No Apologizes
My intentions are not to offend anyone. If you find yourself between the lines of my comments, rants and blog posts, know I am rarely singling out anyone, and that it’s unconscious. I don’t have friends in mind when I write, and if I do, it’s typically to mention something positive and uplifting. As most of you already know, I often have passionate non-polarizing points of view, and I make no apologizes for the latter. None!
Sensitive topics for me are religion, human rights and social, political and environmental issues. By no means do these interests define me. However, it’s important I share my perspectives because they have merit, and just like everyone else – my opinions matter, perhaps not to everyone. However, for the right person who agrees, our voices become stronger, which I’m hopeful will be instrumental in that push for change – 'real' change, that is so desperately needed.
In our own individualistic way, we are all crying out for help. Some of us are more outspoken than others, but body language, 'likes' to certain Facebook posts, etc… tell me all I need to know about my friends, and more importantly – the human condition.
I see an activist in all of us. You don’t have to be 'Norma Rae' (I’ve just dated myself), but people can’t continue to walk around throwing their hands up in the air chanting, "What do we do?!," and one must never, ever not exercise his/her right to vote. That last election was abysmal. It was a disgrace! To certain people, and you know who you are, "Why didn’t you vote?" There is no excuse.
Regardless, if you’re a Republican or Democrat, White, or Black or somewhere in between – we all lost. When corporations make the rules, when people are denied equal rights or the right to vote, or when politicians put their needs above the average citizen – that’s a real problem, a deal breaker. Politician salaries and benefits should be enough to make anyone angry – mad as hornets! I want term limits, too! To add fuel to the fire, they have no problem sending young men and women off to war, but when they return, it’s anyone’s guess if these soldiers will get the help they need and deserve as veterans! That’s criminal! Get angry, America!
We might not see eye-to-eye, but I respect the First Amendment and have even more respect for humanity when we say/do the right thing, because when it comes down to it – we are all in this together. We are all the same! Sadly, so many are too blind to see, spending more time living off of sound bites and innuendo, while thriving on a heavy load of hypocrisy. That’s the real issue of why we can’t get along or solve our problems. There are too many egotistical, self-absorbed hypocrites spreading messages laced with fear, and the average Joe buys into it every time because of ignorance passed down from one generation to the next. I can’t say this enough, THINK FOR YOURSELF!
For the devout, my inclination has never been to berate your dogma. It has a place in our society, but castigating souls into submission, all in the name of your faith is wrong. It’s always been my understanding faith was meant to lift spirits high, higher, highest.
In this day and age, there are way too many religious cults. Stop attacking Islam and worry about your own misplaced heart. Do you want to save someone? Really save someone?! Save yourself, and the easiest way to do that is by thinking for yourself (it would help if you did less judging, too). Your God would approve. We also need to tax the churches, giving that money to the needy and poor. (I don’t know about you, but when I am done paying my bills, I got no money for Jesus.)
What is this post really about? Facebook! My Facebook page is just that – my page, and it’s important to me, and I will not be censored. If you really look at it, not my words or photographs, but just look at the architecture of the page, you’ll learn a great deal about what keeps me thriving. There is nothing phony here. What you see is what you get!
You’ll learn I am a very structured and organized man who cares about order, style and purpose. I am compulsive, a tad obsessive and a bit enigmatic. Again, no apologizes. It’s taken me a long, long time to get here, to find my voice, but I found it, and every label I wear I wear proudly for the entire world to see.
Also know, I always put myself on the list. You need to do the same, because in this day and age, people really aren’t into martyrs anymore. I’m not! Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again. You must!
I am no stranger to challenge, defeat and triumph. At times, it’s cyclical, but I take it all in stride and, like the next person, I pray in earnest for positive outcomes, and I keep moving. That’s key!
For some, my life looks a certain way. Make no mistake, I don’t always have my shit together, but I know who I am and the one thing I have never lost sight of, and what I preach often and what I’ll continue to preach… Love thyself, first and foremost!
Love yourself enough to go that extra mile (powerful words, and my words of wisdom from lessons learned). If you get anything from that statement allow it be this… Tomorrow is a new day, and anything is impossible, and if you need a God to get you to that next level, allow him/her to lead the way, but don’t shun, judge or belittle anyone who doesn’t subscribe to your faith, because yours is not the only one to lead the way. I think your God would be totally cool with you thinking for yourself. I absolutely believe in the power of prayer, but more than anything I just believe in the human spirit, and that’s good enough.
To the Facebook friend who feels threatened by my rhetoric, especially as it pertains to my causes, please don’t make threats to unfriend me – just do it! My sister-in-law, a born again Christian, unfriended me. She does that periodically. I have tried to extend an olive branch to my family, but their Fundamentalist mentality doesn’t create the most cohesive environment for us to thrive, and I am cool with that… so cool! It actually makes my life a whole lot easier because I have some of the best friends in the world and many of them are people of faith, go figure. It must be said, to drop me because of religious convictions speaks volumes about your relationship with God. You’re clearly not secure in your faith.
Continue Reading
Sensitive topics for me are religion, human rights and social, political and environmental issues. By no means do these interests define me. However, it’s important I share my perspectives because they have merit, and just like everyone else – my opinions matter, perhaps not to everyone. However, for the right person who agrees, our voices become stronger, which I’m hopeful will be instrumental in that push for change – 'real' change, that is so desperately needed.
In our own individualistic way, we are all crying out for help. Some of us are more outspoken than others, but body language, 'likes' to certain Facebook posts, etc… tell me all I need to know about my friends, and more importantly – the human condition.
I see an activist in all of us. You don’t have to be 'Norma Rae' (I’ve just dated myself), but people can’t continue to walk around throwing their hands up in the air chanting, "What do we do?!," and one must never, ever not exercise his/her right to vote. That last election was abysmal. It was a disgrace! To certain people, and you know who you are, "Why didn’t you vote?" There is no excuse.
Regardless, if you’re a Republican or Democrat, White, or Black or somewhere in between – we all lost. When corporations make the rules, when people are denied equal rights or the right to vote, or when politicians put their needs above the average citizen – that’s a real problem, a deal breaker. Politician salaries and benefits should be enough to make anyone angry – mad as hornets! I want term limits, too! To add fuel to the fire, they have no problem sending young men and women off to war, but when they return, it’s anyone’s guess if these soldiers will get the help they need and deserve as veterans! That’s criminal! Get angry, America!
We might not see eye-to-eye, but I respect the First Amendment and have even more respect for humanity when we say/do the right thing, because when it comes down to it – we are all in this together. We are all the same! Sadly, so many are too blind to see, spending more time living off of sound bites and innuendo, while thriving on a heavy load of hypocrisy. That’s the real issue of why we can’t get along or solve our problems. There are too many egotistical, self-absorbed hypocrites spreading messages laced with fear, and the average Joe buys into it every time because of ignorance passed down from one generation to the next. I can’t say this enough, THINK FOR YOURSELF!
For the devout, my inclination has never been to berate your dogma. It has a place in our society, but castigating souls into submission, all in the name of your faith is wrong. It’s always been my understanding faith was meant to lift spirits high, higher, highest.
In this day and age, there are way too many religious cults. Stop attacking Islam and worry about your own misplaced heart. Do you want to save someone? Really save someone?! Save yourself, and the easiest way to do that is by thinking for yourself (it would help if you did less judging, too). Your God would approve. We also need to tax the churches, giving that money to the needy and poor. (I don’t know about you, but when I am done paying my bills, I got no money for Jesus.)
What is this post really about? Facebook! My Facebook page is just that – my page, and it’s important to me, and I will not be censored. If you really look at it, not my words or photographs, but just look at the architecture of the page, you’ll learn a great deal about what keeps me thriving. There is nothing phony here. What you see is what you get!
You’ll learn I am a very structured and organized man who cares about order, style and purpose. I am compulsive, a tad obsessive and a bit enigmatic. Again, no apologizes. It’s taken me a long, long time to get here, to find my voice, but I found it, and every label I wear I wear proudly for the entire world to see.
Also know, I always put myself on the list. You need to do the same, because in this day and age, people really aren’t into martyrs anymore. I’m not! Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again. You must!
I am no stranger to challenge, defeat and triumph. At times, it’s cyclical, but I take it all in stride and, like the next person, I pray in earnest for positive outcomes, and I keep moving. That’s key!
For some, my life looks a certain way. Make no mistake, I don’t always have my shit together, but I know who I am and the one thing I have never lost sight of, and what I preach often and what I’ll continue to preach… Love thyself, first and foremost!
Love yourself enough to go that extra mile (powerful words, and my words of wisdom from lessons learned). If you get anything from that statement allow it be this… Tomorrow is a new day, and anything is impossible, and if you need a God to get you to that next level, allow him/her to lead the way, but don’t shun, judge or belittle anyone who doesn’t subscribe to your faith, because yours is not the only one to lead the way. I think your God would be totally cool with you thinking for yourself. I absolutely believe in the power of prayer, but more than anything I just believe in the human spirit, and that’s good enough.
To the Facebook friend who feels threatened by my rhetoric, especially as it pertains to my causes, please don’t make threats to unfriend me – just do it! My sister-in-law, a born again Christian, unfriended me. She does that periodically. I have tried to extend an olive branch to my family, but their Fundamentalist mentality doesn’t create the most cohesive environment for us to thrive, and I am cool with that… so cool! It actually makes my life a whole lot easier because I have some of the best friends in the world and many of them are people of faith, go figure. It must be said, to drop me because of religious convictions speaks volumes about your relationship with God. You’re clearly not secure in your faith.
Continue Reading
