Getting ready for vacation, packing, making lists of the things I don't want to forget, I suddenly realized that I was forgetting something really important for our trip. I was forgetting a book. I love to have something really good to read, something that will make the miles just fade away. So while we were at church for one thing or another, we checked out the church library. The kids love it because it is cozy and comfortable. I love it because I know that there is nothing inappropriate for my kids there. So while I was looking around, I saw a book that I had seen a million times. And finally I picked it up.
I am reading "Pigs at the Trough" by Arianna Huffington. I usually am not an Arianna Huffington fan, and usually disagree with her take on politics and the world in general. And I believe that that was one reason I avoided picking up the book for so long. But now that I have, it is almost impossible to put down. Which means I will probably have it read before we leave in the morning.
It is a non-fiction, also not really my preferred style of reading. It is the story of corporate greed in America. It is a story of how CEO's that have no idea how to run a company, and have in fact run several in to the ground, are continually rehired by company after company after company, with huge compensation packages, and run those into the ground as well. Not only do they run them into the ground, laying off thousands of workers in the process and contributng to the downfall of our economy, but they are very well paid, and keep most, if not all of their benefits.
And when I say benefits, I mean serious benefits. Some CEOs are guaranteed life time insurance, use of company jets, bonuses, stock options, and a salary that is equivalent of their working salary. And those salaries have grown over well over 100% between 1990 and today. How many of our salaries have grown 10%? Not many that I know.
And it's not like they really do much to earn that type of compensation. They do a horrible job (Enron ring a bell anybody?) and are still expecting compensation. If we do a horrible job, we get the boot and no benefits, sometimes not even unemployment. How does this happen? It's all tied into Wall Street and politicians and being friends with the compensation committee.
And not to sound like I am on the side of the CEO, because if you know me you know I am not, but somebody signed at these companies and said this was ok. Somebody OKed these deals and is allowing this to happen. Whether it is the compensation committee or the board or the stockholders, somebody said it was alright to pay these guys. I want to be friends with them.
We all know what is going on with the economy today. We know that the big automotive companies are asking for a bailout. And the ripple effect of the companies shutting their doors and closing down are huge and far reaching. Millions of people that are not employed by these companies, but depend on their workers to make a living are going to go down a rough, ugly road. And who knows where that collapse will lead. But again, why did they show up in personal jets?
One comment was, "I am very busy and need to be places." Really? That's your excuse. Again a question, "Why don't you cut your salaries to $1 a year." Again, a response, "I think I'm good where I'm at." No kidding. I would be great pulling in an eight figure salary as well, maybe nine with benefits. Meanwhile, to cut costs, instead of looking in the mirror and starting at the top, they continue to close factories and lay people off. How do you earn a salary from a company that doesn't exist?
And I do not know anyone that wanted to bail out the banks. I understand that the implications are far reaching and could cause our financial system to be owned by foreign investors, but did the current administration think about that when they put us into such incredible debt? When we have to borrow money to fund our government or we collapse why is that a good thing?
And then the banks still want to pay out bonuses to their top executives, who once again under performed. Hello, your bank collapsed. What was your first clue that those bonuses were undeserved? If you are at the helm and your bank loses so much money they need a bailout from the politicians that are apparently in their back pocket, you still get a bonus? I want that job. And how fair is that to us, the little people, that have to pay for that? Because you know that when all is said and done, the CEOs and executives at those banks don't pay taxes to pay for anything.
Yes, I know. The top so many percent pay the most taxes. Sure they do, when they aren't hiding their money in false shipments of art, setting up off shore accounts, and claiming citizenship and corporate head quarters in places like Bermuda, which the IRS says is legal, yet denies this country a much needed inflow of $$$$. Bullshit.
So, needless to say, this book has me pretty wired. I am so angry that more people aren't angry. I am angry that more people either aren't aware of the situation or don't care. You should care. This is our economy and our country that is being shoved down the tubes by the one thing that all people feel at one time or another-GREED. When is enough, well, enough?
Think about the things that you are greedy about. Money, time, food, video games, whatever. I feel greedy about certain things. I am not very good at sharing chocolate. Or time alone with my husband and my family. And I am greedy about so many other things. But I don't earn an eight figure salary that I don't work for, or destroy a company for. That doesn't make it different. It just means the finger of blame is pointing somewhere else.
So I would recommend that you read "The Pigs at the Trough" if you want to know more about corporate greed and the things that are causing our great country to stumble on the path to greatness. Read it with an open mind. And if you get fired up like I did, let me know. And let others know, specially our elected representatives.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Politeness
We had a church night at a local restaurant last night. The youth at our church were doing a fundraiser. I showed up with the kids about five last night and hubby joined us later. He was coming from work and had a little further to drive than we did. But we ordered and food got to our table as he got to our table.
When the hostess seated us she took our drink orders and handed us our menus and was very polite. All the kids said "Thank you" as she handed out menus and said "Please" when she took their drink orders. I was so proud of them. That is something that we have worked on with our kids from the time they started speaking.
It is very important to us that our children learn to be polite. It seems to be a lost art. So many people don't emphasize it in their homes. But don't you feel better when someone says please or thank you? I do. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling that makes me smile. And a smile is a wonderful thing.
The hostess last night said her mother had read Dear Abby for years. A woman had written in and said that "your welcome" was an inappropriate response to thank you. It should actually be "my pleasure". And of course that got my brain spinning. Your right, it doesn't really stop spinning, sometimes it's just faster or slower.
I think she may be right. I know that "thank you" came from "thanks be to you". But I don't know where "your welcome" came from. I like the thought behind "my pleasure". Like it really was a pleasure to do something for someone else. I like the sentiment behind that.
It's not always easy to be polite if you've never been taught to be polite. It feels uncomfortable. But it gets easier the more you do it. And easier. And then it's part of who you are. And it starts to feel weird when you don't do it. Before you know it, people all around you are being polite. What kind of trend is that to start? It's a fabulous trend to start.
2 Corinthians 9:7 says "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." This is in the parable about the widow who gives her last two mites for the glory of God. But we can take that one step further and give of ourselves. Isn't that our most prized possession? We can put on a happy face and one step in front of the other and let our manners shine.
I challenge you all to say please and thank you and your welcome and my pleasure for one week. See how many strange looks you get, but also see how the people around you might start to change just a little. Maybe you can put a chink in a little armor this week.
It's time to start school now. But, thank you for reading.
When the hostess seated us she took our drink orders and handed us our menus and was very polite. All the kids said "Thank you" as she handed out menus and said "Please" when she took their drink orders. I was so proud of them. That is something that we have worked on with our kids from the time they started speaking.
It is very important to us that our children learn to be polite. It seems to be a lost art. So many people don't emphasize it in their homes. But don't you feel better when someone says please or thank you? I do. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling that makes me smile. And a smile is a wonderful thing.
The hostess last night said her mother had read Dear Abby for years. A woman had written in and said that "your welcome" was an inappropriate response to thank you. It should actually be "my pleasure". And of course that got my brain spinning. Your right, it doesn't really stop spinning, sometimes it's just faster or slower.
I think she may be right. I know that "thank you" came from "thanks be to you". But I don't know where "your welcome" came from. I like the thought behind "my pleasure". Like it really was a pleasure to do something for someone else. I like the sentiment behind that.
It's not always easy to be polite if you've never been taught to be polite. It feels uncomfortable. But it gets easier the more you do it. And easier. And then it's part of who you are. And it starts to feel weird when you don't do it. Before you know it, people all around you are being polite. What kind of trend is that to start? It's a fabulous trend to start.
2 Corinthians 9:7 says "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." This is in the parable about the widow who gives her last two mites for the glory of God. But we can take that one step further and give of ourselves. Isn't that our most prized possession? We can put on a happy face and one step in front of the other and let our manners shine.
I challenge you all to say please and thank you and your welcome and my pleasure for one week. See how many strange looks you get, but also see how the people around you might start to change just a little. Maybe you can put a chink in a little armor this week.
It's time to start school now. But, thank you for reading.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Crud Monkeys
To quote the adorable boy that lives in my home and I call son, "Crud monkeys." When we fuck up as a country, we really fuck up. I am not happy about the choice of our new President. I know some of you are, but this is my blog and I feel the need to get on my high horse.
I cannot stand politics. All of the "I will do this" and "I will do that" is a bunch of shit from those aforementioned crud monkeys. He can't do a thing without the consent of Congress, which is another issue entirely. It was set up that way so the President would not have absolute authority, making this a dictatorship or a monarchy. If he had said "with the aide of Congress" that would have made it more like a team effort, as it should be, and more true. I think that would motivate Congress to live up to their end of the bargain.
And for the sake of all, he is half black. To me, to consider him as strictly African-American is a misnomer at the very least, but also a denial of his heritage. He was raised by white relatives after all. Once again, people are celebrating for the wrong reason. They should be celebrating because a highly qualified candidate was chosen to lead this country. I don't feel like that happened either. I prefer to vote for the person that I think is the most highly qualified to run our country and lead us to better times for the whole country. To me, it is more about voting for the someone who is an outstanding leader that will defend and protect this country and it's citizens as opposed to who is what race. We are constantly asked to forgo the consideration of race, but that didn't happen in one of the most important elections of our time.
The broadcasters of several programs last night kept bringing up slavery. I do not know anyone that was forcibly removed from their hut in Africa, put on a ship for weeks or even months, then sold at public auction to a plantation owner to do manual labor for free. Can we get over it? Once again, let's not bring race into it, yet it was a huge part of the focus last night.
Did anyone see "The Pursuit of Happyness"? That was a great movie. It proved the point that hard work will take you far. He raised a son while homeless, living in a bathroom at the subway station or where ever he could find to lay his head. He worked hard and became successful. Here's the point: he worked hard. He was a black man that worked every day, no matter his circumstances to provide for his family.
I could care less that about his skin color. If he were purple with bright green spots, I would not have voted for him if I did not think he was qualified to be President. I will not tell you who I voted for. After all there were 12 people on my ballot. And a spot for a write in.
And to say "I will never lie to you". That is such a great sentiment, yet untrue. Let's chalk up another lie and he hasn't even been sworn in. He hasn't heard the phrase "plausible deniability"?Of course he's going to lie to us. He's a politician. If he can be on Oprah and tell her and her millions of viewers that when he decides to run for President he will announce it on her show, and then not, he can tell us anything he wants to. That has been a huge pet peeve of mine from the beginning. I do not like being lied to, whether from him or friends or family or the clerk at the grocery store.
There were some things in this election that went right. I feel like voting out one of Senators that has represented the state of Florida for many years will be a refreshing change. When your staff is voted "most beautiful", something seems a little off to me. If you can leave your sick wife who is losing her sight and hearing, and let her raise the kids alone while this is happening, then marry a 23 year old staffer, something is wrong with your sense of right and wrong to begin with.
I was upset to see that the marriage amendment passed. I voted a big, fat NO. I think that we are better served by letting love rule than basing who can marry by what sex they are. There certainly isn't enough love in this world to begin with. It seems that spreading love would make this a great world to live in. But, like my friend Scott said, maybe one day. Maybe one day we will all wake up and see that we are better served by loving and accepting each other. And the money spent in California could have helped so many more people than it did. It sure paid for a lot of trees to die. What about starving people? And missionaries that are working with less than nothing? And sickness that could be controlled by digging wells that only cost $5,000 to dig and provide safe, clean water? And the horrible healthcare crisis that could be served by free or at cost clinics?
It's done now. I can't change it, and neither can anyone else. We will see what our new President can and will do. I am praying for a stable economy, low gas prices, peace over seas, our troops coming home safely, lower grocery prices, better managing of our lands and governments, and a pony. No wait, strike the pony. That's just more crap I'd have to shovel.
I will go into the next four years hoping that the greatness of this country will return. I will be praying that our new man can live up to his promises and not drive us further into a hole. I will open my mind and my eyes and do my part to make this a country that we can be proud of. Ranting over. Cowboying up now.
I cannot stand politics. All of the "I will do this" and "I will do that" is a bunch of shit from those aforementioned crud monkeys. He can't do a thing without the consent of Congress, which is another issue entirely. It was set up that way so the President would not have absolute authority, making this a dictatorship or a monarchy. If he had said "with the aide of Congress" that would have made it more like a team effort, as it should be, and more true. I think that would motivate Congress to live up to their end of the bargain.
And for the sake of all, he is half black. To me, to consider him as strictly African-American is a misnomer at the very least, but also a denial of his heritage. He was raised by white relatives after all. Once again, people are celebrating for the wrong reason. They should be celebrating because a highly qualified candidate was chosen to lead this country. I don't feel like that happened either. I prefer to vote for the person that I think is the most highly qualified to run our country and lead us to better times for the whole country. To me, it is more about voting for the someone who is an outstanding leader that will defend and protect this country and it's citizens as opposed to who is what race. We are constantly asked to forgo the consideration of race, but that didn't happen in one of the most important elections of our time.
The broadcasters of several programs last night kept bringing up slavery. I do not know anyone that was forcibly removed from their hut in Africa, put on a ship for weeks or even months, then sold at public auction to a plantation owner to do manual labor for free. Can we get over it? Once again, let's not bring race into it, yet it was a huge part of the focus last night.
Did anyone see "The Pursuit of Happyness"? That was a great movie. It proved the point that hard work will take you far. He raised a son while homeless, living in a bathroom at the subway station or where ever he could find to lay his head. He worked hard and became successful. Here's the point: he worked hard. He was a black man that worked every day, no matter his circumstances to provide for his family.
I could care less that about his skin color. If he were purple with bright green spots, I would not have voted for him if I did not think he was qualified to be President. I will not tell you who I voted for. After all there were 12 people on my ballot. And a spot for a write in.
And to say "I will never lie to you". That is such a great sentiment, yet untrue. Let's chalk up another lie and he hasn't even been sworn in. He hasn't heard the phrase "plausible deniability"?Of course he's going to lie to us. He's a politician. If he can be on Oprah and tell her and her millions of viewers that when he decides to run for President he will announce it on her show, and then not, he can tell us anything he wants to. That has been a huge pet peeve of mine from the beginning. I do not like being lied to, whether from him or friends or family or the clerk at the grocery store.
There were some things in this election that went right. I feel like voting out one of Senators that has represented the state of Florida for many years will be a refreshing change. When your staff is voted "most beautiful", something seems a little off to me. If you can leave your sick wife who is losing her sight and hearing, and let her raise the kids alone while this is happening, then marry a 23 year old staffer, something is wrong with your sense of right and wrong to begin with.
I was upset to see that the marriage amendment passed. I voted a big, fat NO. I think that we are better served by letting love rule than basing who can marry by what sex they are. There certainly isn't enough love in this world to begin with. It seems that spreading love would make this a great world to live in. But, like my friend Scott said, maybe one day. Maybe one day we will all wake up and see that we are better served by loving and accepting each other. And the money spent in California could have helped so many more people than it did. It sure paid for a lot of trees to die. What about starving people? And missionaries that are working with less than nothing? And sickness that could be controlled by digging wells that only cost $5,000 to dig and provide safe, clean water? And the horrible healthcare crisis that could be served by free or at cost clinics?
It's done now. I can't change it, and neither can anyone else. We will see what our new President can and will do. I am praying for a stable economy, low gas prices, peace over seas, our troops coming home safely, lower grocery prices, better managing of our lands and governments, and a pony. No wait, strike the pony. That's just more crap I'd have to shovel.
I will go into the next four years hoping that the greatness of this country will return. I will be praying that our new man can live up to his promises and not drive us further into a hole. I will open my mind and my eyes and do my part to make this a country that we can be proud of. Ranting over. Cowboying up now.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Bible and Other Quandries
For those of you that follow this blog, and for those of you that are new, I am a Christian. I have not always been one. For many years, and specially after the death of a very close friend, I decided that there was a something, but I didn't know what that something was. For many years, I viewed God as Milton Berle in a dress. Some of you may remember Unle Milty doing that, but I can no longer remember the characters name. But that was how I thought of God. Then I met my husband.
The circumstances under which we met, my almost zero faith in a creator, and a very low self esteem after a very verbally abusive 5 1/2 year relationship all headed up in a bar one night. I realized very quickly that my husband had been brought to me not by mere circumstance, but by design. But that is a history lesson for another time. And after 11 years of marriage and family, we decided that it was time to get ourselves and our family to church. We have a fantastic church family that has been very supportive of our family and our endeavors. But again, I digress.
I am unlike many Christians. Of course, I am unlike almost any one else you may meet. I think that the church should stay out of politics, and get back to the business of spreading the word of God and the love of Christ. I also think that we need to let God judge the actions of people and not us. Does that mean that I don't judge people? No. It means that I am human, just like every one else. But here are some of the issues that I have that contradict my faith.
I have opinions about abortion. I know several people that have had them, some more than one. I should say now that I am pro-choice, which is unusual for most Christians. You will never find me standing outside a clinic that offers abortions holding those horrific signs that are intended to scare the dickens out of pregnant women who no longer want to be that way. Here's how I think we would be better suited to help them- PRAY.
It is not for me to decide how any one else will live their life. It is not for me to decide if someone is going to Heaven or hell. I will never walk in anyone else's shoes. I will never breathe their air or think their thoughts. Most days I have an issue reading my own thoughts. They will face our Creator and He will judge them. He will judge their actions, thoughts, deeds, and words. It is not my business to do that. But I will pray that they do the right thing, whatever that right thing may be for them. That sounds a little cooky, but that's me.
Psalm 139 says that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." We are. We are decided on and created in the eyes of God before we are even in the womb. And God knows our actions and thoughts and words before they are ever known to us. And it is for us to use our free will to make the right decision. Would I ever make that for any one else, or presume to know what the right decision is for them? No. I am a better servant to them by praying for them and asking God to guide their lives.
Did you know that there is homosexuality in the bible? Scholars may disagree and know the history and the customs of the time, and I don't. But if you read the following two passages, it sounds like King David and his friend Jonathan were very close. 1 Samuel 19:41 says: "As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so." David was with his friend Jonathan, whose father, Saul, was trying to kill David. There is more to the story, but there is also another passage.
2 Samuel 1:26 states: "I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: You have been very pleasant to me: Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women." David had just found out that Jonathan had died and had written a song for him. The last line is what really gets me. So many people are quick to point out that homosexuality is wrong and sinful, yet here are two examples of men loving each other. Platonic? It doesn't sound that way to me.
But what about King David? He was a very sinful man. When he fell in love with Bathsheba, he had her husband sent to the war front to make sure that he would be killed. He wanted her all to himself and couldn't have her as long as she was married. He also cursed Abigail's husband so that he would die. And he did. Then David was free to marry her as well. So he wasn't a saint. But was he gay? I don't know. What I do know is that we are all made in the image of God. God knows what is destined for our life before we are ever formed in the womb. Don't you think he knows that some people are going to be homosexual?
Many churches have opened their doors and welcomed gay men and women into their congregations with open arms. These are the churches that show the love of Christ to other people. These are the churches that show that not all Christians are pushing their own agenda, but pushing the agenda of God. Aren't we supposed to love all people?
Want to know the difference between someone who is gay and someone who is not? There isn't one. We all have thoughts and actions and words and deeds that are judged by someone higher and greater than us. And we will all be judged using the same standards. And what are those standards? Only God knows that.
I very rarely agree with the political agenda of "Super Christians". I think that the bible thumping, shove it down your throat Christians have given the rest of us a bad name. People see that you are a Christian and all of a sudden, we are held to a higher standard. Is that reasonable? Maybe, maybe not. While we are judging other people, we are being judged ourselves. How many times have you been cut off by someone driving a car with a Jesus bumper sticker? Makes you wonder what church function they are late for, doesn't it? Then they cut somebody else off pulling into the parking lot of the liquor store. They must not be Baptist.
Politics is such a minefield any way. Let's leave religion out of it. Isn't it hard enough to figure out where all the candidates stand without wondering who's pushing for their own religious agenda. Joyce Meyer says, "Jesus didn't die so we could have a religion. He died so we can have a deep, meaningful relationship with God."
When we are in public as a family, we pray before we eat. It used to make us uncomfortable. We felt like people were staring at us, pointing fingers. And they may have been. But we don't care anymore. We try to treat people with respect. We say please and thank you and leave a good tip for our server. We say thank you when a new drink comes, or a dirty plate gets taken away. My children are treated especially well, because they are polite. Many have commented on the fact that manners are so lacking in our society and what a fantastic thing it is to see some children using them. Do I have perfect children? No!!!!! But they model the behavior that they are shown.
People are people. We all make mistakes, we all put our pants on one leg at a time, and no one person is better than the next. I say let's just all spend some time getting to know each other, and treating each other with love and kindness. What a great place to live that would be!
The circumstances under which we met, my almost zero faith in a creator, and a very low self esteem after a very verbally abusive 5 1/2 year relationship all headed up in a bar one night. I realized very quickly that my husband had been brought to me not by mere circumstance, but by design. But that is a history lesson for another time. And after 11 years of marriage and family, we decided that it was time to get ourselves and our family to church. We have a fantastic church family that has been very supportive of our family and our endeavors. But again, I digress.
I am unlike many Christians. Of course, I am unlike almost any one else you may meet. I think that the church should stay out of politics, and get back to the business of spreading the word of God and the love of Christ. I also think that we need to let God judge the actions of people and not us. Does that mean that I don't judge people? No. It means that I am human, just like every one else. But here are some of the issues that I have that contradict my faith.
I have opinions about abortion. I know several people that have had them, some more than one. I should say now that I am pro-choice, which is unusual for most Christians. You will never find me standing outside a clinic that offers abortions holding those horrific signs that are intended to scare the dickens out of pregnant women who no longer want to be that way. Here's how I think we would be better suited to help them- PRAY.
It is not for me to decide how any one else will live their life. It is not for me to decide if someone is going to Heaven or hell. I will never walk in anyone else's shoes. I will never breathe their air or think their thoughts. Most days I have an issue reading my own thoughts. They will face our Creator and He will judge them. He will judge their actions, thoughts, deeds, and words. It is not my business to do that. But I will pray that they do the right thing, whatever that right thing may be for them. That sounds a little cooky, but that's me.
Psalm 139 says that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." We are. We are decided on and created in the eyes of God before we are even in the womb. And God knows our actions and thoughts and words before they are ever known to us. And it is for us to use our free will to make the right decision. Would I ever make that for any one else, or presume to know what the right decision is for them? No. I am a better servant to them by praying for them and asking God to guide their lives.
Did you know that there is homosexuality in the bible? Scholars may disagree and know the history and the customs of the time, and I don't. But if you read the following two passages, it sounds like King David and his friend Jonathan were very close. 1 Samuel 19:41 says: "As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so." David was with his friend Jonathan, whose father, Saul, was trying to kill David. There is more to the story, but there is also another passage.
2 Samuel 1:26 states: "I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: You have been very pleasant to me: Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women." David had just found out that Jonathan had died and had written a song for him. The last line is what really gets me. So many people are quick to point out that homosexuality is wrong and sinful, yet here are two examples of men loving each other. Platonic? It doesn't sound that way to me.
But what about King David? He was a very sinful man. When he fell in love with Bathsheba, he had her husband sent to the war front to make sure that he would be killed. He wanted her all to himself and couldn't have her as long as she was married. He also cursed Abigail's husband so that he would die. And he did. Then David was free to marry her as well. So he wasn't a saint. But was he gay? I don't know. What I do know is that we are all made in the image of God. God knows what is destined for our life before we are ever formed in the womb. Don't you think he knows that some people are going to be homosexual?
Many churches have opened their doors and welcomed gay men and women into their congregations with open arms. These are the churches that show the love of Christ to other people. These are the churches that show that not all Christians are pushing their own agenda, but pushing the agenda of God. Aren't we supposed to love all people?
Want to know the difference between someone who is gay and someone who is not? There isn't one. We all have thoughts and actions and words and deeds that are judged by someone higher and greater than us. And we will all be judged using the same standards. And what are those standards? Only God knows that.
I very rarely agree with the political agenda of "Super Christians". I think that the bible thumping, shove it down your throat Christians have given the rest of us a bad name. People see that you are a Christian and all of a sudden, we are held to a higher standard. Is that reasonable? Maybe, maybe not. While we are judging other people, we are being judged ourselves. How many times have you been cut off by someone driving a car with a Jesus bumper sticker? Makes you wonder what church function they are late for, doesn't it? Then they cut somebody else off pulling into the parking lot of the liquor store. They must not be Baptist.
Politics is such a minefield any way. Let's leave religion out of it. Isn't it hard enough to figure out where all the candidates stand without wondering who's pushing for their own religious agenda. Joyce Meyer says, "Jesus didn't die so we could have a religion. He died so we can have a deep, meaningful relationship with God."
When we are in public as a family, we pray before we eat. It used to make us uncomfortable. We felt like people were staring at us, pointing fingers. And they may have been. But we don't care anymore. We try to treat people with respect. We say please and thank you and leave a good tip for our server. We say thank you when a new drink comes, or a dirty plate gets taken away. My children are treated especially well, because they are polite. Many have commented on the fact that manners are so lacking in our society and what a fantastic thing it is to see some children using them. Do I have perfect children? No!!!!! But they model the behavior that they are shown.
People are people. We all make mistakes, we all put our pants on one leg at a time, and no one person is better than the next. I say let's just all spend some time getting to know each other, and treating each other with love and kindness. What a great place to live that would be!
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