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Edited on Fri Dec-04-09 06:05 PM by DrZeeLit
I just want ONE DAY where people on both sides of the aisle take a moratorium on uncivilized behavior.
I just want ONE DAY where people don't call names, don't spew hatred, don't react without thinking, don't have to get the last word in...
ONE DAY where we actually listen to the other person instead of thinking about how we're gonna top 'em... "hurry up, hurry up, you idiot, I gotta say xyz now, now, now"
ONE DAY where, just for no reason at all, we gracefully yield, gracefully decide not to take the low road, gracefully decide to breathe and move along.
ONE DAY.
I'm not asking for a month, or a week, or even a weekend.
ONE DAY.
Oh, I am sure somewhere, on some calendar, there's a "Civilized Behavior Day," but the way I feel right now, I can't wait.
Can we go ONE DAY without drama, or scandal, or glee at the other person's mistaken gaffe?
ONE DAY without ridicule being the first words out of our mouths when the other side (and this is for both sides) says something with which we do not agree?
ONE DAY where maybe we turn off the t.v., turn off the constant feed of news, turn off the computer.
ONE DAY where every action by anybody in any government isn't met with an equally vicious reaction and the start of a chain of hate, rumor, innuendo or malicious name calling.
I know, I know. I am naive. But then, I'm not. I taught junior high for 20 years. Everybody needs a day off from nastiness.
I don't mean stop thinking about the issues. I certainly KNOW we have issues to deal with and many sides to those issues and a LOT of passion about those issues -- all of them.
And I feel that passion, too. I want everyone to be passionate. We need to fight the good fight, carry the banner, be a voice for our side (whatever it is).
But I am also getting so tired of the spewing of hatred, or even the small mosquito-bite snipes that go on -- here, out there, out further in DC or in the neighborhood bar.
Could we just put the slings and arrows of outrageousness away for one day? We really do need a break from all the odious energy.
I'll tell you why. Why I am feeling this so keenly right now.
Today I got in the car to head home after school. And so I called my husband, as I often do, to ask if we need anything on my drive from work. We live in a rural area and I like to consolidate trips.
My darling, kind, delightful husband was sobbing on the phone.
Now, I must say, this was OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
He had just been to the local Mission Outreach (not sure if that's the name here but close).
It's the end of the year and we are figuring out how much money we have to give to others. He is a retiree from Johnson and Johnson, so every dollar we donate is often matched one-to-one. We have given to the Food Bank, the local public library, and to Keith Olbermann's drive for health clinics.
But recently my husband has been drawn to the Mission. He's taken lots of our stuff from the garage for their thrift store. He's brought them food that the ski resort is throwing out (for no reason but somebody didn't like it). Yesterday, he recovered six huge cartons (asked permission first btw) and delivered this perfectly edible food to the Mission.
Today, my darling husband went to ask about giving a donation. What did they need? How many people were the feeding every day? How did Thanksgiving go?
Those kinds of questions.
And for the first time, after all his visits, the lady in charge said, "Come with me."
And they went down to the basement.
The basement where they serve the homeless vets. HOMELESS VETS.
Men with no limbs. Men in tattered clothes. Men on their last bit of hope.
Yes, long before we married, my husband was a corporate guy and had been so for most of his life, voting conservatively, and working his butt off and thinking that was the American Way.
Then, he met me.
And I made him read, read, read. And think and think and think. And work for a few campaigns. And he's evolved.
But today... his heart was broken. He was sobbing.
I said, "What do you want to do?" Because I think he wants to DO something more than just donate.
Well, he did write them a check on the spot for the deficit they have at the moment.
But he can't quit crying.
This is his 1960's. He finally gets it. This is his candlelight vigil. His moment of awareness.
He's 70 years old.
And he meets it not with anger, but with tears.
So today... I just want ONE DAY where we don't hate each other.
I know you will say, but we don't, not here.
Have you actually read some of these posts lately? Even the ones who are trying to be funny or sarcastic, are actually mean and nasty and passive aggressive.
Hey,and why not? Post away, flame, call names, mentally beat each other to a pulp.
Free speech, free ideas, lots of debate. Okay!
But... Could we just stop for ONE DAY.
Because down in the basement, where we hide the stuff we don't want to see, men who fought for this country are sitting in the dark.
And women and children. And it's not that I didn't know. Hell, I've been one of those long ago before I met my husband.
And let's not start arguing about how the vets or women or children got to this point, or whose fault it is and how pissed we are and.... see? We'll be back at it again.
Not that we shouldn't be. When my 24 hours is up.... I'm gonna be darn mad. And even if I'm not. Even if I am as passionate and civilized as we Vermonters are....
I still intend to take action.
BUT... I still want ONE DAY.
Just ONE DAY without blaming and pointing fingers and ranting and raving.
I'm not saying we don't have reason or we don't have passion or we don't have righteousness on our side (even as the other side thinks the same).
Could we just quit sniping at each other for ONE DAY. Even if it's just here at DU. Or even if you have to sleep all day or something to keep from snarking.
I'm just sayin'... without it having to be some holiday or feast day or saints day or special day... could it just be ONE DAY... that we stop being unkind, mean, vindictive, pissed off, upset, disappointed... I mean, feel those feelings but maybe not toss 'em in somebody's face for one day.
Just ONE DAY.
You can pick your own day.
For me, my 24 hours (and my ramblin' rant free zone) starts now..
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