Today’s question comes from Heather.
Heather writes: Do you have a “hot button issue” that you just physically can’t ignore if it’s pushed on FB or in person?
To answer this question, I asked Real Man, because who would know about what makes me hopping mad better than my husband?
And, of course, he immediately began to rattle off a list:
Anyone who is trying to legislate what other people do with their lives or their bodies, namely people trying to make gay marriage illegal and outlaw abortion, and people who don’t know the facts about something and go spouting off about it.
I understand that there are choices that people may not make for themselves, but I do not believe that gives them the right to say that someone else can’t or shouldn’t do it. It feels like the Stone Age with regards to many things when I hear people say that there is only one way that things can be done.
As for the other, it drives me batty when people say things or post things on Facebook without having all the facts. I love a rich, full political debate and discussion, but only, only when both sides know what they are talking about and have the facts to back themselves up. Don’t like Obama? Okay…I’m fine with that. But, don’t post a status about how he’s taken away basic human rights or saying he’s raised the debt higher than any other American president, cuz it just ain’t so. Not a fan of public education? I’m sorry to hear it, but don’t start quoting test scores when you have no idea what those test scores really show. And, you should know that it goes both ways. I wasn’t a fan of George Bush, but I didn’t tolerate misinformation about him, either.
And while it’s not a political issue or one that is even really talked about on Facebook or anything, people hurting children is a stop on a dime, no debate, no discussion, fry their asses kind of topic for me.
You hurt a child, I don’t care the excuse, the story, the reason, there is no rationalization that is acceptable to me, and I want the harshest, harshest punishment for you.
And that’s the truth.
Hi Amy – I agree with you about knowing the facts, but in this day and age, do any of us really have all the facts? There’s so much “spin” that goes on with regards to facts. It feels like we get to pick and choose the purported facts to validate our preexisting view versus challenge our view. I find the best debates and dialogues are with those that are open and seriously dissagree with me. We both have a different set of views (supported by a set of believed facts), and often find the place in between.
One of the most interesting “facts” that’s I’ve been reading about is the number of people who aprove with Congress and the job their doing. It’s something like an 11% approval rating. However when asked how their local rep is doing, the approval rating goes up to something like 60%. It feels like we’ve become a nation of blamers. Not my fault I voted for the other guy, not my fault my representative is doing fine, not my fault they should have put up a sign to warn me that I could fall off a cliff, not my fault they should have removed the ice from their walk…
I’m rambling, but I yearn for the day of personal accountability. Where we truly look in the mirror and want to make things better by starting with ourself. Let’s s start by asking the question: “What could I have done differently?”, or “Do I really understand this issue?”.
Comment by ouractsofkindness — April 10, 2012 @ 8:58 am |
Jeff, You make a great point. Perhaps I should say “some facts” instead of all the facts. It just drives me batty when people come at me with “because I said so” or “I heard from a friend of a friend” or “My Mom says.” Do a LITTLE research before the discussion! I always tell my students, if you are going to state something, make sure you know what you are talking about. Have some research to back it up.
I agree wholeheartedly about the best discussions being with people who don’t agree with me. I long for it. I’m all about intelligent debate.
As for personal accountability? I yearn for it as well. I teach my children, at home, that the first question to ask themselves, ALWAYS, is what could I have done differently. Not, what was done to me.
Comment by abozza — April 10, 2012 @ 9:26 am |
Amen
Comment by Kim — April 10, 2012 @ 9:15 am |
Thanks, Kim! 🙂
Comment by abozza — April 10, 2012 @ 9:26 am |
Amen to all of the above!
Comment by thismummaslife — April 10, 2012 @ 8:19 pm |
Thanks, Krista! 🙂
Comment by abozza — April 11, 2012 @ 7:33 am |