Waxing Philosophical

When I opened up my home page for the internet this morning, I clicked on one of those little "news" blurbs. It was about a political commentator for one of the cable networks who'd been suspended. Now I'm not really interested in having a political blog or engaging in a debate, no, my thoughts are more about the comments that were left regarding the story. There were 247 comments when I looked and scanning down some of them I did not see one that was really anything other than calling names from one side to the other or a profusion of asterisks and pound signs.

Here's my beef...whatever happened to stating an opinion or belief in an intelligent, thought-provoking way? Why can people no longer seem to have differing opinions without treating the opposing side like they are morons? Why do they not realize that when all they can do is scream or use profanity that they simply make their argument appear juvenile and weak?

I think it's mostly television. First, because all that we're offered on television is a bunch of people screaming profanity at each other and drowning in self-esteem. This seems to be how it is, reality shows or political commentators or dramas. I think we've lost "news", real journalism. I would love for someone to offer a source that provided straight facts and assumed we had enough intelligence to decipher information for ourselves and form our own opinion based on facts. Right or left, conservative or liberal, I'm tired of everyone else's opinion. I would love to be able to have my own without being piled into some group and labeled. The other factor that leads to this problem is--us. We don't really want to think for ourselves. We don't want to read more than a blurb or pay attention longer than a sound bite. And we become immune to the attitudes and language that would have left us incredulous a few years earlier.

What's the answer? I don't know. Do I think someone will step up and offer us an alternative? No, not really. Do I think the world's going to change and start acting nice and talkin' sweetly? I'm not counting on it. But I can make choices--to pay attention to what I'm allowing on my television (Is it worthy of my time? Am I really comfortable with the things they are saying or how they are saying them?) and make more of an effort with forming my own opinions and gathering my own information. Enough of my belly-achin'. That just rubbed me the wrong way at 5 o'clock in the morning.

Let's think on something a little more positive--supper. I did manage to make a menu list for this week. I bet you all thought I'd forgotten about those. Here's what we're having at our house this week.

Monday--Roast with Potatoes and Carrots, Biscuits
Tuesday--Potato Soup and BLT Sandwiches
Wednesday--Chicken Casserole, Green Beans, Oatmeal Rolls
Thursday--Fritomale Casserole, Fruit Cups
Friday--French Dip Sandwiches (with the leftover roast), Oven Fries, Carrot Sticks
Saturday--Homemade Pizza
Sunday--Leftovers