Reflections on a Month of Lock-down

Next week will be one month of this "stay at home" order for the pandemic.  Wednesday to be exact.  While I'm not opposed to staying at home, I am opposed to losing a job, being bored, worrying as to when this will all end, if I'm going to get sick because sometimes I have no choice but to go out and last but not least, dealing with the shitty system that is unemployment insurance.

While the suggestions of "closing businesses" and "staying at home" did begin around the middle of March but with the closing of all schools soon after the mandatory closures came, and the job loss.

Today they said it was 22 million people lost jobs, either furloughed or laid off.  Me being one of them.  I have been waiting for a month on the 22nd for my UI claim to come out of pending.  After I wrote to my reps & senator, I did get some phone calls but all anyone can say is, you just have to wait.  Waiting isn't too bad yet for me, I've been preparing for this, or worst to happen for a while now.  But many people were not prepared for this to happen.  I feel for them.  Hopefully, the Trump Bucks will be here soon. 

Many people are clamoring for the government to allow businesses to open back up.  I do understand what they are asking and truth be told, who and what was shut down was so arbitrarily assigned that it does leave me scratching my head.  However, I don't think they should do anything just yet.  They need to make a plan on opening businesses little by little until everything is open.  I think if they just flipped the switch, it could prove really really bad.

So now it's just a waiting game.  After this is over, they say things will never be the same.  But I don't really know about that.  Americans have very short memories.  They said that things wouldn't be the same after 911 either, but within a year, they were right back to where they were before.  Sure they made some new laws and agencies but the people, nope, they went right back to ignoring everything around them.  Right back to the "in your face" attitude that got us to where we were on that faithful day. 

The same will be true for this pandemic.  We already have the deniers that think this is the flu because they are too wrapped up in Facebook memes to actually look up the information.  That's why they want to march on Harrisburg because they really don't think this any big deal.   The truth is out there, you have to actively go look for it though. 

This is a threat to humanity and this country.  Whether or not we are doing what should/could be done is beyond me, but I do know this, if we did nothing, this would have been far worst.  Last I looked there were over 25000 people dead from this since March 1st, that's 6 weeks, that's almost 4200 people a week.  That's a lot of people.  Compared to the 2017-2018 flu season (one of the worst on record) 2175 people were dying a week.  It's not the flu no matter how much people say it is doesn't make it true. 

Anyway, I digress, we are still in a world of shit and it doesn't look like the light will be out for at least a few more weeks.  Hopefully, my Unemployment will come through by then.

Be safe & stay at home!

Notes on surviving a pandemic

A few observations and tips on surviving a global pandemic.

************************************************************************

1. Be prepared BEFORE the shit hits the fan!
2. Don't watch the news 24/7, it will drive you mad.
3. Don't get your information off of Facebook, it will drive you mad.
4. Don't hoard, everyone is in the same boat as you.
5. Take what you need and leave the rest for someone else (TWD)
6. Everyone is scared, whether they admit it or not so don't be a jerk.
7. Don't tell people who are still working, risking their lives every day, so you can hoard toilet paper, that they are lucky they are still working.  
8. If you are still working, don't brag about it, people are hurting and feel bad enough with the uncertain future.
9. Don't be rude, there is really no need for an attitude.
10. Don't go out if you do not have to.  Yes, we are all bored, deal with it, read a book, start a journal.
11. If you must go out, go out early and be quick about it.
12. When you go food shopping, make your selection with your eyes and only touch what you will be buying.
13. Do NOT fondle the grapes, tomatoes or any fresh fruits or veggies!!! (Thanks to Jeff LOL)
14. Do not blame the grocery store employees for the empty shelves, if it were not for them still working, you wouldn't have that tasty cake in your hand so STFU.  
15. Enjoy the time with your family, you made them, now you have to deal with them.
16. Divorce at this time is NOT an option
17. Use your imagination to find things to do. 
18. Clean your attic, garage, spare room.
19. If you cant afford the tip for your food delivery, get your lazy ass up and go pick it up.  15% minimum tip for delivery!
20. Do not judge people or berate them because they are wearing masks and gloves.  You don't know what their health situation is. 

I hope you find these tips fun and useful.

Until next time on "as the world goes to shit" I'm signing off now 😁

The Last Day of March 2020

Its the last day of March 2020.

I'm sure these days and months will go down in the history books.  They say that history is written by the victor.  But with this virus, I don't think anyone will win.  

I don't mind staying inside for the most part.  Its been raining a lot lately, maybe its God crying for us.  Or maybe its mother nature trying to drown the fleas we have become.  

It was around the middle of March when they started closing everything down.  They just extended the "stay at home" orders till the end of April.  Still, some people are not taking this seriously.  

Hopefully, when this is over, things will change in this country.  I doubt it, but I can hope.  

Stay safe - Stay healthy

Covid-19 Day 7

Today is day 7 of "flattening the curve" and "Social distancing" for me anyway.  For others, it started about a week before I did.

It's really not that bad staying away from people.  Maybe I'm more skilled at it than some people, truth is, people annoy me and so I stay away from them for the most part anyway.  In the last 7 days, I have been out in public 2 times.  I have lots of things to do to take up my time.  I have a bunch of hobbies that I have neglected for a long while, so while I'm waiting for this to end, I pass my days creating or looking for a job for when this is over.

The news is more than I can deal with watching the same stories over and over.  I can't dwell on it constantly.  Although they are supposed to be voting on a huge stimulus bill today, which I hope passes, you know there is always some moron in the batch just waiting to fuck things up.

At first, there were a lot of crappy stories coming out of people fighting mostly for toilet paper or chicken parts.  That all seems to have calmed down for the most part.  People are still hoarding food and so most of the stores have to put signs on the shelves that limit the amount you can buy.  I have never been a hoarder, but I have always stocked up on stuff when it was on sale.  I didn't really need to run out and spend all my money on toilet paper.  Maybe people will learn from this, most likely not.

Anyway, day 7 and we are doing fine.  I will probably have to go out early next week to get stuff for my doggie, so until that time I will do what I can to flatten this curve and pray for man and womankind.

Covid-19 The best & The worst - Part 1

So here I am, day one of self quarantining.  As of Friday, I lost my job.  NY, NJ, and PA are all basically closed to all non-essential businesses and the future is looking very sketchy.  This is probably going to be a very long post.

I am cautiously worried about this whole situation.  Maybe I watch & read too many apocalyptical shows and books.  But this is pretty much how they all begin.  An alien virus starts, or biological warfare, in china,  the mid-east, the rain forest, or a train or an arena,  it grows, some moron pokes it with a stick and they get infected, brings it back to the civilized world and then before you know it, we have a pandemic and people are rising from the dead. 

As of today, March 23rd, 2020, two weeks ago the schools in PA shut down and the news has been harping on this virus non-stop.  Not that I don't think they should report the truth, but by continuously fear-mongering, I think they have made it worst.  Most people are not that intelligent and when you mix low IQs with fear, you have an explosive cocktail.  Which is partially what we are seeing now.  Facebook and the constant misinformation that's passed there, doesn't help.  With everyone pretty much homebound, there has been a surge in the stupidity of Facebook posts lately.

About a week ago right after PA closed all the schools, it spun people into panic shopping.  People were fighting over rolls of toilet paper and chicken.  I have never seen the food stores so empty of everything. (except anything healthy, LOL)  It makes me very irritated to see that people became fever pitch fearful overnight.  That's not saying that I  think people shouldn't heed the warnings, it's better to be cautious than indifferent.  But to go to a food store, market or any place to get food like everyone else does and to act so badly publicly, thinking only about yourself, is NOT the way Americans should be acting.  I don't give a fuck what your color, creed or religion is, you do not have a right to act like a fucking moron in public, expect to be publicly shamed for your bad behavior.  It's to the point now where stores have to LIMIT most things so people don't go in and buy whatever is on the shelf.  To me that is just despicable, you should get the virus and do us a favor and take your gene pool out of existence for being a gluttonous pig.  Doing this is very UnAmerican. Take what you need and leave the rest for someone else, That is what Americans should do.  Americans shouldn't have to be told to act like adults, but then again, that's why I say that most are not very bright and become fearful too easily.

But with the really despicable bad behavior, there have been a few things that have choked me up because they are just so kind.  Kindness in the face of uncertainty is what true Americans do.  To give of your time, money or effort when all seems so bleak, that is what true Americans do.  We are kind, compassionate and we do care about our elders, children, and neighbors. 

I have seen people pooling together to make masks for hospitals and care centers, in their own houses of course.  I have seen people handing out supplies to older people who are too frail to rumble with the assholes in the supermarkets, they are also the most vulnerable.  I have also seen people offering to help people who can't help themselves by running errands.  There is still good, kindness and empathy in this world and we need to see and focus on that. 

Remember to:
1. wash your hands frequently
2. practice social distancing
3. Call your doctor or teledoctor if you feel you have the 3 symptoms - don't post online - your doctor will tell you what to do. 
4. Don't freak out if they don't think you should be tested.
5. Be kind to people, everyone is scared.
6. We are all in this together.

Be Safe, Be Well

Follow the leader

Great leaders don't set out to be a leader, they set out to make a difference.  Its never about the role its always about the goal.

Being a leader isn't just a title, as a matter of fact, its not a title at all.  Because you were granted with title of manager, vp or even president doesnt automatically make you a leader.  Becoming a leader is much more complicated than that, becoming a leader is about how far you will go to rally your troops, stand in the line of fire or be the voice of the people that look up to you.

I'm not talking about a live war theater, I'm talking about corporations and companies.  Although sometimes working in an office environment is certainly like working in a war zone.

Having spent a good part of my life working in a corporate setting, I have seen some really amazing leaders and some truly bad people turn great companies into a wasteland of unmotivated & lackluster employees.

I believe a true leader will always exhibit the following 5 qualities.

A true leader will lead by example.  They will walk the walk they preach.  How can you ask your employees to do something that you feel is beneath you?  Whether its how you dress or even address people, it matters.  Smile and remember peoples names.  It does go a long way.

A true leader will listen and assess the situation without judging.   A leader of people will not base their reasoning on preconceived notions or things that other employees may have gossiped to them.  They will listen and ask questions and show that they care about the outcome. 

A true leader will be honest and have integrity.  There is no way to build a successful team without trust.   If you are not honest or have integrity you will never build that essential trust.

A true leader will motivate people to do better.  Its not just telling people "do better" its inspiring people to do better.  Its about making people feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves.

A true leader never stops learning, and they do not act as though they already know everything.  A know-it-all is just that, a spoiled person who thinks too highly of themselves so they never open themselves up to learn.  A closed mind is a follower not a leader.

A leader is a person who not only has the courage and perseverance to succeed on their own but also to lift up those around them to succeed too!  We see all levels of leadership every day, they may not be the CEOs or VPs but they are the people in your life that you know you can go to when you need guidance and reassurance. 

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

Expectations

People can really irritate you when they don't live up to your expectations.  Whether or not you realise it, the expectations we have of others maybe irrational or unrealistic.  We expect people to behave in a specific way in certain situations, when they don't we usually become annoyed.  

Sometimes it's ourselves being unreasonable, sometimes, it's the other person being unreasonable.  

When you find yourself becoming aggravated by someone because they are not meeting your expectations, just stop for a moment and ask yourself, is it me being unreasonable, or is it them?

Know When It's Time To Leave

During my career, I have seen people who are truly unhappy with where they are in the work they are doing.  Unfortunately they stay in "dead end" and "get nowhere" jobs way past the time they should have been onto the next step in their careers.  While many people  have their reasons, whether it be their own shortcomings, like they just don't have the confidence in themselves or are afraid to make a move, or the health benefits or whatever have you.  Staying at a job when you are miserable is just not conductive of a life well lived. 

How do you know it's time to move on?  There are a few questions you need to ask yourself and you have to be brutally honest with yourself. 

1. Are you proud of the work you are doing?  Can you still be part of the "team" and add quality & value to your position?  Or has your position become mundane, automatic and boring?  If you find yourself making careless mistakes constantly, and don't really care, you have pretty much given up on your position.   If you can't be proud of a job well done, you need to start looking at other options.

2. Do you find it hard to get out of bed in the morning and loath going to work?  Are you late or absent all the time?  On average an employee is absent 1 day every 2 months and should not be late more than 1 time every 3 months.  If you find yourself sleeping through your alarm, not leaving your house till late, getting to work late all the time.  This is usually caused by depression because you are not happy in your current position, you need to start looking at other options.

3.  Are you mad and feel slighted at work?  Do you feel no matter how hard you try or how much you accomplish, it's just never enough?  You are looking for validation to stay at a job that just does not work for you any longer.  Sometimes it's hard to pull off that bandaid and make the move.  We all get comfortable in our jobs after a few years but knowing that you have outgrown a position and making moves to go onto the next step, is the adult thing to do.   Don't be mad, just move along.  You will never get the validation you seek from your current job, you need to start looking at other options.

4.  Does the negative energy at work follow you home?  If you are constantly fretting over your position and the issues you have with it, obviously you are not happy.  Everyone complains on occasion about their positions or co workers or the commute but when you go out of your way and bring this bad mojo home with you consistently, it's a sign you need to start looking at other options.

5.  Is the environment toxic?  A toxic work environment is one that will eventually take a toll on your health or mental well being.  Its usually rife with narcissistic leadership, little to no enthusiasm among the workers, little and negative communication and a high turnover rate, just to name a few.   It's really hard to know when you first take a job if the environment is actually toxic.  Everyone usually puts their best face on when they are in the process of hiring someone.  However after a few months you should see the signs and that should be the sign for you to start your exit strategy. 

In ending, the choices you make are up to you.  Staying in a "dead end" job will not get you anywhere in life but in the grave a lot sooner than you should be.  It will affect your health and mental well being.  It's also needless, you don't have to put up with a workplace that harbors insecurity or  loathing, you just need to pick yourself up by your bootstraps and move onto the next chapter of your career. 

Struggles of Life

One day a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable nothing ever worked out for her and she didn't know how she would survive.  She was tired of fighting and struggling and the world being so unfair to her all the time. It always seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

Her father took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each one on a burner on the stove..

Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then sat at the kitchen table and let them boil, without saying a word to his daughter.

The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After

twenty minutes he turned off the burners.  He took the potatoes out of the pot and

placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in another bowl. He

then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.

“Father, what does this mean?” she asked.

Turning to her, he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?”

“Potatoes, eggs and coffee,” she hastily replied very annoyed at her father.

“Look closer,” he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noticed that they were soft.

He then asked her to take an egg and peel it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face. 

He then explained that the potatoes, eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity - boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.

The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.

However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

“Which one are you?” he asked his daughter.

“When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

Moral of the story: 

In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is how you choose to react to it and the lessons you take away from those situations. Life is all about learning, adopting and converting all the struggles that we experience into something positive.

Crisis at Our Doorstep

While on vacation over the last week, I was able to watch more TV and specifically News, than I have in a while.  One of the stories I heard a number of times is the humanitarian crisis we are having at the mexican/american border.   While I was relaxing for the week there were many people detained at the border, a man and his 18 month old child died by drowning, and 1000's of immigrant children were put into holding camps.

While I feel that things have to be really bad where you are to even consider the hike through hot deserts, dangerous people and the warm (sarcasm) welcome they are getting when they get to the border.  The thing that seriously disgusts me to no end is the treatment of the kids.  Kids do not have a say in where their parents drag them.  If you have a kid under the age of 15, you should know this already.  Are you really going to stand for your 8, 9 or 10 year old kid saying, hey mom, dad, yeah I don't want to make that hike up there, I'll just stay here! No, you will grab them by the ear, shirt, shoulder and point them in the direction you want them to start marching!  Good parents do that, parents that want something better for their kids.

What dawned on me as I sat slack jawed watching this totally Un American fiasco unfold at our borders was that, I am a huge animal rights person.  I love all 4 of my companion pets (2 dogs & 2 cats) and I loose my mother fucking mind when I see or hear stories about puppy mills or overcrowded shelters.  Most people that I know, regardless of how they feel about the crisis at the border, are incessed when they see pictures like this:

But when it comes to these PEOPLE in cages and worst yet, CHILDREN in cages they turn a blind eye to the cruelty and complete disregard for human life.  Is this ok?  In truth, I wouldn't treat my animals like the way these children are being treated.  BABIES crying for their mothers, kids afraid of what may happen to them, toddlers being left on their own.  We don't like when people do this to animals, we call them scum and shit, but we are ok when we do this to human beings....Im NOT ok with this...Not for animals and certainly not for children!

How does this make us "Patriotic"? 

How does this make us "American"?

How does this make us Free, Kind and Compassionate for our fellow human beings?

Do you really walk around in fear thinking that someday one of these kids will kill you or someone you love? REALLY?  Well after how we treat them, I guess I would be afraid of that now too.

And before you start screaming "Obama's fault"  this is happening NOW, and get over Obama already, not all the problems in your life began with Obama and it certainly isn't going to end with Trump.

What would you do if it were YOUR child in one of these pictures?  Is this really ok with you?  

We can not and should not make these kids pay for the sins of their parents.  

Regardless of the reason why their parents sought shelter/amnesty here.  

None of us here today, in this Great country of ours, can trace our roots back to this plot of land (america), we all come from immigrants.  Put yourself in these peoples shoes for one bleeping second.   The Irish, German, Italians, Hungarians, all the eastern europeans that are still coming here, the chinese, japanese, indians, the poor, the disenchanted, the christian, jews and atheists, WE are what make this Country the greatest place on earth!  And this INCLUDES these immigrants.  

Is this really ok with you?  

Is this who you think Americans should be seen as around the world?

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, 
whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother 
Mother of exiles. 
From her beacon-hand Glows
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command 
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. 
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
-- Emma Lazarus 1883

Election Results

All the votes are in and I did not win the primary so I will not be on the ballot in November.  I wanted to thank everyone that came out to support me yesterday.  It was a very long day and I met a lot of great Morrisville residences.

I would like to give a special thanks to Mike Yager for all of your help throughout this whole process. I would also like to thank Jane Berger for all of your knowledge of the process and paperwork involved.  I want to thank Jack and Mary for all of their help not only with the election but also with teaching me about the count afterwards.  People don’t really get to learn about what happens AFTER you cast your vote and what goes into actually calculating them.  As tired as I was, it was worth staying there for that education alone.

I also wanted to say that while the day was long it was also a very pleasant day.  Everyone was happy and talked to each other.   In the end it made me believe that even though we may not all always agree on everything we can come together as a community and respect each other with grace and dignity.  We really were the change that we all want to see and I can’t say how much I appreciate that.

Going forward I will still hold my representatives accountable for their actions.  I know that there have been many sore spots lately with people in our town over several issues.   But I believe that we all need to be willing to find a common ground, try to find the things that we can all agree on and try not to focus on the things that divide us.  We need to remember that what may be good for one person may be bad for another, that we are a community with several thousand people, not just a handful that value power over people. 
Your Vote Does Matter
Thank You,
Kelly

The Power of Doing Nothing...

An old crocodile was floating at the river’s edge when a younger crocodile swam up next to him,

“I’ve heard from many that you’re the fiercest hunter in all of the river bottoms. Please, teach me your ways.”

Awoken from a nice long afternoon nap, the old crocodile glanced at the young crocodile with one of his reptilian eyes, said nothing and then fell back asleep atop the water.

Feeling frustrated and disrespected, the young crocodile swam off upriver to chase after some catfish, leaving behind a flurry of bubbles. “I’ll show him”, he thought to himself.

Later that day the young crocodile returned to the old crocodile who was still napping and began to brag to him about his successful hunt, 

“I caught two meaty catfish today. What have you caught? Nothing? Perhaps you’re not so fierce after all.”

Unphased the old crocodile again looked at the young crocodile, said nothing, closed his eyes and continued to float atop the water as tiny minnows muched away lightly at the algae on his underbelly.

Again, the young crocodile was angry he couldn’t get a response from the elder, and he swam off a second time upstream to see what he could hunt.

After a few hours of thrashing about he was able to hunt down a small crane. Smiling, he kept the bird in his jaws and swam back to the old crocodile, adamant about showing him who the true hunter was.

As the young crocodile rounded the bend, he saw the elder crocodile still floating in the same spot near the river’s edge.

However, something had changed — a large wildebeest was enjoying an afternoon drink just inches near the old crocodile’s head.

In one lightning fast movement, the old crocodile bolted out of the water, wrapped his jaws around the great wildebeest and pulled him under the river.

Awestruck the young crocodile swam up with the tiny bird hanging from his mouth and watched as the old crocodile enjoyed his 500 lb meal.

The young crocodile asked him, “Please… tell me… how… how did you do that?”

Through mouthfuls of wildebeest, the old crocodile finally responded,

"I did nothing"

Moral of the story...sometimes its best to just do nothing...

Tale of Two Wolves

Tyranny

Have You Noticed?

Have you noticed that people seem to be mad all the time these day?  They are mad when they are driving; they are mad when they are in stores; they are mad when they are walking, working, talking.  WHY?

It's like everyone in this country is so worried about what someone else maybe getting, that they are not, they are mulling around in their brains constantly how unfair the world is to them.  Stop worrying about the other guy!

They are preoccupied by how many "likes" they get on their facebook or instagram posts.  As if the amount of "likes" is equal to the quality of life you are leading or is some kind of strange currency to evaluate your life.   Social Media will be the downfall of our society.  Sure it brings some people together, and is an ok marketing tool, but by and far it tears more relationships apart.

Why are people so outraged by the silliest of inconsequential things? At what point did everything become so offensive?  Why is it that people take every off handed comment as an insult or offensive?  People have a human right to their opinion, if you don't like it, walk away, change the channel or don't listen.  You don't have the right to stop them from voicing it.

People are so trapped inside of their own little bubbles, bouncing from one nasty little exchange to the other, they are so wrapped up in themselves that they fail to see the good and beauty around them.  Its true that when you smile, even when you force yourself to smile, it's hard to be angry.  Try it, its true.

How To Be Unsuccessful in Life

Here are a few ideas that come to mind:

Be Impulsive: Allow emotions to control your thinking and behavior. Don’t think things through or look at things from different angles. Remain ignorant and whatever you do, do not read to enlighten yourself!

Have a Negative Attitude: Blame other people for your problems. Especially problems you created. And feel sorry for yourself.  Make sure you push anyone away that would offer to help you or give you any kind of empathy.

Be Overconfident: Believe that you know things you don’t actually know and be sure about it. Jump to conclusions. Believe you’re better at things than you really are.  And NEVER EVER EVER admit you were not right.

Be Unreliable: Always be thinking about yourself. Don’t show up. Do a poor job. Don't forget to ask others to do your job, if you have one, which you probably don't. 

Stop Learning: Don’t read. Don’t continuously educate yourself.  Or better yet, make sure you read every truly fake news website you can find, make sure the opinions are so seriously skewed that its either Crazy Left or Crazy Right.

Don’t Choose Your Friends Wisely: Hang around negative, under-educated people and take their advice to heart. Especially if they are Racist, misogynistic or just plain assholes.

Always Try To Fit In: Make decisions based primarily on what other people will think about you.  Try to always make everyone like you.  

I bet you know a few people like this?  I can assure you that people that have these qualities will have lots of problems and over the top drama in their lives.    

Just. Stay. Clear.  And don't Be that person!

Do You Have Faith or Are You Crazy?

Lately, I have noticed a new phenomenon.  It's called Blind Faith in certain people.  Gone are the days of having faith, trust and confidence in someone or something at a normal level, now we go all out and put certain people on pedestals as if they are Gods or Deities and whole heartedly believe they can do nothing wrong ever.   

Allow me to define the difference between Faith and Blind Faith using Dictionary.com

Faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Or a strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

Now there is nothing wrong with a little faith or trust or even confidence in someone or even something.  But when you cross the line, and think that a human being is God like or infallible, you have just lost your mind.   

As much as I abjure religion, I do not take away from people that do beleive in God and completely understand that they think he is infallible, but there is NO HUMAN, that ever walked the earth that is infallible.  And if you are religious, and believe that any man or woman is infallible, I hope your God smites you!  You know who I'm talking too!

Definition of Blind Faith is to have unwavering faith in someone or something without true understanding, perception and discrimination.  To have an unreasonable and unfounded trust and confidence in something or someone.

Now doesnt that sound just a little CRAZY to you?  You ARE a normal, rational human being aren't you? 

I was seeing this Blind Faith usually only when I would talk to the current POTUS fans, but recently, I'm seeing it from the other side too.  But it has more to do with Party or core beliefs as opposed to person.

I guess because I do not have Blind Faith in anything, I do not understand why anyone would have it.  I think that a healthy dose of faith is always a good thing.  As human beings we need to believe in something or sometimes someone and having high hopes for situations or people isn't really a bad thing.  But it crosses a line when you think that beyond any doubt, your person, party, or idea is without fault or error.  It is hubris to think that people will not or can not make mistakes.

I think its time all of the moderate, balanced, idea driven people ban together.  I wouldn't really call myself a Liberal, although I do fall slightly left of center and I would definitely not call myself a conservative, as I feel their ideals are too severe and restricting.  But really all I have seen lately are people that are too far left and too far right.  When I thought that I have seen the most left of leftist or the right of rightist, there is always someone that tops the most extreme on both sides.

In ending, I am a firm believer in the middle, no crazy, no extreme.  I also believe that the steely pendulum of politics certainly does swing from one side to the other, and with it currently at the height of the right, it will swing back, hard and fast to the left.  So I would implore everyone to find a solid middle ground as I have done, as it's much easier to stand than to kneel. 

Me Thinks Thou Protests Too Much

When I think of Protests, I think of the Vietnam war and the huge protests that happened in the 60's & 70s.  Or more famously in America the Boston Tea Party.  Our country is young but we have seen our share of Protests, Violence and Chaos when a group of people gather to assert their first amendment rights and free thought and expression.  Especially when counter-protesting groups have something to say too.

There have been many Protests that people came together peacefully to force a change and it actually worked.  The Seneca Falls Convention in 1894, led to the 19th amendment and the Right of Women to vote in 1920.  The Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, when Rosa Parks was arrested for failing to give up her seat to a white man.  After about a year a protesting, Montgomery Alabama integrated it bus system.  In 1963, when Martin Luther King and 200,000 people Marched on Washington and he gave his famous speech "I have a dream" lead to Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights act of 1964.  There are many many more throughout our history that have culmanated in changing what was into what is.

I believe that the idea behind what a protest is, is indeed genuine and thought of with good intentions for most people. However, as with many good intentions, someone is always bound to take things too far. Many groups these days I believe begin altruistic and eventually get taken over by people that's sole purpose is to physically fight with opposing groups.  

Groups that started with a legitimate cause, such as BLM or Occupy Wall Street, who had a legitimate grievance to voice, it began very slowly and quietly, until every time they gathered, the Black Bloc would creep in and ruined whatever peaceful demonstrations they were having. We have all seen the videos of those black clad demonstrators, faces covered, woven between peaceful participants, then they go berserk and start smashing windows, cars, fences, barricades, whatever they have or can find.

So now we have violent groups to the far left, such as the Black Bloc and Antifa, that have fashioned themselves after the far right groups such as the KKK, Neo Nazis, Skinheads, White Supremacists or Nationalist.  Ready to incite violence whenever they can.  It's kind of hard to wrap your head around people whose core beliefs are liberal or socialist to want to incite violence but as I always say, the pendulum swings both ways.   Perhaps their ideas are a bit barbaric, perhaps they are mad for totally different things.  Whatever the case, it seems to me that people who join any of these groups, left or right are mad about something.  But being mad, doesnt make a bit of difference if you don't get out and Vote!

There are still the altruistic people stuck in the middle, which is who most people that go to these demonstrations are.  I think we all lose site of the fact that we all still have the right to speak out against our grievances and most people are not totally left, or totally right but sit somewhere in the middle, shaking our heads and fingers at both sides.  We all have an opinion, and are duly entitled to that opinion.  But we do not have a right to force our opinion on another person.  We can debate, argue, bicker or stew over our beliefs but it will always be wrong to use violence to get our point across.

Violence will never change anyones mind.  As a matter of fact you may just lose ground if you are violent or cause chaos.  Demonstrations or Protests are meant as a platform to bring people together under a common cause PEACEFULLY.  You do not have to agree with what the Protesters are saying, that's up to you, but to invoke violence in the name of Peace?  Are you fucking kidding me?  You just make yourself look dumb.  

As far as joining these dumb groups, I will say this in ending. You were born into a group, it's called AMERICAN CITIZENS. For crying out loud, start acting like it already.  This is a country that has many people to make one people, e pluribus unum. There is no white indigenous people here, there are no black or latino, or asian indigenous people here.  No one has more rights than any other person, it's guaranteed by our constitution.  We are only fighting each other while all the politicians screw us over.  There will never be a good ending if WE don't ban together to make this country work, its call team work and its not impossible, it may take some effort on everyone's part, but it does work out in the end.  I promise...

Peace out..

Jaded 😸

Happy 4th of July!!

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A Happy, Healthy 

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