4212 Olive

When I heard it, the usual happened.  Words swirled my head, there is always more and so often deeper meaning.

“the innate sense of right and wrong.”

Right and wrong.

I said to someone the other day that over the last 8 years or so, this liberal on some days feels more conservative than the most vocal self professed “conservative”.

Those that I thought or perceived as conservative, today find acceptable things that even this liberal never imagined acceptable. 

I have to come to terms with the idea that we’ll never know why.  We’ll never hear the true reason they turned their head, held their nose and filled in the circle or pulled the lever, twice.  We’ll never know. 

We’ll never know how some compared a DUI nearly 30 years ago, to felonies, rape, bankruptcy, fraud, adultery, racism and just everyday verbal abuse to any and all.

Those who use the Bible as their guide, isn’t that the one book that more than any other book speaks to and about right and wrong?  Yet, those lines have been blurred.  Is God’s law perfect and should we follow it to avoid making wrong choices?

Righteousness – serving God

Evil – rejecting God.

Rejecting God, lines blurred.

Love they neighbor, lines blurred

The Bible forbids bearing false witness, slandering others,  Right judgment is commended and being discerning.

Right judgement, lines blurred.

Every person has a conscious, lines blurred.

Read Mathew chapter 24.

Truth is always more important than politics.  (Acts 23:1)

It’s more than blurred lines.  It’s the changing of all of what once had purpose and a definition that meant something and retained value. 

Character.  

Morality.  

Ethics.  

It feels some have, for reasons yet to be known, changed how all of this guides not only how they live, but how they think WE all should live. While saying don’t tread on me, treading on those that don’t fall inline.  

And what is that line?  Why was *he allowed to move the line, thin it or stretch is range?



Issues are blurred. There are no lines. Issues are dealt with on the surface. There is no depth. Depth would take effort, energy and with that effort to fully understand the issue, one might have to change their mind. Vulnerability feeds and maintains the fear. So we continue on the surface. We all know, each and every one of us that we all want the same thing. But one side admitting that they want the same as the other side, is political suicide. Like that’s more important that life itself or the life we hope to live.



Last election my issue, my one issue, voting for Black excellence, joy, resilience, decency and respect.

How often do you think of gullible?  Or think damn they’re gullible.  What other characteristics does a person who is gullible have?  Are they smart, not smart?  Are they needy?  Lost, lonely, lacking purpose and place so find it anyway they can?

What does the “Google” say.  A gullible person is someone who is easily deceived or tricked, and is too trusting of others. Gullible people may be naive, unsuspecting, or innocent. 

Gullibility is a lack of social intelligence, and can lead to people being taken advantage of. People who are gullible may make decisions based on unlikely claims or propositions that lack evidence. 

Ah, social intelligence.  

Now that is interesting!  

Is gullible an insult? 

Yes, the word “gullible” can be used as an insult because it can imply a lack of intelligence or judgment. It can also be used in a light-hearted way in jokes or pranks. 

Okay, so I want to be careful here.  Before I did the Google I started this because I had this thought.  While I’ve thought or wondered over the last 8 years or so, just what it was about this person who once again occupies the Oval, that I could put my finger on to think or maybe even say, this is why he is the way he is. 

I have no education for it, no factual first hand information or any data, medical, phycological or otherwise to say any of this, But I’m going to say it.

While he lacks many things, I’m going to say he has no social intelligence.  None, zero.  The ability to understand one’s own and others actions.  He is gullible.  He is naive.  He lack moral character.  He lack the ability to feel emotion or the cause and effect of bad and good things that can happen to a person.  He is an empty silo.  Which is also why, while I feel many different emotions about this person, I often find myself feeling sorry for him.  

Who are his friends?  Who cares about him?  Who cared about him?  

He has an idea of an image of what success is.  It’s juvenile and singular, serves no one. Maybe not even himself.

So here comes, a young “billionaire” who showers him with who knows what and he sees what he had hoped to have.  Even who he thinks or thought he was.  A successful company minus all the bankruptcies and a perception of success and taking no prisoners.  So his lack of social intelligence makes him gullible and vulnerable to someone like Elon.  It’s fawning.  It’s the not so popular guy being friends with who he thinks is the popular guy.  Because he doesn’t understand the graces of social intelligence.  And has a pension for mean because he doesn’t understand why he doesn’t have friends.  He was a privileged wealthy white boy, why didn’t people like him?  

Back in 2006 I had started a new job.  In all the jobs I’ve had, that manager is still in the top 5 of managers I’ve had.  

As I proceed with my job, along the way I discovered some, well let’s just say some inefficiencies.  Weekly I would update the boss as to my activities and also what I was seeing, hearing or finding.  Part of my job was to add and expand a segment of business for this company so I found myself at or onsite with existing customers.

After about 10 months the boss says, I’m creating a new role and you will not be working more closely and directly with these existing customers and the people we have supporting them.  Don’t need to give too much here or want to, but the onsite teams working with companies.

One day I went to a company that I had never been too.  In the beginning it would not have been a place that would have needed the new business I was tasked to build.  I think I might have been in the role a few weeks, maybe a couple of months.

I set the appointment with the contact at said company and showed up at the scheduled time to meet.

Well, I kind of got my ass chewed by someone I had never met who had never met me.  I listen, probably took a few notes and when he was done, I said, you have every right to be mad, what you just explained to me is unacceptable.  You have my complete apologies and know that the minute I leave here this Director, this VP and this VP will be notified of the issues and I am certain that action will be taken.  And I will follow up with you once a day until I know you have resolution.  

Not a thing that this man was mad about, and rightly so, did I have anything to do with.  But I sucked it up and took the responsibility.  Not for a SECOND did I consider blaming it on the last person, or anyone before me who actually was at fault.  I took the hit and I did what I could to fix it.

But I wasn’t the f**king President of the United States.  I guess that’s different when you have the lives of MILLIONS of people in your hands you can just shove off any responsibility while you decimate the entire country. 



Asshole!

When I think of character, first to mind is my Dad.  My two Grandpa’s.  Men I knew as a child and now men who I grew up with who I am still in touch with.  Merle McConnell, Hillis Bowers, John Wallace, Dan Wilson, Jim Carpenter, Bob Magee, Richard Burry, Elmer Gibson, Ed Barnes Jerry Bauman to name a few.  Then the Bowers, Merle, Ed, Ricky and Rodger.   Bill Nichols, Leroy Burry, Steve Magee, David and Doug Wilson, Tim and Steven Carpenter.

How is it that “we” normalized one, one who for many or me is a morally bankrupt, convicted felon, adjudicated rapist, racist into the once most respected highest office in the land.  Who will be next?  Why not a Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, Ted Kazinsky? 

I’ve started this several times.  Then get stuck.

I’ve said several times that I’m not here to understand,  Which lately is insurmountable.  Beyond any understanding.

Up until a few years ago, the idea of character rarely came into thought or conversation.  Now I think about it daily.

I think about how it feels like some have redefined character, morality and ethics.  It feels like for a reason or logic for me to put into words, none of those are an important aspect of leadership, or decency. 

Until a few years ago, I thought I knew what character was, or that the definition of character had not shifted or become a concept that was now void of meaning or importance.

Character as noun, the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.  Moral qualities, principals of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness(poor quality or low standard) of human character. 

What we have is a caricature of a human who will take an oath to protect and defend the constitution.  Someone who has with his actions and words disparaged and only defended himself not the constitution or any reasonable real rule of law.

A caricature is a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect. “there are elements of caricature in the portrayal of the hero”.

The soon to be President of the United States is a caricature.  As verb makes or gives a comically or grotesquely exaggerated representation of (someone or something). “he was caricatured on the cover of TV Guide“.

Mental and moral qualities.  Have we now normalized the fate of our future with a morales leader?  One who may have some level of a diminish of mental capacity?

Have we set aside our true idea or ideals about what character means or is to the degree that it is inconsequential?  We have jumbled words in the sense that if we move them over or back one direction and add a few other words we change the entire idea all together.

How you treat those who vote differently than you do say a lot about your character.

How you vote says a lot about your character.

And for what?  What is is that you hold so true and dear that you throw it all aside for this person?

Yes that word.  What is your measure of tolerance?  What is too much for you?  Do you get to set that measure for others?  

I saw one of my favorite follows on Instagram earlier respond to a DM message she got (1910.craftsman.on.burns).  She gets lots of them.

“You support the party of”acceptance and tolerance” yet you are not very accepting and tolerant of those in your comment section. Why limit the comments? Unless most of them are cooking you guys haha.”

Just for point of reference her comments section, 48.6k likes, 4,199 comments.  Not sure what “limit” means in this case.  And she gets a lot of DM’s.  And this one is tame, but what’s the point?

I think too often, those who use the word tolerance or throw it around like this are just abusers or damaged by abuse.  They are rarely interested in conversation, discussion or honest factual debate.  They are in it for the hit and run, the gotcha.  

Decency is no longer a value.  As Sherilyn Ifill has said, the requirements of decency have been lifted.  

Meta revised its hateful conduct policy to remove the term hate speech.  And of course fact checking isn’t needed any more.  Somehow it feels like Meta has lumped hate speech and free expression together completely putting civility on a back burner or a pointless aspect of society today.  

What I find interesting is that often ones trying to call out tolerance, do it with demeaning language, vitriol and hate.  Not sure why we can’t include all levels of any hate speech should not be tolerated and should be expunged, blocked, hidden, what ever.  

What purpose does this approach serve?  I have some weird idea right now that some are accustomed to and desensitized by and to abuse. So they have adopted that as their way to accomplish their goals. I mean, after all does that not now seem like the direction we are moving? 

How often does an abuser, physical or verbal change their spots?  When they say the 5th, 10th, 60th time they won’t do it again or send flowers, does that erase and completely reset and this will be the time of change?

I see the world in a different light.  The abuser and the abused needs help.  Help to stop the cycle.  The cycle that has us here today that I also feel will not shift back in my lifetime.

I see that within each of us is basic goodness.  Yet abuse in one form or another has the potential to overwhelm and disassociate one from any form of goodness for themselves or those around them.  Not all who are or have been abused become abusers, but I know it happens.  I think you do too.

I am okay.  I worry that some of you will not be okay.  I do not find the path of the current administration to date, a total of six days to have any redeeming qualities or in any way acceptable to serve the country.  In my measure of tolerance, it is off the charts, beyond unacceptable.  It won’t just be the “radical liberals” who this will impact.  It will be those of you who voted for him.

I am okay.  What I am not okay with is the destruction that too many are allowing to happen and too many standing back like’s it’s acceptable.  For the life of me, if I know you, you voted for the current president and at this point do not see the description that he is handing out daily to stroke his insecurities, I don’t and will also have to say, I don’t and never knew you.  Because, why would I find it acceptable to align my values with someone who essentially is dismissing those values at this point. And for what?

I know that some were single issue voters.  I was too.  My issue, qualified experience.  

I’ve said to myself so many times over the years that I don’t think I was put here on this earth at this time to understand. I wrote the other day that I’m having a hard time.  I’m okay.  

My hard time is the indifference.  There is a part o me that knows that it’s always been there, permission was granted and this is who we are.  It still takes my breath away to see and hear the cruelty that some have no issue or hesitation to, as they say, say the quiet part out loud.    

There is a lot going on for all of us.  The unknown of tomorrow while it presents no imprint, it gives us potential.  Opportunity to be.  An opportunity to slide back or make a choice to move forward.  It can be a gift.  It can be a continuation of the challenge that sits with you right this minute. It can be completely new and different, yet there will still be yesterday, last week, last month, last year. 

In my continued effort to stay away from the noise that is intended to disrupt and keep us wound, I’m not watching news.  I discontinued steaming services that provided the 24/7 new sources. Their contribution to the environment that we are in today is on understatement.  How those with the responsibility have maintained no responsibility.  

Also, did you know that there is a Three Stooges channel?

As I am writing this right now I’ve been watching Wynonna Judd: Between Hell and Hallelujah. I saw them live back in the 80’s at Kemper Arena.  This was a documentary about the concert tour that was to be a final tour, but Naomi took her life before it was to start. I actually watched the concert a few weeks ago.

It doesn’t take much for me to cry these days.  Age, the shifts in life that meet us all along the way.  The shifts that seem to be past repair or a place of care that allows us to care for each other and see our differences with grace and wonder instead of vitriol, separation and indifferent hate.  

The plates started shifting tectonically in 2017.  Left field was an understatement.  Deep down that shift, even as I think about it right now I have little to describe it.  The word debilitating comes to mind, but also seems extreme.  Then 2018, 2022, 2023 and now.  If I spend too much time thinking about it I can’t help but think or wonder the impact that 2017 had.

By the end of 2023, the residue of just the 5 years prior to that was a blur.  But at a time when, more than ever I needed a focus that I couldn’t rally.  I didn’t want to be the adult but there was no choice.

Then an election year and the unsettling potential of a reality of today what while I hoped would be different, that part of my gut that tells me things knew better.  

It doesn’t take much of me to cry these days I think because I didn’t have time to stop and cry in 2022 or even grieve in 2023 and now maybe I am, maybe I can.

Grief is normal and natural. Added to that now is the unnatural not normal state of the effort some are making to keep most of us unsettled.  

I’m having a hard time. I’m having a hard time tracking all of this and find myself looking to escape, feeling the need to fully disengage on many levels. Even a quick look at a headline, or a few seconds of audio of news, it’s too much what is happening. I’m trying to be careful and track focus to what is productive. I’m having a hard time. And I know I’m not the only one.

I saw a post yesterday with a quote. The first sentence, “one of the risks of being quiet is that the other people fill your silence with their own interpretation:” Thanks Cheryl K.

I know some disagree with me. Some won’t read because they already know, probably, what I will say when I do decide to say something and they disagree. And while I am not completely silent, there is so much I don’t say.

Another from a few weeks ago still creeps into my brain daily; how you treat those who voted differently than you says a lot about your character. What does who you voted for say about your character? We have let the definition of character, ethics and morality go regardless of the reality of any consequences of a lack there of. What have we accepted and acceptable with a vote?

The current administration is doing everything they can to diminish and adversely impact all of us. Not just who some thought or maybe even hoped it would impact. It will touch every one of us in one way or another.

There is too much at risk, so much at stake today and being too silent just doesn’t feel like an option. I also know nothing I or some might say will change others. That’s life. For now, that’s still our right.

Today;

It is beyond me what the threat to some Transgender, Gay, Black, Hispanic, the Houseless actually is. If you pay attention to more than one source or are truly concerned you know better. And you might find things like, immigrants, undocumented immigrants offend at a lower rate than US born. A study in Texas, yes Texas, immigrant arrests are less than half of US born. They also do the jobs that the majority of Americans don’t won’t do. So you should probably go out and buy some chickens, a milk cow, goats and maybe a pig or two. Or plant a huge garden.

What is it about those lives that has such an impact that some lash out with judgement, hate, work to silence or completely eliminate them from the world. What about their life has opened you up to so much hate?

Disparaging and lashing out at a minister for asking for compassion. How did you get there? Is your own house in order?

I’d be willing to bet that this hate comes from people who don’t even know a transgender person, have always looked down on gays and will often say things like, “I’m not a racist”. Code for ‘I’m a racist’. Which they would know and understand if they had done ANY work at all around racism and anti-racism. And why? Insecurity? Fear? Plan and simple, manufactured fear.

What does one do with manufactured fear that has been manipulated by the most insecure, incompetent, weak, narcissist on the planet? Do they believe that the hate will save them? Somehow expunge their perceived scourge from the earth? Do they believe that fear is the reality and salvation. Hate will deliver neither. Hate will eat you up. You have to know that, right? As a Buddhist raised in the church, this hate is more foreign to me than anything in my life. I find myself often angry or irritated, but hate? No. No hate. That’s not how I was taught, not how I was raised.

Some have been lead so deep into darkness, deceit and dissolution beyond any level of reality. An ability to return to any level of normal is beyond our grasp. Especially with what feels like the irreversible normalization of that one person who has made a mockery of everything. Everything sacred, everything we held true and honorable, the rule of law, the constitution, religion, science, humanity, decency and compassion. Everything.

Family and friends have split. We can agree to disagree on pizza toppings, but not legislation or laws that will harm innocent, honest good people who don’t want more than any of us, to be safe, happy and healthy.

“May you be safe. May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you live with ease”

A Facebook post, five years ago 2019.

I’ve said this a few times, but maybe not like this.

Character is reference to the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.  I feel like mine are pretty high and I admit to an expectation that those around me or who represent me will at the very least register somewhere on my scale morally.  Moral qualities and human decency do influence my choices.  Especially if they hold our democracy and our freedoms in their hands.

So, no I don’t want a “character” from a novel, play, movie or a tv show in the highest office in the land.  This isn’t a movie or a tv show.  This is life.  Our lives.  OURS.

Before this even with a Republican in office, I never worried about democracy.  I never worried about the rights and freedoms we hold dear that many valiantly fought for.  Never worried about our safety.  Ok, maybe a little bit with Cheney.  I now have no trust that those things aren’t compromised and being slowly stripped away.  

Let’s take a new look at morality and ethics and what that might look and feel like and turn this around.  For this former Christian now Buddhist, we are way off course and I’m hopeful not so far off that we can’t recover.  We have to.

May you be safe.  May you be happy.  May you be healthy.  May you be of ease.  (And yes, even for the one in the Whitehouse and those who are looking past his indiscretions.)

*****

Still, and more.

So much more to say, too often I don’t.  But then I feel complacent and responsible and as half of the county, at least, worried about democracy, freedom, our safety domestically and internationally.  Has complacency delivered us to where we are today?

About a month ago I asked on FB, define morality, ethics and character.  Three responses. I guess I get it. I’m exhausted by the whole thing as well.  Tired of the nonsense, the misinformation, the lies and the unfortunate reality of who we are as humans and citizens. For me, also not the time to be silent to try to slip back in a safe cocoon, bubble, whatever you choose to call it.  It’s life, real life.  To not be engaged, complacent, to not speak up, is a silent acceptance of the adversity and danger that is before us.

We jumble up words.  We jumble up or redefine what some words mean or maybe even what the value of those words one day meant.  Morality, ethics and character.

The thing is, most of you who will (or might) read this will be white. The level of exhaustion of those marginalized by the lack of understanding or interest in protecting those marginalized by us pales in comparison to theirs.  So you scroll on by.   Maybe you think about it, but your fear or lack of interest in the conversation speaks volumes.  Kind of like the quote I saw,

How you treat someone who votes differently than you speaks volumes about your character. Some might say, how you vote speaks volumes about your character.  Okay, I might say.

Or this one, some are angry because they are being judged by the content of their character, not the color of their (white) skin.  

See there, words jumbled.

The idea of or the concept of those three values that I was raised by have not changed in my now 64 years of life.  Today, for me I hold them even tighter even more important than the example I was given lived by my parents and Grandparents.  So much so that, this Liberal over the last 6 to 8+ years feels more conservative than some of you I thought might have been my conservative friends.  I see your acceptance of in my view, a lack of character, a lack of ethics and a lack of morality. All so far removed from what I thought we all believed those to be and mean, that I have to ask, what happened?  How is it that what I believe these 3 to mean is diametrically apposed to what  your choice tells me you believe them to be.

Now, I believe that I have been more than reserved on this.  I’ve not said what I have felt or really wanted to say. I’ve not been as direct as some have been or are toward the current administration. Or your opposition.   

So here it is.  I am so tired of this asshole and he’s not even in office yet.  Yes I called him a name!!  Since calling people names and being nice was over with him since, well since him.  Even though his flock are the ones to ask ME what happened to that notion.  Seriously?  Step back!  

Again, I will say, if you find anywhere, that previous to this I have called that one or anyone a name, posted something that is mean point it out and I will acknowledge that I didn’t hold my tongue as well as I thought.  This post doesn’t count because I am admitting the name calling.  If you feel this isn’t ‘nice’, I ask you to explore your reason for that thought before you plug me with it. 



This isn’t about nice, this is serious.  This is our life, our livelihood and the future we leave those who come after us.  I don’t have my own children, but I have children in my life that I worry about every day their future, the safety, their security.  And with what is before us now, I question every bit of it.

DO you NOT hear what comes out of his mouth?  Does none of that matter? This racist, misogynistic, convicted felon, adjudicated sexual offender who speaks so disrespectfully of anyone, no matter their station every single day, every single minute.  The media has normalized this insidious behavior.  The child whose sole purpose is to cover his own insecurities and inadequacies disparaging everyone around him.  Unless they are giving him money, while suing everyone for saying or reporting the truth?!  Is this a new job a new income channel?  Can we all set back and sue those who disagree or look at us differently?  F!!!!

If you like me are exhausted, image in those he marginalizes every damn day, immigrants, women, Black, Brown, LGBTQ, Military, educated career professionals, doctors, lawyers, scientists.  He is smarter than all of them?  Give me a F****** break!

He is morally, ethically and characteristically bankrupt and next month will be the one running the country.

An embarrassment of our acceptance of a lack of decency.

This is who we are.  

God speed.

Nov 14, 2020 FB post

I have this thought that fear has taken over our ability to live and love with an open heart.

Fear of losing what we believe rightfully belongs to us. To which I have to ask, what does belong to us? What does belong to you? Belong; the property of. Property. You are not property. I am not property. Your kids are not, your spouse is not, etc. etc. etc. Maybe you belong to a church, a group, a community, but you are still not property.

So is it a fear of losing something that is inherently your own personal beliefs, yours and yours alone? No one can take that away from you, it is yours and yours alone. Celebrate it, but don’t hold it over another.

Here’s the thing. There are probably eight billion people in the world. So imagine how many of those who have beliefs that are not yours or even diametrically opposed to you. This is our world, this is your world. It is not a threat unless you open yourself up to the difference and see it as a threat. Freedom is freedom and to place your belief over another is a shadow over another their freedom. We have a lot of work to do in terms of equality. Lots of work.

If we replaced our fear with understanding, that while we may have a different faith or a different political affiliation, are we taking the time to understand the human and the heart of our neighbor, our co-worker or friend? Are we there to listen to understand and embrace the difference and not as a threat to our own belief?

It started early for me, grade school. When I think about it today, I feel that lump in my throat and it makes me sad. There was a girl in my many of my classes who because of her religion, her Mom came and picked her up for any and all holiday celebrations the rest of us had. Her Mom came picked her up and she left school. While I didn’t see it, I see it now like I had, she and her Mom walking down that long empty hall to leave her class because we needed to celebrate Halloween. Even then I thought, why are we doing something that excludes this person? Why do the rest of us have to be so arrogant that our belief, our celebration is so much more important that we allowed it to exclude her? She might have been okay with this. I just don’t know. Either way, still.

Some of you know me. Some of you don’t, really. What both of you have in common is that you do not truly know my heart. We haven’t had the opportunity to have that conversation. You do not know my deepest beliefs. I don’t know yours. You might think you have a hint or an idea because of something I put here. Or I might think I know you because of a post. But neither is knowing the heart.

Some of your shared posts that say, whatever, are generalizations that exclude your friends and neighbors and they have no foundation of truth. And actually are counter to what I think the intention is.

We are humans. We have hopes, dreams and aspirations. We all believe differently, even if we sit next to each other in the pew on Sunday morning. My belief, your belief will never be THE belief of a world full of billions. 

How do we come together in harmony? Let go a little of the fear, hold your truth and allow your heart to be open to others and celebrate the beauty of the differences. Our hopes and dreams aren’t that different.

Peace.

This gentleman in the video below, in just a few minutes says some of what I’ve written over the last 8 years.  I write a lot, lots of words.  I share a very small % of what I actually write.  What I’ll ever do with all of it, I don’t know. There are enormous emotion this week among those in my world who are like minded. Want to know what I’ll bet on? That we won’t be storming the capital in January.

After this post I’m taking another break. When, if I come back, I will expect my Friends number to have dropped.  Go ahead, unfriend and block me because I won’t.  You’ll have to do that. As much as I absolutely disagree with your choice, I know it was your choice and for now we still have a choice.  We all deserve security, opportunity and freedom. We also deserve Black female excellence over white male mediocracy every day.

I see the harm that we have allowed and passed as acceptable. I see the harm that will come. Harm that I truly hope doesn’t touch any of you. I just doubt that it won’t impact all of us.  So much at risk.

If you feel any of this harms you, please check in with your Black, Brown and LGBTQIA+ friends.  Just don’t ask them to help you feel better. Consider their past and now their future. Make sure they are okay.

View on Threads

“What happened to the notion of not calling people names and being nice to one another? Just asking…”. Yes, I will ask this for her, for me and you, over and over and over again.


May you be safe.  May you be happy.  May you be healthy.  May you live with ease.