TONE

September 1, 2016

Tone!  

This is it, exactly. Exactly! The tone of hate and fear and the tone of reason and love are diametrically opposed. The looks on the faces of the tangerine tide supporters says it one way. The tone of voice and demeanor I feel in Biden and the Prez says something clearly. Turn off the sound and watch the candidates. That speaks volumes! 

Somehow related, The Three Stooges are revived on 2.2 and one can watch with the sound off and the essence of their wild brand of humor works fine.  The chaotic tone and crazy antics speak for themselves.

Little dust ups with FB folks about the National Anthem bruhaha bring comments out of the woodwork.  The sad thing is that  shallow thinking (at least to me) trumps reason.  

Having just finished reading "Under the Banner of Heaven" by Jon Krakauer, one can see  how indoctrination and influence in religion from early childhood or from extreme beliefs can make us truly believe in just about anything.  The murder of a woman and her baby by a radicalized Mormon man is the crux of the story.  It doesn't paint with a broad brush, but one realizes that the strong faith of the LDS folks who are true to their religion and then, those who go off to become their own prophets can beget some scary individuals.  

This all comes back to the business of famous people making statements of conscience, like SF 49ers Colin Kaepernick's not standing for the National Anthem and zealots of many stripes lashing out at his making his 'statement.'  Name calling and recalling the deaths of those who fight and die in wars reeks of jingoistic clap trap, to me.  But, of course, I come from a place that seems reasonable to me: not to condemn political statements but to allow that there's no accounting for taste or religion or politics, except to say.. they come from somewhere and it is only with critical thinking that we may come around to some acceptable version of  truth and understanding.  

If we become entrenched in our Beliefs.. that entrenchment may eradicate any attempt to find Reason?  I don't have to make someone wrong to feel that what I think is okay.  However, when I hear the 'tone' of some folks who may disagree with what I think, it makes a difference in my reaction.  

Only a little over sixty six days until the face of the world will change. The Election! Its exhilarating and frightening all at the same time. 

 That's all the politics that will show up here from now on... I hope! 

michael sheehan

September 1, 2016