Called out

Yesterday I got ‘called out’ by someone I value about putting up a divisive political post.    As I told him then, I felt the post was true, and that it was not aimed at him or meant to offend him.   Sometimes I get frustrated and yes, it’s too easy to click on a post and share it.    Yesterday I did.

He suggested it was okay to post how I feel about the president, but not about his followers.  He said that I think they are all the “Trumpsters’, the ones that seem to be gaga like they were worshipping a rock star.   He told me that many people support Trump but are not like that.   He is one of those.

Ok.    I heard him.   He was right.  I have to remind myself not to stereotype a group of people, as I do not like to be pigeon-holed either.     Reminder:  Marla – go high.   Act and speak like God wants you too.

So, thank you.  I needed to be ‘called out’ yesterday.  I needed to be reminded that although I do not understand, I can hurt people and it’s not fair.

I don’t know why I have gotten so ‘political’ lately, oh wait… yes I do!   I know that we are living in strange times.  I think back.   As many lives go, when I was younger I was caught up in young children and family life and cartoons were on. I didn’t watch the news as much because there weren’t  the 24 hour channels – until CNN came on the air.  I remember how it changed news viewing when those three reporters were embedded in the hotel in Iraq, whispering live reports with the sound of bombs going off in the background.  But little did I know – ALL the changes coming.  By the way,  I also remember when The Weather Channel first came on the air and we often had it on for hours!  Ha.  How exciting!   Lol

I have always been a bit of a news junkie, since graduating with a Communications Degree (I took news writing & our assignment was watching the Nixon Impeachment hearing and writing on it) , and interning in a radio newsroom.  I was in that newsroom when the scare at 3 Mile Island happened.  I worked in radio when Reagan got shot.    I heard the bells ring on the UPI machines in the newsroom when important events happened.  We’d go running to them to see what happened – then ‘rip and read’ – that was how we got immediate news.  I was there when John Lennon was shot.

I digress.  News has always fascinated me – and I have more time now to soak it in.

Back to my politics…   I was stunned when Trump got elected.    Oh, I have been disappointed with presidential elections before, but nothing NOTHING like this time. I know I have posted about it before.  I felt pain, and so much doubt about people I thought I knew. I cried over him becoming president and I cried over my disappointment in people.   (Of course now we know of foreign interference, and we know that he did not win the popular vote.)     But, since that day I have tried to understand.   3 years into Trump’s term and he has shown himself to be worse than I feared.  Before winning I knew he was a womanizer, and a liar, and egotistical, and running as a Republican I knew he would support issues that were in opposition to my beliefs.   But, the tweets, and the Russian favoritism, and the rotating door within his administration, and his inability to listen to others, and his stubbornness, and his lack of class, and back-stabbing….         oh my.        And, of course, now he has been impeached for abuse of power, putting American $ and foreign relations on hold for personal gain.  Come on – you know it.   We all know it.   It’s who he is.  Not surprising at all.

So, my friend from yesterday, I will continue to ‘call out’ our president when I see things he does and says that are so against human kindness, and respect for all.  I will continue to oppose issues – like ‘the wall’ (did you see a section of it blew down yesterday?),  his MAGA mindset, his reversal of EPA laws, his lack of interest in gun safety measures.  And, I will still have concerns about women’s issues, and equal rights for all, including gays.

You all can ‘call me out’ when I post something that hurts you.  I will listen.  I will truly say I’m sorry.   I want to live in peace.   I am not looking to ‘one up’ anyone.    I have no desire to make our division wider (plenty of others do that.)  I want to live a life of love for all, and hope for all.   I want to raise the bar, not lower it.

Call me out.   I will try my best to listen.