Random Thoughts

Have a lot of items I need to get around to.  All random…

Hillary Clinton provides the first quote of the day:

“You may not agree with a woman, but to criticize her appearance – as opposed to her ideas or actions – isn't doing anyone any favors, least of all you. Insulting a woman’s looks when they have nothing to do with the issue at hand implies a lack of comprehension on your part, an inability to engage in high-level thinking. You may think she’s ugly, but everyone else thinks you’re an idiot.”

Ideas are discussed, not appearances. Those are observed but are of little importance to discussion. Values are ideas. Logic involves a progression of ideas and thoughts. Those need to be engaged, embraced, and digested. I may not agree with your idea or your conclusion. But the idea is what we focus on to discuss.

Worley Dervish adds this quote to the topic:

“If your vote doesn't matter, why are they trying so hard to take it away from you?”

Evidently it does matter. The ethnic minorities, women and immigrants are all the target these days of people attempting to purify the voting public. They must be afraid. Of what I wonder? If they are so much in the majority why would they fear small minorities? Or is it possible they simply don’t trust the motives of others and they fear loss of something? There’s that fear factor again. So often prevalent!

An anonymous quote:

“Oh, so you’re worried about the war on Christmas? What a shame you don’t feel the same about the war on voters, women, minorities, unions, LGBTs, science, seniors, vets, immigrants, education, healthcare and the poor!”

That pretty much sums up a lot of what we have been talking about! No one is disallowing your celebration of Christmas. In fact the entire nation is decorated, on sale and positively partying over Christmas. So why do you fret that there is a war on against it? Might you wish everyone to observe Christmas in the same way you do? Why? Why should they adopt your faith, tradition or viewpoint on this?  You are still free to celebrate the holiday in your own way. So do so. No one is stopping you! Just leave others to their own observance.

Edward Everett Hale gave us this quote decades ago:

            “Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.”

Oh year! With education we exercise and build not only a meaningful data base, but also a thinking muscle to use in analyzing the bits and pieces of life. We make conclusions by using such muscles!

If all of this upsets you, think kindly on a quote from Will Smith, the now veteran actor:

“Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings and emotions.”

Lord, I wish I could follow this advice.  It is so right-on but so difficult to accept and abide by. Most of us allow this mental struggle to go on for years! We know it is useless, even injurious. Yet we let it go on and on!

Jose N. Harris has this to say on the matter:

“There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh.

Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don’t.

Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.”

What a great and refreshing thought!  Very much like the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can’t change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

We all have permission to let go of the negative and live with the positive. Now there’s something to be thankful for.  All we need to do is act on it!

November 22, 2013