Getting Real and Then Backing Off

I try not to get involved in politics or other hot button issues.  I know what I believe, but I don't enjoy debating it with others.  I don't like to ruffle feathers.  I don't want to be challenged by those who don't agree with me and are mean about it.  For those reasons I usually sit back and post only about fun things and parenting issues.  Not as much pressure in my mind.

Today, though, I read an article a dear friend of mine posted on facebook.  My heart sank at first and I found myself in disbelief.  Then I became rather angry and in wonder as well.  I posted a little something on my facebook page in rebuttal to the article, but also felt like I wanted to address it further.

If you haven't taken that link yet, the article was to draw attention to a school board member in Arkansas who posted very inflammatory comments on his facebook page towards gays.  And that's putting it succinctly and mildly. 

Both on facebook and in real life I know, and am friends with, a variety of people.  I dare say most every corner of life comes close to being represented in my sphere of family and friends.  Democrats, Republicans, Independents, non-voters too.  Christians, Pagans, Jews.  And, yes, straight and gay. 

I'm proud that somehow I'm blessed to know all these people.  I'm thrilled that I can learn from, have fun with, and share life with any number of cultures.  And I just don't get why it's so hard for others to even imagine it. 

I don't understand.

There's that age old saying, "Why can't we all just get along?"  And I really want an answer.  What's so hard?  Why can't we get along?  Why can't my Jewish sister-in-law decorate a Christmas tree with both Christian and Jewish symbols?  Why can't my gay friend be the pianist at my Catholic wedding?  Why can't my public school teacher friends be excited for and helpful with my homeschooling journey?  Oh...we can.

We can.

We are.

We do.

And I don't think we're really all that special.  I mean, my sphere of friends is incredible.  But we're just human too.  Why is it that we can live and love and be and thrive...together, and some ignorant guy in Arkansas can't figure out how to bite his tongue.  I'm not even wondering why he feels the way he does or how to change it...just why can't people keep their mouths shut and give a little respect? 

OK.
I'm going to do that backing off now.  If you don't know me well and you're reading this it might appear that I'm not incensed, but I am.  In fact, my head is almost steaming because I'm so blown away by this stupidity.  But I don't want to write anything that might alienate.  That's never my intention.  Growth doesn't happen very well if people are pushed away.

So, here's what I was planning on blogging about today...Many years ago I acquired a fun book called 14,000 things to be happy about, by Barbara Ann Kipfer.  I don't remember if I bought it or it was given to me, but every so often I pick it up and read a few things.  It's basically 612 pages of things to be happy about.  Fascinating. 

After I picked it up this morning I thought I'd open it and copy a page for you to all be happy about.  So, here's page 386.

meat platters
Gothic novels
ice-cream store posters
Chantilly whipped cream
drawing hopscotch lines
Cracker Jacks
small tidal pools in which you can sea bright green moss and species of marine life
palm-fringed beach
the snappy bustle of pelicans and donkeys
tearoom lunch
Shaker crafts
silvery milkweed pods opening
toast under the broiler
the whack of a bat against a baseball
alacrity = cheerful willingness, liveliness
plastic ponchos in rainbow colors
clippity-clop, jingle-jingle sounds
shadow boxes in kitchens
pictures leaving stickies on the walls
giant turner/fork/tongs
heading north
the first day of biking
the haven you escape to for hours: sitting curled there, dreaming, reading, building yourself a life, a world
a boy who follows in his mother's footsteps