It’s a Democratic Hoax.
All Republicans care about is
money.
Jewish communities need to
follow the rule.
Immigrants are criminals.
Jim Comey
and the Democratically supported coup.
It is a difficult time, for all of us. For me, a father of two beautiful, smart and
funny children, it is a mixed bag. I
regret they are having to go through months of their childhoods indoors. At the same time, I get a chance to commute
less and spend a lot more quality time with them, getting to see how they are
in ‘school’, how they transition to things, and see some of the struggles they
go through first-hand. I’ve noticed
since home schooling began our house is a lot calmer. There is no hurrying out the door to get to
school, no rush to swim lessons, and fewer time crunches.
I’ve also noticed my youngest son going through a control struggle, wherein if
he doesn’t get what he wants, he uses very bold language and threats (if you
don’t give me candy, I’ll never sit with you at dinner again or play with you
again). This usually ends with my
wife and I smiling, still telling him no and watching him storm off to his
room. Five minutes later he’ll return
with another round of intimidation tactics whereby he’ll promise we’ll never
get to kiss or hug him again. This too will result in him eventually storming off to his
room, which will prompt me to remind him that we don’t slam doors in our
house. Within half an hour, the whole
thing has passed, he nearly always apologizes, we hug him and normal family
life returns. It reminds me that we can’t nor should always take the words of five year-olds
so seriously, nor should we allow them to make so many choices because things
for them happen on a whim.
It is a very different set of circumstances for we
adults. Adults using strong language
like my son would carry with it a great set of fears for a child to hear. Children wouldn’t
be able to separate whether or not we were just having “a bad day” or were in a moment
of anger. They don’t always get sarcasm
either. I can never allow myself to
forget this, because the moments I have done so always come back. I’m ashamed to say I have had my moments of
weakness in front of them, and it still affects them in some ways. For instance, one time the wife and I had a
huge dust up right before we were supposed to leave for a trip, and she said
something that I was so insulted by because she assumed I had done something
with a motive I never would have, that I threatened not to go. To this day, when we speak of trips the boys
ask for sure if I’m coming.
Words always have power, and they become more powerful when followed by the
actual actions. However, if words are
not chosen wisely, their affect can be lost. Naturally, like the boy who cried ‘wolf’ my
five-year -old’s words aren’t to be taken as seriously now until we see what he
does. We’ve learned as parents. Words can lose their meaning or importance.
Now look at the words and phrases that have come from some
of our elected officials. You’ve heard
these types of phrases come from them and then be reiterated over and over and
over by the media. They are repeated by friends and family alike, sometimes
without consideration as to whether they bear any resemblance to what’s really
going on.
The word coup, for instance, is a popular term today,
particularly with Fox News and their ilk.
As in, the investigation into the President was an attempted coup
against the government. The French word coup can
mean several things, as in a strong tactical move, or a notable move, or the
seize of the government by force generally --- as in coup d’état (blow of state
literally). No doubt, the words above
are meant as the latter, which generally requires the force of an army behind
you. Whatever you believe of the motives
of the men investigating Trump, a coup is not an appropriate term. Investigations are common, whatever the
motives of the people involved. Coups
are rare, and when they happen, there is no doubt as to what is being done.
Yet, this is the time we are living in, where words are
slung around in the ethernet with no one taking responsibility for them; the
same world where Sean Hannity gives his opinions with a banner in big letters
that says Fox News and the smaller word “channel” underneath that, giving him
the credibility of being a journalist – he is not.
But we hear these words from the left too, grouping all
people who voted for Donald Trump as red-necks, under-educated dolts and
racists. Group statements of this nature
seek to push people to shame people into change but only inflame the fire of
anger and hatred. Many people (sadly in
my opinion) saw Trump as their only option.
Thus, what happens? We stop listening,
expecting the vitriol and building up our defenses to it. We stop caring as the words get tiresome and
boring, and we no longer realize that these dramatic statements we are making crater our credibility
for future wise things we might wish to add.
This is as much a mea culpa as it is a blame.
In my experience, this lockdown has offered us a perfect chance to review
the world from a cleaner slate; a slate that exists with ALL OF US being
connected and affected by one thing – a new deadly illness.
Those worrying about their economic futures certainly have good reason. For those of us who aren’t as worried, it’s
time to reach out and reassure those who are: whether it is by actual financial
assistance or the offering of one’s extra home office as a living space. This is what is necessary.
This virus has already taken the human element a step back and the planet has
show signs of renewed healing in just the short six weeks’ time we’ve been
staying away. Life is suddenly being
seen in the canals of Venice, Italy again.
Buildings once obscured by pollution are visible again. We are seeing the results of what our actions
can look like if we turn them positive.
This virus has given us a reason.
Put the words and anger away. I, for
one, will try, and will look to embrace those in this crisis whom I can assist. I encourage everyone to do the same, because
viruses do not discriminate – only humans do.
I wish you health, safety and strength during this time. And if you need a neighbor, my family and I
are here.
