Many of you wondered why I didn’t write a post on Inauguration Day or after Obama’s address to the nation last week, given my interest in politics and my previous political posts. My feed reader has been full of posts about Obama and I really, I don’t feel like I have anything worthy to add to the discussion, but here are my thoughts…
Yes, he’s the first black president — and I think that is great. But I don’t think it should define his presidency. Yes, he’s a Democrat, but that isn’t the be-all, end-all either.
The fact is, he is just one man. A human being. With thoughts, feelings, and a family. As a society we take political figures, actors, and even our friends and neighbors, and try to define them. Categorize them. Judge them. Many times without giving them the chance to combat our stereotypical judgements.
And I think that this is the biggest problem of our time. Sure, the economy sucks and we’re in the middle of a war. But what is the true root of these problems? We are.
Yep, you and me. The normal people of the world. The founders of the “Mommy Wars”. The people who can’t let someone have an opinion that is different than their own. Those who don’t have the courage to talk about issues — and instead fight back in other ways — be that through silence or war.
The fact of the matter is, we’re all different. We all have different values, beliefs, morals, religions, ideologies, etc. It’s part of the beauty of our freedom and our society.
Somewhere along the way, I’ve learned to appreciate these differences. The world would be a very boring place if we were all the same and always agreed on everything. Sure, I disagree with people on some things — and dislike having others opinions shoved down my throat as the “only” right way, but I do respect the fact that we are all different.
Because we all go through the same things. Life’s ups and downs. Births, deaths, marriages, divorces. Periods of feast and periods of famine. Arguments, words, gestures, and emails we wish we could take back.
The most important people in your life will stick by you — no matter what you say, no matter how big of a foot you have to chew off, no matter if they have to wait a year before you can speak to them again. They love you for who you are — no matter if you’re POTUS (President of the United States) or a WAHM (work at home mom) desperately in need of more time on a treadmill.
And that is the life I am trying to lead. Even if I don’t agree with you. Even if I think your child needs more discipline. Even if I think you’re an example of irony at its finest. I try each day to realize that I am not you. I have not walked in your shoes and therefore, I will not understand all of the decisions you make.
It takes more than one man to destroy a country. If you think G.W. Bush destroyed it, I disagree. If you think Obama is bound to destroy it, I also disagree. We are all to blame.
As a mother, I believe that the most important job I have is to raise my son to have strong morals and values. Morals that include respecting everyone – regardless of race, creed, color, religion, or sexual orientation. Raising a son to be intelligent and non-judgemental. Raising him to realize that the quickest way to solve a problem is through communication — not silence. To understand what is truly important in life. To value others beliefs as much as he loves his own.
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I can’t agree with you more.
One man (or woman) is never the cause of all our nations problems. We have all played a role in our economy of today both the good and the bad.
I agree that we all need to take our ownership and not wait for miracles. Honestly, the government is just a small part of our lives and we should do what’s right, for our family, friends, community and country.
Very thoughtful post, Jamie.
But it does seem that sometimes, one person or small group of people in power are the cause of certain problems. Certain instances of deregulation leading to an industry running wild and subsequently imploding or hurting the citizenry, or leaders starting military actions that many other government officials and citizens don’t support (not necessarily the current war, but history is full of them).
It may take more than one man to destroy this country, but it doesn’t take more than one man to literally destroy another country. And it definitely only takes one man to wreak havoc on an industry.
In other ways, though, I certainly agree with what you’re saying.
You obviously put quite a bit of time and thought into this post… eloquently stated.
Interesting that you say the way to solve problems is open communication and not silence. And yet last week you told me to stop posting and you wouldn’t respond to my comments. Do you just want to have open communication with people that agree with you?
Ann aka “Ann”
Ann, I responded to you numerous times in the comments. My last comment said I would be pleased to talk to you via email and I still would be. If you have more you would like to discuss, send an email my way and we’ll talk until you don’t want to talk anymore.
No, your last comments were that you thought it was funny that people pretend to be other people when posting (which I didn’t underdstand) and to stop commenting and that you didn’t like stupid people.
But you are right that you did say to send me an e-mail and I didn’t, so it is unfair of me to say you wouldn’t hear my opinion.
Ann aka “Ann”
Nice post Jamie~very thoughtful!
Oh go away Ann-
Oh go away Ann Onymous-
Ann,
I think you need to mind your own business. The agreement between my daughter and I is totally none of your concern or business.
Apparently you have never lived in southern Illinois where babysitting is considerably more reasonable than where you are living..
Cindy (Jamie’s mom and Bo’s grammie)
Ann-
You have crossed the line from contibuter to troll. Please stop trying to incite trouble on this blog.
Mike (aka Dad)
I am glad that Dad agrees with me about Ann!!
Jamie is my baby girl and always will be. I love her with all my heart and soul. Bo is my blessing in disguise–the sun sets and rises in him. Twins are just another blessing and just that much more to love. Jamie is under enough stress without somebody being a turd over something that is NYP. Life is short enjoy it!!
Love, Mom, aka (grammie)
That was a very well written post. Too many times people with interest in politics get too tied up in one side or the other.
I enjoyed Mike’s post too. I think he and my husband are a lot alike.
This is off topic. I am not sure if anyone else is having trouble posting comments, but sometimes after two or three attempts I give up. It could be my browser, I am trying out Chrome. I didn’t have trouble before you changed to this type of message box. Am I the only one?
Holy cow – I am done with you people. I have said a GAZILLION times that I have no opinion about what Grandma does or how much you pay her. All I did was give you valuable tax information and you call me names. I say that Jamie was right about my not e-mailing and you call me names. I offer my opinion that Jamie doesn’t need to worry so much about the things that she’s worried about. That life doesn’t have to perfect and if she has her twins in a small house with no cars for them at 16 that she can still be a great parent. And you call me names. None of you people seem to read or understand my point in the slightest. Before I was amused and slightly irritated with the moronic things that I kept reading. But now I’m just done. It seems that some of you have no interest in hearing things you don’t agree with or think you already know the answer to. Just because someone tells you you are wrong about something does NOT mean the other person is insulting you. You guys need to grow up and yes, get over yourselves.
Ann aka “Ann” aka “An onymous” (good one, btw)