You What Burns My Arse? No It Isn't A Flame About 4 Feet High!

It's been a long time since I have written a blog, mainly due to lack of time, but mostly because I needed to step back and shield myself from letting things upset me (thus distracting me from focusing on what needed to be done). I don't really enjoy going on a rant, it means that the world around me has dealt enough negative energy that if I don't rant I'll implode. Though not ranting seems to be as unhealthy as ranting, and after my trip to the National Archives yesterday, I've reached my limit. For the last few years I have limited my time with society-mainly because it just pisses me off! I believe I am a good person, I treat others the way that I would like to be treated. I believe I am fair and open minded, but I've had enough (again). Below are just a FEW reasons (sadly the list grows longer with each passing day) of why I prefer the sanctity of my own home and the company of my loyal four legged friend.

People have lost the ability to just be polite!


Yesterday while out and about I asked a man if he had the time. He looked at me as if I had asked for his kidney, shook his head and walked away. REALLY! What the hell?! It was a simple question, it would have taken less than a second to answer. I asked politely, I don't think I  look like a homeless panhandler so the next question out of my mouth would have hardly been "brother can you spare a dime?" but this idiot literally looked down his nose, gave me a disgusted look and walked away (for the record I had never seen this man before so he had no reason to behave with such disdain towards me personally)!  As a pedestrian in this city I understand what a pain it can be when a stranger sparks a conversation. I have been asked a multitude of insane questions, heard all about a peoples personal woes, and more often than not learned far more about a stranger than I ever wanted to know about ANYONE! But I still always try and be polite and hope that the next person to open their mouth actually says something I want to listen to.

What's in it for me & keeping score


It seems that I have this innate ability to attract people who believe that being a part of their lives or 'friend' requires a scorecard. I have never really understood this but it prompted me to do a bit of house cleaning in the 'friend' department recently. It sometimes takes awhile for me to see things clearly when it comes to people, but I get there eventually, usually after I have been screwed over or hurt one too many times. More than anything it makes me just want to scream, and lately has prompted me to examine how it has become far more easy to shut others out than to let them in. In my mind being a friend means that you don't do something for someone with the expectation of something in return, and you don't keep a tally of your deeds/favors/ acts of kindness for use at a later time. If I do something nice for you, I do it because I care, I want to and I can! There is no other  motive! I have never said no to helping someone when I could! I have, however, all to often over extended myself financially, mentally and emotionally to do so.

Hate, Indifference and Ignorance!


This more than anything really burns my backside! People who form their opinions of a person or persons, religion, gender, political party, social status (you get the picture) based solely on the popular angry sound bites and fear mongering du jour! I still need to believe that we as humans are an intelligent species with the ability to reason for ourselves, yet there seems to be an ever increasing number of those who chuck out reason and critical thinking to jump on the latest bandwagon and start beating the drums with no real understanding of what they are talking about. In an age when facts and information are literally at our fingertips, more often than not (it seems to me anyway) people look to those charismatic fools on the idiot box to do their thinking, guide their conscience and dictate their lives. I have no patience at all for these people - I realize that this country and the world we live in are not perfect, but don't bitch to me or even around me if your attitude is why should I do anything-nothing will change!  It may or may not but it certainly NEVER will if everyone does nothing! Don't try and force feed me your politics and religion unless you have done your homework and are prepared for an intelligent exchange of ideas - I will not argue these things with your nor will I suffer your ill-informed condescending attitude. I will, however, listen to what you have to say and expect the same in return - you don't need to change my mind nor I yours. I am comfortable with you believing what you believe and respect your right to do so - but for the love of all that is good in the world do so from a well informed position not because so-and-so said. I know the history of your religion (Do YOU?); I know how the church, synagogue, or mosque you attend formed the ideology/theology you are taught today. I don't care what you believe - I do believe everyone needs to believe in something.  I have yet to discover a religious doctrine whose core values teach hate and violence. There are as many radical Jews and Christians as there are Muslims- think about that the next time you start making generalized statements.
I am not an economist, I don't have a degree in political science, but I am an intelligent person with the ability to ask questions of those who are in the know and reason for myself. I'm not perfect and I am not always right (nor would I want to be) but I know it is better to ask questions and be receptive and open-minded to all answers and judge what is best for me than it is to make broad sweeping statements and expect everyone to drink the Kool-aid. The transition from We to Me in our society has never served us well and when we finally begin to stop and consider the welfare of all instead of just ourselves only then do I believe that we will find the world will become a better place

We still have so much to learn about this world we live in. The old isolationist ideals of our forefathers no longer applies! We live in a global community and allowing others to suffer for our own benefit in my humble opinion, serves only to stunt the growth of humankind and should never be tolerated. James Arthur Baldwin once said, "Know from whence you came. If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go." We are more than just our religion, political party or even nationality and maybe it's time everyone started learning a bit of history if we ever truly want to understand our fellow man and the world around us.