most beloved terrorist organization, the National Rifle Association. They pass out money to lawmakers like it was Monopoly money, expecting them to do their bidding, and they always do. We’re told over and over that nothing can be done, this is the price we pay for freedom, blah blah something something liberty yotta yotta. And the beat, and the shootings, go on. As an ordinary citizen with no money and zero influence, I feel powerless. All I have is my vote, and sometimes I have to wonder if even that’s worth very much. But I will continue to vote, because that is what I can do. Also, today on Twitter, a friend suggested something else we could do, something that would be visible and couldn’t be missed. They suggested wearing black armbands in protest of the gun issue in particular, and America’s apparent march to authoritarianism in general. They’re not an influencer, nor do they want to be, so there’s no expectation that this will take off like some other campaigns have. But maybe those of us who choose to do this can add up to a decent number. The hashtag on Twitter is #WearOurValues. I ordered two black armbands this afternoon, one for myself and one for my wife, and I, at least, plan to start wearing mine as soon as it gets here tomorrow. And, if anyone asks why I’m wearing it, I will tell them. Again, it isn’t much, but it’s something this one person can do.
Category: current events
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Choose Life
Up until this week I don’t recall ever hearing the name Kate Spade. And then a couple of days ago she blew up my Facebook timeline. Apparently she was a fashion designer of some renown, and she chose to end her life this week. Then, today, I learned of the suicide of Anthony Bourdain, who I definitely had heard of. Celebrity suicides do have the effect of making one ponder: What would drive someone who is appearing to live the dream and has everything to live for to end it all? Of course that question is unanswerable, as we can’t get into another person’s head, particularly when they’re not around anymore to ask any questions. While I haven’t seen any statistics, based on what I’ve been witnessing I have a strong inkling that the suicide rate is on the rise. Now, I have often said that suicide is nothing more than a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I have also said that it is the ultimate selfish act. Everybody has to deal with the consequences except, of course, you. But I can’t judge anyone who chooses to take that route. How can I? How can I when I, myself, am a suicide survivor?
You know, even writing those words still sets off some alarm bells of shame in my head. That is what we have done with the discusssion of suicide in today’s society. We don’t talk about it. We ignore it, avoid it, stuff it way down deep. As a result, those of us who have walked in the valley of the shadow of death hardly ever bring it up because it’s a taboo subject. I think it’s time we started talking about it.
The details of my particular story—what led to it, my ultimate decision to not go through with it and summon help before it was too late, etc.—aren’t really important to this discussion. It happened in 2007, after which I went through a brief period of hospitalization. It took me a long time but I was able to climb out of the valley. I’ve had some periods of slipping back over the years, but for the most part I’ve had steady progress. Make no mistake, I have rotten days from time to time, just like anyone else. But the good far outweighs the bad, and I don’t regret for one second my decision to choose life.
And that’s the advice I’d give anyone who finds themselves staring into that deep dark place. Choose life. No matter how messed up things might seem, no matter how hopeless you might feel, there is hope. Even if you don’t feel any of it, hope is there. Reach out. Talk to someone. Nobody knows better than me how alone those feelings can make you feel, but you are not alone. Give your friends the chance to be true friends to you. If nothing else, call the suicide prevention hotline, 800-273-8255. They can hook you up with local resources that can help you get started on those first tentative steps out of the valley. My wife has a saying: As long as you are breathing there is hope.
I’m not saying any of this will be easy. You might have to face some pretty tough things and have some very hard conversations. But I assure you, it’s worth it. Life is a precious gift, and it’s meant to be lived. As I said, I don’t regret my decision to choose life. I hope and pray more people choose to Do the same.
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Knowledge Is Power
I have to admit, few things bother me as much as willful ignorance. I don’t mean lack of knowledge; that’s completely understandable. It’s impossible to know everything about everything, and it would be ridiculous to claim otherwise. What sets my teeth on edge is not just a lack of interest in learning, but an actual hostility to the learning process. If there is something I don’t understand, I try to research what I can to gain knowledge. I will never understand those who wish to remain in the dark about certain things. Recently I’ve noted a couple of instances of this in the news pertaining to religion, and it troubles me more than a little.
Both the cases I’m referencing involve the Islamic faith. Recently I read a story, from several sources, indicating the Tennessee state legislature had introduced a bill to scuttle religious education in public schools. According to the sources I saw, the specific objection was regarding the discussion of Islam as one of the religions. I can only assume the objection had to do with the mere discussion of Islam. Another story I heard about dealt with a school in Boston which, in the process of teaching a religion unit, took students on a field trip to a mosque. This caused much consternation and more than a little condemnation. I find these stories quite sobering. I have always believed that knowledge is power, and that would seem to apply in these cases. Perhaps if society in general could actually get some actual, fact-based knowledge about the Islamic faith, some actual understanding might result. At the very least, maybe some would stop believing that everyone who looks and talks like they might be from the Middle East is a potential member of ISIS who wants nothing more than to blow us to Kingdom Come. Regardless, I fear that willful ignorance will continue to prevail, and in that case we all wind up losers. I hope I’m wrong, but sadly experience and observation tell me I’m not.
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Enough Already
I feel like I should apologize at the outset for the tone this missive is going to take. It certainly won’t be like most things that originate from this desk. I have finally reached my maximum tolerance level with the national political state of affairs, and it’s time to unload.
Over the past few days I’ve read several stories in the media about how there will almost certainly be yet another government shutdown next month. Or is it the debt ceiling? Or both? I honestly can’t keep track anymore. For the umpteenth time, the Republican Party is becoming the hostage-taker. “Do what we say and nobody gets hurt.” This time, if what I’m reading is correct, the proverbial loaded gun they’ll be holding to the head of the democratic process is Social Security and Medicare. Essentially the game plan seems to be, either the Democrats agree to whatever cuts to Social Security and Medicare the GOP demand or we go through yet another round of shutdown and fiscal cliff and whatever else goes on in the circus. Now, in doing this, the Grand Old Party is messing with not only my livelihood, but also my wife’s livelihood and the livelihood of millions and millions of others who depend on these checks each month to do certain things like, oh, I don’t know, keep alive? To play political games with benefits so many people depend on is not just cynical, it’s downright cruel.
Actually whatever the instrument used in this dance is irrelevant. It’s hard for me to imagine how any sane, rational, reasonable lawmaker could possibly see this as responsible governing. The American system has always worked based on the notions of consensus and compromise. These maneuvers are nothing more than overgrown adolescents holding their breath until they get their way. How many of you would let your kids get away with that? I know I wouldn’t.
But, as a whole, the Republican Party, at least at the national level, have long shown they don’t have the slightest interest in actually governing. They’re perfectly content to lurch from crisis to crisis, doing pretty much nothing in the interim. What is truly mystifying to me is how many people are not only okay with this, but actually cheer it! This lack of leadership, this playing with people’s livelihoods, should by all rights prompt national outrage, at the very least. But not enough people even care. Either they see the political process as something that doesn’t affect them, or they’re distracted by all the shiny things out there, or maybe some actually do see this as some sort of noble principled stand. If you happen to consider yourself in the latter group, I have only three words for you…Shame on you!
Growing up, I had respect for the GOP. My dad was a Goldwater Republican. My 12-year-old self respected Gerald Ford, as much as I thought about him at all. But all that was long ago and far away. Today’s Republican Party resembles the Know-Nothing party of the 1850’s much more than the Party of Lincoln. If the current state of affairs continues to hold sway, I could never see a scenario where I’d ever vote Republican ever again, even for local office. I just couldn’t in good conscience. Cooler heads need to assert themselves in the party mucho pronto. Right now all I hear from them is cut, slash, burn, hate, etc. etc. And yet they are, and will probably continue to be, the majority party, at least in the legislative branch. I’m left to shake my head and wonder why. I know the party doesn’t give a hoot about me and mine, and while the Democrats are by no means perfect I at least feel like they have the best interest of those like me at heart. All I know at this point is I’m so done. That god awful movie is going to run again next month, and not enough people care enough to stop it. And oh yes, I haven’t even mentioned the potential 20 percent cut in SSDI benefits next year. What’s terrifying to me is I don’t hear anyone in Washington mentioning it either. I wish I co8uld plead with all of them, particularly those in the GOP, to focus on things like that and stop this infuriating gamesmanship.
I feel like I should apologize at the outset for the tone this missive is going to take. It certainly won’t be like most things that originate from this desk. I have finally reached my maximum tolerance level with the national political state of affairs, and it’s time to unload.
Over the past few days I’ve read several stories in the media about how there will almost certainly be yet another government shutdown next month. Or is it the debt ceiling? Or both? I honestly can’t keep track anymore. For the umpteenth time, the Republican Party is becoming the hostage-taker. “Do what we say and nobody gets hurt.” This time, if what I’m reading is correct, the proverbial loaded gun they’ll be holding to the head of the democratic process is Social Security and Medicare. Essentially the game plan seems to be, either the Democrats agree to whatever cuts to Social Security and Medicare the GOP demand or we go through yet another round of shutdown and fiscal cliff and whatever else goes on in the circus. Now, in doing this, the Grand Old Party is messing with not only my livelihood, but also my wife’s livelihood and the livelihood of millions and millions of others who depend on these checks each month to do certain things like, oh, I don’t know, keep alive? To play political games with benefits so many people depend on is not just cynical, it’s downright cruel.
Actually whatever the instrument used in this dance is irrelevant. It’s hard for me to imagine how any sane, rational, reasonable lawmaker could possibly see this as responsible governing. The American system has always worked based on the notions of consensus and compromise. These maneuvers are nothing more than overgrown adolescents holding their breath until they get their way. How many of you would let your kids get away with that? I know I wouldn’t.
But, as a whole, the Republican Party, at least at the national level, have long shown they don’t have the slightest interest in actually governing. They’re perfectly content to lurch from crisis to crisis, doing pretty much nothing in the interim. What is truly mystifying to me is how many people are not only okay with this, but actually cheer it! This lack of leadership, this playing with people’s livelihoods, should by all rights prompt national outrage, at the very least. But not enough people even care. Either they see the political process as something that doesn’t affect them, or they’re distracted by all the shiny things out there, or maybe some actually do see this as some sort of noble principled stand. If you happen to consider yourself in the latter group, I have only three words for you…Shame on you!
Growing up, I had respect for the GOP. My dad was a Goldwater Republican. My 12-year-old self respected Gerald Ford, as much as I thought about him at all. But all that was long ago and far away. Today’s Republican Party resembles the Know-Nothing party of the 1850’s much more than the Party of Lincoln. If the current state of affairs continues to hold sway, I could never see a scenario where I’d ever vote Republican ever again, even for local office. I just couldn’t in good conscience. Cooler heads need to assert themselves in the party mucho pronto. Right now all I hear from them is cut, slash, burn, hate, etc. etc. And yet they are, and will probably continue to be, the majority party, at least in the legislative branch. I’m left to shake my head and wonder why. I know the party doesn’t give a hoot about me and mine, and while the Democrats are by no means perfect I at least feel like they have the best interest of those like me at heart. All I know at this point is I’m so done. That god awful movie is going to run again next month, and not enough people care enough to stop it. And oh yes, I haven’t even mentioned the potential 20 percent cut in SSDI benefits next year. What’s terrifying to me is I don’t hear anyone in Washington mentioning it either. I wish I co8uld plead with all of them, particularly those in the GOP, to focus on things like that and stop this infuriating gamesmanship.
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Reservoir Thoughts
Today I am writing about my current hometown, Anderson, Indiana. I’ve only lived here a little more than two years, which makes me a mere neophyte, but nevertheless there are some local issues—one in particular, actually—that I wish to address. Hopefully I won’t come off as self-righteous or something else negative.
The hot topic around these parts these days is the proposed development of what is called the Mounds Reservoir. As I understand it, this would create a lake where much of the city now stands. If I have this wrong, please feel free to correct me. On its face, it’s hard for me to see this as a great idea. For one thing, what’s to be done about the residents and businesses of the area that will ultimately be underwater? I sincerely hope that somebody has thought to put provisions in place to deal with these folks fairly and equitably. I’ve read horror stories where imminent domain was used to basically trample over the rights of property owners for the sake of building something. I don’t know if imminent domain is going to be used in this project. I really hope not. It just seems unfair to me to displace people for something that really doesn’t have to be done in any event.
Also, it seems to me that a project such as this would drastically affect the character of the city, not necessarily for the better. One of the things I have been very much impressed with in the time I’ve lived here is the sense of community I feel here. Whatever else might be wrong with Anderson, there does appear to be a very strong sense of community. I haven’t felt this in any other place I’ve ever lived, with the possible exception of Spokane. I fear that a project such as this would turn Anderson into simply a bunch of people who just happen to share a few zip codes. The fabric of a community should be at least considered along with property values.
For the most part, I realize I’m talking from mostly ignorance here. I don’t know as much about the reservoir project as I probably should. I just feel like I found a good thing here, and it would be very sad to see what I think is a distinct character get sacrificed. Anderson has problems aplenty, no doubt. It just seems to me that there are better solutions to explore than flooding people out of house and home. If I’m wrong, I am open to being set straight.