For some reason, we are quick to tell everybody how to live their lives. What decisions need to be made in their lives. How to raise their kids. The types of jobs that are acceptable. Which political party/person you need to be supporting. Which church or denomination is acceptable. I could go on for hours, but I think you get the idea. And heaven forbid if our decisions don’t align together then all hell breaks loose and division starts.
What I really want to say to everybody is, shut up! Stop talking and start listening. Somewhere along the path, we came to a point where we lost the ability to communicate with each other. We can not communicate with each other by yelling and screaming or by just storming off when we don’t get our way. We can agree to disagree.
Now let's be honest, not understanding something is the biggest problem there is. But we can't shut up long enough to begin to understand any concept. We the people love to claim that we hate drama. Me to. But I bet you are one of the first to scroll through the comments on a controversial Facebook, IG, or Twitter posts to see reactions. You know the posts that I am talking about; Vaccinate VS Unvaccinated; Republican VS Democratic; Trump VS Everything/Anything; Christians VS every other religion: public education vs voucher system: Nurses vs a deck of playing cards: teachers vs failing schools: LGBT+: abortion vs adoption: Those are just a few discussions that continue to divide us.
I blame the news media and social media for starting the division. What do you expect is going to happen to you when you watch TV shows that highlight the worst of people all day long. Hate breeds hate. There is absolutely no reason the same news story needs to be broadcasted and talked about for hours even days on end. Here is the problem with social media, I don’t have to look you in the face as I talk about what a piece of shit you are. Or how your bad decisions are screwing up your life and everyone else's around you. Your screen protects you from feeling other's pain. We have forgotten that there is a real human being on the other side of that screen. Shame on you! If you do not have the guts to say something to a person's face, then in no uncertain terms should you post it on social media. Lastly, the remainder of the blame lays completely on our shoulders.
When was the last time you tried to stop hatred being spewed on social media, or even better in person? I don't say anything, because honestly, I don't want to get my hands dirty. Now let me explain. I feel and think with my heart. Your problems become my problems. I allow emotions to consume me to the point where I can not function. So for me, I tend to stay as far away as possible from drama, controversy, hate, or problems. When was the last time you watched the news? And not just one news channel or episode. But I bet you watch the news from the time it comes on in the evening until your prime time tv show comes on. How healthy is that? Are you getting anywhere with the information they are feeding your head? I bet the only thing that is happening is more division, more hate and more confusion.
What concerns me the most about the topics I have mentioned is I see no end. I have little hope that we as a society can come together as human beings and talk with each other. Every time I turn around there is another issue that pulls us further away from each other. The playing field as been set up. We have all been pitted against each other and are acting as the pawns they knew we would become.
The more times we the people allow others to divide us the weaker we become. And trust me, people, we are being divided on those very issues. Do you remember the old saying, “We are stronger together than we are alone?” The older I get the more this quote has a deeper meaning. Do I think we should all be like-minded? No. I love our differences. Those qualities are who make us who we are. Those qualities are what make us so great… together. I have no doubt we can disagree on issues and still be respectful. Still, show love and compassion to one another.
However, if we can not be in the same room with each other, we can never make a change. We have to shut up and listen! (I know this is a hard one for me, I like having the last word.) But the thing that is more important to me than having the last word, compassion. I want people everywhere to know that even if I don’t understand the issue or agree with them on the issue, I still love them.


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