The world has lost its charm

There are times when I truly dislike the world in which we live.  I sometimes feel that the more we evolve the less civilized we become. There is no doubt that advances in science and technology have made the world a better place.  There is no doubt that those advances have made our lives easier and have reduced suffering.  But what about our humanity?

Among the many places I have lived over the past few years, my favorite was a 150-year-old Victorian house.  Living in a historical house was an eye-opening experience.  It was a glimpse into the lifestyles of people now long gone.

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Just Zip It!

Just Zip It!

Each morning, I turn on cable news to find out what is going on in the world.  I flip through all the different news channels in an effort to expose myself to more than one point of view.  I try to tune in to each channel for at least 15 minutes so that I have an opportunity to listen to several different personalities.  Some days, those 15 minutes are as unnerving as nails on a chalkboard.  News anchors have turned into political activists.  Political pundits present opinions as facts.  News stories are cherry-picked to support one narrative or the other.  The hearts and minds of the American people are being influenced by a media which has lost its ability to present the facts without the bias.

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George Washington’s Farewell Prophecy

StickLady as George Washington

Before leaving office as our nation’s first President, George Washington composed a Farewell Address to the people of the United States.  He felt the need to impart his final thoughts regarding the future of the new nation.  One of his foremost concerns was his belief that political parties would eventually divide and weaken the country.  His words have proven to be a prophecy now playing out in today’s headlines.

What would Washington think if he could witness our current political climate?  Political parties routinely incite discord among citizens in the hope of destroying the credibility and character of their opponents.  Their goal is to further their own agendas.  Politicians have forgotten that they were elected to represent the people — not the Democratic Party and not the Republican Party. Why then are we depending on partisan politicians to protect the legacy of America?

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Day of Tolerance

Day of Tolerance StickLady

I am merely a StickLady with a blog.  I do not have influence on a national scale.  I am not a celebrity or a news anchor.  I am not a mover or a shaker.  Still, I am proposing that America observe a Day of Tolerance.  I am hoping that my blog will allow me to reach a small audience  who may consider my suggestion.  I challenge you to observe one day of  open-mindedness.

For one day, make a concerted effort to listen to a new perspective.  You can choose the day, the time, and the method, as long as you vow to listen to an opinion that does not align with your own.   Perhaps you can change the news channel to one that does not represent your point of view. Buy a newspaper or read an online news feed that represents the opposing viewpoint.   Better yet, go online and google search a topic that is a hot-button issue for you.  Research that topic until you have a coherent, non-biased list of the differences that ignite debate.  I believe, if you can look at the facts without the emotion, you might find the differences are not quite so polarizing.

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1967 vs. 2017 – For What It’s Worth

Hit play and enjoy!

I started out searching for a song that sums up my feelings on the current state of affairs in our great country.  I googled  the term, “songs about free speech”.  I was surprised to find that the vast majority of songs that came up in my search were written in the 1960s.  The song that I chose to post, “For What It’s Worth”,  was written and recorded by Buffalo Springfield’s Stephen Stills at the end of  1966 and released in 1967.  It could have been written yesterday. Continue reading →

Yeesh!!! Let other people speak!

Exactly when did we “lose” our right to free speech? The people who founded this great country paid for that right with their own blood and the blood of their families and friends.

When did we willingly “give up” our right to free speech? Are we so complacent that nothing is worth fighting for anymore?

We do not have to agree with each other.  We do, however, owe other people respect in allowing them to express their opinions.  We are a country of over 300 million people.  Why is it so appalling to some that there are those who do not agree with them?  Listen to others and you may learn something.  Listen and you may better understand the position of your opponents.  Listen and you may find a more compelling  argument for your own position. Continue reading →

I had this really strange feeling that I was being phased out of my own life

Like most people, my life consisted of a long list of responsibilities and obligations that I assumed would continue long into my twilight years. But the universe got off kilter and altered my future in a way that I did not anticipate. As a result, all of the items on my very hectic “to do” list seem to have gotten “done” prematurely.

As a single working mom, my life revolved around raising my two daughters. We lived in a cute little house nestled in an adorable town surrounded by a wonderful sense of security and belonging. I called it my “nest”. It was the place where I was raising my baby birds. That house was the only thing that held me to the ground in the midst of all the fears and struggles that went with being a single parent. Unfortunately, circumstances led to the necessity of having to sell my house just as my last child left home and entered college. When I left that place, I left behind a sense of home that I have never been able to recapture. Continue reading →

The Wind

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I listen to the wind, to the wind of my soul
Where I’ll end up, well I think only God really knows
I’ve sat upon the setting sun…
But never, never, never, never
I never wanted water once
No never, never, never

I listen to my words but they fall far below
I let my music take me where my heart wants to go
I swam upon the Devil’s lake…
But never, never, never, never
I’ll never make the same mistake
No – never, never, never

Cat Stevens