HOME ON THE RANGE.

January 29, 2017

My window to the outside world turns mostly on the stuff I read on Facebook.  Television news is in the mix and the mixture of the two is disturbing.  Rather than spouting off about the current surreal situation that is happening to the United States on FB where the choir is mostly in harmony, I'm going to spout off here and hope it goes a little further. 

It's about disparaging words.  "Home, home on the range.. where never is heard a disparaging word.."

Of course, the skies really are cloudy all day with the pall of unimaginable events unfolding daily, but I'm hoping to calm the waters by asking that we use more simple terms to refer to the president. Disparaging words tend to rile up his supporters.   

I think that sounding off about what's going on is a good idea. Gatherings to show our support of the good stuff that should be happening are very important.   Taking it to the streets, to me, should also be to mourn for our democracy.   Seeing thousands of folks with candles or even just standing as we did years ago and singing "All we are saying.. is give peace a chance." 
Silence speaks volumes, too. 

Anger is our fire.  Reason finds a way to keep it in check enough to stay peaceful.   

How can those of us in the popular vote majority find ways to embrace moderate others who may now be seeing the error of this election? Disparaging #45 with angry words stokes the fires of those who support him.  It's like insulting someone's mother.  

I truly believe that we may be wired to be predisposed one way or another: right or left.  Of course, upbringing and education may bend our wires, and some folks get bent all the way right or left.  That may account for the division in our country.. wiring and education or lack of it.  Bottom line is that there must be people who are not driven all the way red or blue. How can we find that purple zone to save us from ourselves?

I've written to Senator John McCain with the hope that the recent meme I've seen that disparages torture may mean that he sees what is happening and may be able to draw other Republicans to stop the madness that is currently ripping our Republic to shreds. 

Can letters to senators make a difference?  All I can do is to make an effort.  This from politico.com:

Sen. John McCain on Wednesday vowed to stand against reported efforts by President Donald Trump to ease limits on the treatment of suspected terrorists in U.S. custody, reminding Trump that Congress has passed an anti-torture law.
“The president can sign whatever executive orders he likes,” McCain said in a statement responding to a New York Times report that Trump has drafted an executive order paving the way for the return of George W. Bush-era detainee treatment standards. “But the law is the law. We are not bringing back torture in the United States of America.”

With all respect to FB 'friends,'  I hope we can calm the rhetoric and start finding positive ways to get the job of saving the nation done in a more peaceful way than is erupting with some angry people now.  Keep the fire burning, but let's not burn everything to the ground.

michaelsheehan

January 29, 2017

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