American Politics

Am I the only person in this country who is feed up with politics? I really don’t believe that I am, though I must be in the minority. Frankly I am sick to death of having our so called “news” providers dictate to me how and what to think, who to vote for and what cause I should or should not support. CNN is firmly and unabashedly liberal and highly supportive of most things touted by the Democratic Party; while FOX News is unashamedly conservative and supports most issues dear to the Republican Party. Watching or reading the news has become an exercise in political science and I for one have no desire to know every television or print reporters personal views on the political game called American Politics. I believe it has become impossible to make an informed political decision based on information gleaned from the press and that is indeed unfortunate because even in this wondrous age of modern technology; this is still a very big country and there are those of us who find it difficult, if not impossible to attend political functions and rallies. Apparently the all powerful press has decided it is not obligated to report the facts and give us the opportunity to decide for ourselves where we stand on the issues.

Those of you who know me will, I am sure, be a little surprised that I even have a political view. For me it isn’t (at this stage) who I will vote for, it has more to do with what I will vote for when the time comes. March 4, (insert the appropriate date for your state) is a very important day in Ohio and I encourage everyone to vote. If you would go to the polls as an informed and responsible citizen your best source of information is, in my opinion, the internet; and even here you have got to exercise caution, as we Americans are a highly opinionated lot and never afraid to express our views. I suppose the bottom line on the subject is that those of us who are feed up with the press have our work cut out for us in the months ahead. Unfortunately to my knowledge, there is no single reliable source for news (political or otherwise) and if it is the truth we are seeking we shall have to find it for ourselves, Grasshopper.

Well, I feel better for having got that off my chest.

There is always hope.

Betty

Searching For A Resolution

What, I asked myself, will you make as your New Year’s resolution? It has been my rule in the last few years not to make resolutions, after all, I reasoned, why set a goal that is practically guaranteed to fail. It all seemed a little silly to me. I honestly cannot recall ever having made a New Year’s resolution that I actually kept and still, for some inexplicable reason I feel compelled to make them. This year I decided that making a resolution not to make a resolution was, well… a little too eccentric even for me. Choice; either make a resolution or ignore the impulse, decision; make one.

I have decided that 2008 is the year that I matter. What I think, feel, want and need are important and I have got to remember that. No wonder people treat me as a second thought and find it easy to disregard my opinion and feelings. If I don’t value myself no one else will value me; and all that other prattle you read about in the self-help books. Part of my resolution is that every day I will do at least one thing that is important to me or something that I want to do. I got off to a good start New Year’s Day, I watched Return of The King. I have wanted to watch that movie (well actually all of the Lord of the Rings movies) for ages. I also plan to continue with meditation; my hope is that I will somehow (in my drugged fog) find my center and then be able to view the world with more kindly eyes. I am convinced that if there were more compassion and kindness in the world many of our problems would cease to exist.

Today I hope (with Don’s help) to get the house set back to rights; Christmas decorations put away and the excess culled out and sent on to Good Will. This evening, I think I’ll watch one of my “Chick Flicks” while Don is out practicing with his kids. Ah, so many possibilities!

There is always hope.

Betty

Is There No Justice?

Just a quick post to bring you up to speed on how the holidays went here. Christmas was, dismal. Don came down with the stomach flu on Sunday afternoon and by by Christmas Eve I too had moved into the bathroom (upstairs, he had the downstairs) and was incapable of more than groaning. I admit that in this instance I have no sense of humor. There is no justice. It is unfair that I had only just begun to feel better from one bug and then was nailed by another.

At any rate; since I am posting this you must know that I am at last back on the mend

There is always hope.

Betty