Happy Independence Day !!
I’m constantly being reminded that I was once more fearful than I am now. I lived in denial about some things. Any fears I now get are dealt with sooner, rather than later. Deep family tragedy has a way of correcting your lame thinking.
As a writer, I’m so aware of both the fear of speaking what’s really on my heart and the fear of being blocked from speaking my mind.
I’m missing the good ol’ fashioned responsible way we dealt as a nation with opposing views. I miss the trust of the other side. I wish that humor would return in our discussions about our country, even bad jokes I wouldn’t mind as much as the stuff offered today by many.
People welcome passion, emotion …. but this addiction to drama and anger, the obsession with blaming is not going to make our differing sides bond together. Just passing some laws is not going to remedy so many of the challenges facing our nation. We need a good strong evaluation of our inner selves to do that.
I search for good resources all the time on Twitter. I can’t tell you how often I’ve gasped over what a writer says. Many things I read I wouldn’t quote to a 10th grade Civics class. I’d like to think that if I had a teen in school nowadays that that child would be informed but not propagandized. I’d like my child to be presented with facts so he could make up his own mind. It would be painful if he was labeled for following his conscience!
George Washington, one of my heroes, said, ‘A primary object …. should be the education of our youth in the science of government.’
I too grumble at times over politics but I don’t grumble over government. I think the worst thing we can do is to grumble all the time at home and create an atmosphere of anxiety, indifference and hopelessness about our role in politics. It’s easy to pass down a healthy respect for government if we keep a healthy respect for our family and friends, and live by those rules. Youth love a cause. It’s not hard to pass down values to them if we are informed and involve them.
I had a blessed experience with Marc in the political realm. I inspired him, he shaped me as well. We shared books, voting strategies and just a deep love of this country’s values. We joined groups that held regular discussions on political issues, and attended rally’s. We even prayed for our country together. People who care about a common good for all people have a bond that crosses many age groups or walks of life and it can’t be broken!
People many times fear talking about ‘hot topics’ but if we never bring those subjects up, it’s like we’re letting all the people with power, money, connections make our decisions for us… we end up being pawns of elites, rather than determiners of our own destiny. I don’t like relinquishing my personal power!