After re-reading pntnpnt's journal yesterday, I've been really pondering something about America. Getting political on here is not my gig, but I can't help but notice a theme in our news today. When did America become all about FEAR? Are we not a nation of "christians" or at least spiritual people? Please tell me what happened to FAITH...While OJ is back in the news, we're cleaning schools in Columbus for staph infections. While we rebuild Iraq, New Orleans still has (American) people living in very poor conditions in FEMA trailors. I can't help it if it often seems we have misplaced priorities, and we continue a "war" to make us "safer". Fighting violence with violence never has and never will make any sense to me. The line of a Tim Finn song has played in my mind over and over in the last few months about non-violent resistance: When you taste the salt that's on your pudding / And when you taste the sugar in your soup / Think of Te Whiti, he will never be defeated / Even at the darkest hour his presence will remain... Also, my mind wonders back to the news stories when the London subway was attacked and the normal average people on the street seemed to be relying on FAITH that they would be OK.I admit, I have probably have had far too much time on my hands lately, and I've been heavily medicated to get over my creepy crud of a cold. But, I do know for certain why I live on this farm. On 9/11, like many Americans, I sat glued to the TV with tears running down my face over the absolute unbelievable devestation (sp?). At the same time, I longed to be planted on my farm so I could just hide from the world. (I was actually one year away from moving here at that point--still had to build a house.)Am I the only one who thinks we are being misled? If I listen to the polls, I think not. It just seems the years since 9/11 have been shadowed by so much FEAR. Were we not happy go lucky, pull yourself up by your bootstrap Americans at one time? We certainly don't seem to be anymore...I for one continue to choose FAITH which, for good or for bad, is how I'm treating my MS. I have FAITH that all will be fine for me whatever happens. I have FAITH that I was placed on this farm by the Higher Power whatever you call it--all Gods are one God, all Goddesses are one Goddess. I have FAITH that the sun will come up tomorrow and we'll all continue to muddle our way through our lives. I guess I'll just have to continue to muddle through as a Polly Anna...
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And so you should. Fear breeds conformity, just what the people in power need. They need it to justify their horrendous actions. So continue to be Polly Anna on the farm and I will smile in my garden...taking care of the Earth the best way we know how. There are plenty of people out there to worry for us.- Jen
This is exactly why you are my friend. God love you for writing this.
We have lost our faith (not all of us) and listen to politicians run amuck with their dribble of protecting us from terrorists. We fight a war that is meaningless and have lost thousands of young and I mean young, men and women and for what??
America and our world is a mess and we all need to do our part to help get it back on track. We need to really think about who we vote for in the next election. We need to do some research on our candidates and see where they stand on the issues that are important to us and can bring about goodness and peace in our country and world.
In the meantime, I\'m hiding out in the hills of New Hampshire and yet, I\'m in constant prayer and trying to do my little part.
Stepping down off my soapbox .... love ya, Marti
I\'ve never registered to vote and don\'t intend to maybe cuz I don\'t feel that my opion means much anyway. I put my faith in other beliefs and if i lived in constant fear don\'t feel like that would be living at all..
Who is this pntnpnt you speak of? He sounds very wise.
I am not a man of faith, but I do not scare easily. What makes me so mad is how the media just goes along with the administration\'s fear-mongering. I don\'t know if the media is liberal or conservative. All I know is that they are panderers.
But we fall for it every time. We are sheep and we do as we are told. We go to see the movies we\'re told to watch, we worship the \"celebrities\" we\'re told to worship, we take the legal drugs we\'re told to take, and stay away from the illegal ones we\'re told not to, and half of us will believe that the people currently running for President are the best this country has to offer.
I love the circle of friends I am building here. Like-minded people but with different ways of expressing it. Beautiful job ddeadred. Don\'t stay away from talking about non-MS issues. Preach to the choir, baby!
Feisty: Yes, fear does breed conformity and also CONTROL...
Marti: Stay on your soap box we need you there! And continue your prayer sessions in the hills--nature, we were meant to pray!
Tweety: Register and VOTE! It is our only hope in this hopeless country!
John: I am the black sheep of the bunch--no movies, no prescription drugs, always vote for the lesser of the evils though I think we need a woman to give us real leadership--I for one am willing to start with Hillary and move up from there. My newest preaching session was less issue and more MS but mostly, it was Billy...
xoxoxo Cj
I think Lucy Lui is pretty.
Glad you left this one open, cj, your rant is beautifully articulated. We are of like mind in this matter--fear and suspicion unites people--Nazi Germany had the same M.O., it\'s just that we haven\'t gone to that extreme---yet--there\'s still time to stop it--let\'s vote, shall we?
Good heavens, I just realized that this is an October 2007 journal! How funny. Oh well, I still agree with everything said....:P