Let Me 'Splain

I see people posting on Facebook about things they find extremely offensive. These are typically things that don't have any effect on ANYTHING. They most likely will not change anyone's opinion. They probably won't change society or the world, although that is generally their purpose. But people still get caught up in taking one side or the other over these trivial issues.

I'm a Libertarian. That means I believe in personal liberties and personal freedoms. I believe in the Bill of Rights. I believe that, as long as I am not endangering the life of anyone else, I have the right to believe and behave however I want. If I want to marry a Ferris wheel, that is nobody else's business. Sure, I may be crazy as a loon, but I am not hurting anyone, or infringing on anyone else's rights. Certainly, people are going to talk about it, laugh about it, and roll their eyes in disbelief, but, as long as they are not infringing on my right to be married to a Ferris wheel, they are within their own rights to express their opinions.

The difference between the thinking of a Libertarian and other political thinking is this: Libertarians respect the rights of everyone to believe and do whatever they feel like believing and doing. All other political thinkers want everyone in the world to respect what they believe and do, and anyone who doesn't believe or act the same way should keep those beliefs and actions to themselves. Political activists go a step further and want everyone in the world to believe and act as they do, and they will do whatever they can to ruin the lives of anyone who expresses an opinion contrary to what they believe. Activists are out to change the world to fit their beliefs. They want to do away with what they believe are archaic cultures that don't fit with their agenda.

I use this blog to tell stories about my life and talk about things that puzzle me. I sometimes express my opinion, but I am more interested in understanding how others develop their own opinions. Like I said before, I am not really "against" anything, as long as it doesn't bring harm to others. Here are some examples, for anyone who is still struggling with this concept. If you want to drink yourself into a stupor, that is your business. If you drink yourself into a stupor, then drive down my street while I am out walking, it becomes my business, if you aren't paying attention and kill me. Drinking alcoholic beverages to excess is not against the law. Killing a person with your car IS against the law, whether or not you are intoxicated while driving. On the other hand, in many states, smoking marijuana or shooting heroin is against the law, even though consuming alcohol or smoking tobacco is just as harmful. So the law should be there to protect society from what you might do under the influence, not to protect you from yourself. If I decide to commit suicide, because I just don't want to live anymore, and I do so by purposely overdosing or shooting myself in the head, I may be damned for eternity, because suicide is the ultimate sin, but that is MY business. It is not the government's or society's place to tell me it is against the law for me to take my own life. Now, if by killing myself I kill someone else, either intentionally or unintentionally, I would be breaking the law.

Please feel free to comment, if you want to discuss these ideas further. I'm going to move on, now, and talk about some of the issues that are making the news, in an attempt to help you to understand that it is political activists who are bringing these things to your attention, and only political activists.

One of the ornaments that Hallmark created this year is a Christmas sweater that says, "Don we now our FUN apparel". Gay activists jumped on this, saying that changing the word "gay" to "fun" is offensive to the gay community, meaning every person who claims to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transsexual. As a result, the gay couple who live next door decide to boycott Hallmark, because Hallmark blatantly, personally offended them. George Takei also scolded Hallmark, as he was also personally offended by a Christmas ornament. Really? Really? Come on, really? Gay activists are on record as stating that they want to do away with traditional marriage. The gay next door neighbors just want to be allowed to get married, but they don't want to destroy the marriages of everyone else in the neighborhood. Do you see what is going on here? Gay people who just want to be treated equally feel an obligation to support the "gay community" created by political activists, to further their agenda, which has nothing to do with equality, but is all about "fundamentally transforming the United States of America." I believe Hallmark made a big mistake by issuing an apology, because there was no need to apologize for an ornament.

Several people and organizations have been scolded for expressing their belief that homosexuality is a sin. Most recently, Phil Robertson, of the Duck Dynasty reality TV show that airs on A&E, has been suspended by the cable channel, because he mentioned in an interview with GQ that he believes homosexuality is a sin. You will notice that the activists did not attack Phil Robertson, but attacked A&E, because they knew that A&E would be afraid of what might happen if it took the stand that a person's beliefs are simply a person's beliefs, not an offense to an entire community. Actually, two groups were offended by his comments: the gay community and the anti-Christian community. To help you put this into perspective, think about something you believe without doubt; then think about the opposite of that belief; and then consider whether the opposing belief personally offends you. Here's an example, from my belief system. I believe that I existed as a spirit before I was born and that my spirit entered my physical body, once my physical body was capable of existing on its own. Because I believe this, I also do not believe that a fetus is a human being, because it does not have a soul. Therefore, I do not believe that having an abortion is either a sin or a murder. This is what I believe. Practically everyone else I know believes that having an abortion is a sin and should be against the law. I am not offended, in any way, by anyone's belief that abortion is a sin. So why should those who believe I am wrong be offended by what I believe? I don't think they would be, except for the political activists who spend a lot of time and money to coerce those who are not Christians to believe that Christians are narrow-minded (or even closed-minded), intolerant, wanting the entire world to believe exactly as they do, and wanting to force their beliefs on anyone who has a differing opinion or no opinion at all on the matter. There are also political activists working on the other side, coercing Christians to believe the same things about non-Christians.

What I want you to understand from all this jabbering is that political activists don't care anything about what you believe or want. I think political activists don't really believe in the causes they stand behind and even change sides, depending on what agenda is currently being served. If you look at how President Obama voted in the Illinois Senate, he was against gay marriage. However, when asked in an interview how he felt about gay marriage, an interview that occurred after he was elected President, he declared that he was all for gay marriage. The most important thing to take away from this is that the President of the United States does not have any authority to make a law declaring that gay people can marry each other. That is a state issue. So, because he is not in a position to actually vote on the issue, he is free to say whatever he feels like saying about the issue, without it coming back to bite him in the butt. A lot of people seemed to think that his opinion was important. I don't understand why an opinion is so important. People who are against gay marriage really hate the President, and people who love the President already take a stance for gay marriage. I don't recall seeing or hearing anyone discussing how offensive the President's opinion is, regardless of what opinion he's expressing.

One last example: A family who fills their yard with Christian-oriented Christmas decorations received a typed letter from an anonymous neighbor, complaining about the decorations ... that they were Christian in nature, that they were tacky and ugly, and that they were offensive to people who weren't Christians. A photo of the letter has been circulating on the Internet. When I saw the letter and read about the family's reaction, it wreaked of political activism, to me. I think a political activist organization typed this letter and mailed it to the family. The family commented that they had only received positive comments from their neighbors. So, think about it. What would you do? Would you type up an anonymous letter to deliver to your neighbor, who has been using the same decorations for 37 years, to let them know that those decorations are offensive to everyone else in the neighborhood, not really mentioning that they are offensive to you, but making sure they understand that they are offending all people who don't believe in Christ, and that they should take that into consideration, when putting up their Christmas decorations? Does that make sense to you? If something doesn't offend you, but you decide to put a stop to it because it might be offending someone else, then I believe you're pushing an agenda and stirring up controversy to move your agenda, which most likely doesn't have anything to do with what is being brought to everyone's attention as offensive, but has everything to do with fundamentally transforming the United States of America. And that is infringing on my rights, as a citizen of the United States of America.

I'm sorry for the long rant, but I just had to get this out of my head, as it has been bothering me for quite some time. I think we would all be better off, if we just ignored the activists and embraced the freedoms we have to express our opinions, worship (or not) how we choose, and pursue what makes us happy, without worrying about what anyone else thinks about it.

You might disagree with me, AND THAT'S OKAY!!

Teah

Happy Birthday, Nate

 That's him, second from left, after playing a few songs inside the gates of Busch stadium, as part of a contest. They should have won. My boy loves the St. Louis Cardinals, and I think he loves his life. At least, he behaves as though he loves his life. Heavenly Father knew that I could only handle one child and that it needed to be a boy. I cherish this boy more than any other person on earth. The day he got married, my Facebook status read, "The love of my life is marrying someone else, and I'm happy!"

 In order to graduate high school, he needed to retake American History. It wasn't because he didn't learn anything in the class, but because he didn't see the need for homework. In his logical mind, passing tests should have been proof enough that he had sufficiently learned what he needed to learn to pass the course, but the teacher didn't look at it that way. We had a few discussions about him needing to comply with the request to do homework, but they all ended with me kind of throwing my hands in the air, because I couldn't argue with the logic he presented. Finally, I decided to write him a letter, since I say things so much better when I write them. In the letter, I asked him if he would just do the homework because I wanted him to, and for no other reason. As a result, he agreed to do the homework, but that's not the best part of the story. The best part happened months later, when I was looking in his wallet for something he had told me was there. While looking, I found the letter I had written to him, neatly folded and tucked away, there in his wallet. It just brought tears to my eyes.

There is one last thing I would like to share with you. In these photos to the left, he is wearing a suit custom made for him by my mother, "Grammy". Mother does a lot of writing and seems to enjoy it. I think she may have contributed a lot to my own love of writing. Anyway, I have reproduced below a piece she wrote, after Nate (back when she called him Nathan) had spent a day or two with her. I think this expresses, more than anything else I have ever read or heard, what a wonderful man my boy became and how important it is for parents and grandparents to really pay attention to their children. As a prologue, I feel it necessary to say that I divorced Nate's dad, when Nate was three, and I was awarded full custody of him. Whenever he got sick, I couldn't drop him at daycare, so my mother would take him, so I would't have to miss work. That was a great help to me. Also, Nate had allergy-induced asthma throughout his childhood and was hospitalized several times, just to get it under control. My mother was one of the few family members who understood the severity of Nate's asthma. So, Happy 31st Birthday to my wonderful son, the love of my life. I close with my mother's words:

7-18-92

A SPECIAL TIME FOR NATHAN

(written by Marcella Simmons)

It is great to have two of my children living with their families near me in the St. Louis area.  I am so blessed with well-behaved and beautiful grandchildren.  One of them stands apart from the others; not that he is better, or smarter, or loved more, but that he is my only grandson.

During his early years, I cared for Nathan on many occasions.  When he was sick - whether it was a runny nose or worse with fever, or violent asthma attacks, a trip to the doctor, or even the chicken pox - I was ready to assist.  Today, however, I am basking in the beauty of the past two days when I have enjoyed his company at my request.  There was no adjusting schedules to fit him in, no rushing early morning trip to get him before his mother went to work, no dropping everything and picking him up at school - not that I minded any of these things - but this was a planned visit just for the two of us.

Nathan chose the room in which he would sleep, he chose the menus from suggested foods available; he chose to do what he wanted to do; and we worked out our own schedule together just for us.  The only things we didn't schedule were the asthma attacks.

When we went to the pool, we were fortunate to choose a day when some other children whom I knew, and whose parents knew Nathan, were there also.  We shared our lunches together and even stayed longer than we had planned just to have fun with them.  When we did leave, it was because of asthma.  The next day, at the opening of the new movie, "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid," we began to think we might have to forget it all because of the asthma.  We made it with the help of the inhaler.  Last night, we christened the new picnic table in the backyard.  That was fun, too.  We rolled the TV outside and watched as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Cardinals.  We hadn't planned for that to happen, either.

Today, I am picking up paper airplanes from several spots throughout the house.  He had just recently learned to make them and found plenty of scrap paper in his table downstairs to use in his construction.  As I pick them up, I am remembering the special little nine-year-old who had such enjoyment making and flying them, some even flown outside and down the hill.  I remember the fireflies that we caught after dark.  This was not the time of year to find the frogs we usually find.  I think of the sensitive young man that he is: concerned about the foul language at his summer camp and at his school; happy that his dad no longer smokes, because he had asked him to give it up; and concerned about his dad's spiritual life.  "He doesn't like church," Nathan said.

But the specialty of all specialties was that, without question or coercion, he said to me more than once, "Grammy, I love you."  Who would dare to tell me that he is not a special young man?

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Thanks for reading,

Teah

Christmas Lights

 Growing up, one of the things I most looked forward to doing during the Christmas season was driving through the neighborhood(s) admiring the light displays on the houses. It is a tradition I keep alive, to this day. We moved quite a few times, throughout my childhood, and my mother has told me that, each time my parents looked at a possible house to move into, Mother would measure to make sure there was room for her refrigerator in the kitchen, and Daddy would be looking for the best place to put the Christmas tree. I think it was 2008, when I included a Christmas letter with the newspapers I delivered. In the letter, I told my customers that my only request for Christmas that year was for them to leave their lights on all night, Christmas Eve, so that I could enjoy them on my route. A few places I dropped papers had security guards working all night, and I left small, candy-filled stockings with each of them. That was actually one of the best Christmases in my memory. It fulfilled my need to give to others, it satisfied my desire to see Christmas lights in several neighborhoods, and it enhanced my memories of Christmastime with my family, especially Daddy. Mother helped me put the letters together for my newspaper clients, and she tearfully thanked me for letting her help me and helping to bring back so many wonderful memories of Christmases past.

The past few days, my Facebook friends, old and new, have been posting and sharing pictures of their beautiful homes, all decked out in Christmas splendor, inside and out. I have seen Christmas trees; decks, porches, and driveways covered in freshly fallen snow; and some not-so-good photos and news of fallen trees and power outages. Even with the bad stuff going on, these Facebook friends are enjoying the warmth of families and friends in their beautiful homes, nestling close to their lovely fireplaces. I love seeing these photos and reading about wonderful things happening in their lives, just as I loved seeing the beautiful Christmas decorations of my customers, several years ago. Those of my Facebook friends who are reading this, please accept my gratitude for your graciousness in sharing your wonderful decorations, snow, and memories on Facebook. These thoughts and photos help me to feel that Christmas Spirit that I absolutely need, this time of year.

It is easy for people all alone this time of year to fall into depression or despair. Most of the single people I know, particularly women, don't have as much money at their disposal and can really feel out of place at various celebrations. What makes it most difficult for me, is not being able to throw parties and entertain, which is really what I live for. My life hasn't turned out like I thought it would, growing up. Of course, very few of us have that luxury of living the life we always wanted, but a lot of us do still end up with a spouse and children. Perhaps it's worse for those who had the spouse and children, at one time, but are now, for whatever reason, living alone. Sometimes I feel guilty going to a movie or going out to eat, because I feel like I should be saving that money, but it's a vicious circle, because, if I don't do something fun every once in awhile, I end up sitting at home feeling sorry for myself.

I'm not sharing this to get people to feel sorry for me, and I don't want you to feel bad because you may have a better life than I do. What I want you to get from this is that you should be grateful, every day, for what you have. As bad off as you think you may have it (and I'm including myself in that sentiment), there is always someone who has it worse. Those of you who are feeling all alone this Christmas, I pray for you anonymously, every day. Those of you who are in a position that I might envy, be thankful for what you have, and, if possible, share some of it with those less fortunate. I love to serve in a homeless shelter over the holidays. I love to do things that put me right in front of the people I'm helping. It is nice to take a child's name from a giving tree and buy a gift, but I prefer to give gifts in person, or at least to know the child who's receiving the gift. Whatever you do, I hope your Christmas/holiday season 2013 is the best you'll ever have, until next year! Maybe next year, I'll be in a better place, too!

Love you!

Teah

Merry Christmas to All!

It's that time of year, when media, celebrity, and advertising dictate what we're supposed to think and do and how we're supposed to speak. Then, those who actually believe that media, celebrity, and advertising are in control of their lives, use social media to defend their own beliefs and opinions, causing those who have differing or opposing opinions to feel offended and label the offending posters as bigoted, narrow minded, racist, and intolerant. So they all end up feeling that anyone with different beliefs or opinions is evil and bent on destroying the society that they know and love.

 I realize that this doesn't just happen at Christmastime, but it seems to balloon out of control a little more so at Christmastime. Obviously, I believe in Christ and Christmas, and love and joy, and Santa and giving ... all those nice things. I cannot recall anyone to whom I said "Merry Christmas" telling me that the phrase offended him or her, or acting in any way to indicate that the phrase was offensive. Adversely, I have never been offended by anyone greeting me with any pleasant phrase, be it "Happy Hanukkah," "Happy Holidays," "Joyeux Noel," or "Have a Nice Day!"

One of my classmates in elementary school was a Jehovah's Witness. He was excused from saying the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as excused from the classroom Christmas party, and the school Thanksgiving and Christmas programs. Another classmate was a Jew, and he was excused from class for Jewish holidays. Both of these boys were off school when everyone else was, for Thanksgiving and Christmas vacation, because the school was closed. I don't recall thinking anyone was being mistreated or offended in any way. I don't recall anyone telling me that what either of these boys believed was wrong or evil. I don't recall anyone ever telling me that it was wrong for me to participate in a classroom Christmas party from which any of my classmates were being excluded.

One of the things that I'm seeing a lot about on Facebook this week are people professing that they are going to say "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays". It seems to me that this issue was created by the media, celebrity, and advertising. As I said before, I don't recall ever being chastised by anyone because I said "Merry Christmas." And I don't believe I have ever jumped down anyone's throat for not saying "Merry Christmas" or for greeting me with any pleasant greeting. To me, it seems that insisting that everyone say "Merry Christmas," is just as bad as insisting that everyone refrain from saying "Merry Christmas." Why is this a topic of discussion?

The other thing that has been popping up among my FB friends is outrage about the cast of "Kinky Boots", a Broadway musical (I guess), performing a number from the show, during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Some people are talking about how Macy's was wrong for allowing that to be shown on TV. I have never seen the parade in person; I've only watched it on TV. I kind of lost interest in it several years ago, when it seemed to become a vehicle for Broadway, rather than an actual parade. To me, a parade is floats, marching bands, and balloons. I could not find anything about the "Kinky Boots" performance on the official website for the parade, which leads me to believe that the Broadway numbers are presented by NBC, not Macy's. I think anyone who watches the parade live sees the actual parade and not anything that goes on at Herald Square, which is where all the Broadway numbers happen. The website tells visitors to avoid Herald Square, because the view there is terrible, due to the television cameras. This causes another light to go off above my head, indicating that the "Kinky Boots" show was just for TV viewers. That being the case, how is Macy's to blame? If you're unhappy with the way the parade was presented by NBC, then complain to NBC. And if you think what NBC is broadcasting is inappropriate for your children, the other networks broadcast actual footage from other parades around the country. You can also watch parades all over the country on the Internet.

So, Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas, to one and all. May this lovely season fill your heart with joy and your life with blessings!

Teah