CAN WE SURVIVE ANOTHER ELECTION CYCLE

 For most of us, the Christmas lights and trees are stowed away until next year. I imagine those who might have celebrated too much are now over any hangovers. Students returned to school on Thursday for the second semester. Workers returned to their jobs and the piles of work that grew while they were on break. Let’s face it: life is back to normal. 

This year is a Leap Year, so we’ll have to bear an extra day of all sorts of crazy things that happen in this country. Yes, I’m talking about politics. With what seems to be the snap of fingers, time has traveled at light-year speed to return us to another round of campaigns, primaries, and presidential elections. Maybe we are shocked that this stuff is back again because all we’ve heard on the news deals with politics and the wars between parties.  

Thinking that this year’s election will be characterized by civilized discourse and real plans for the future direction the U.S.A. is the act of a foolish optimists. Instead, I expect to see more back-stabbing, negative ads, and intense arguments that border on physical assaults. Our two-party system is hanging on by a thread, and someone has a pair of scissors ready to severe the whole thing.  

Few of the elected officials can be called statesmen. Both sides have limited numbers of those who place country before self or party. I well remember the conflict that swirled in the country during the Watergate Hearings. Some men did some bad things, and some paid for the actions by going to prison. I’m not sure how good of a President Ronald Reagan was, but I do know that he gave Americans a bit of pride, at least enough to straighten our backs from the shameful crouch that we remained in for years.  

We need someone to step up and lead us to that sense of pride again. That means that citizens once again learn to get along, even when they have different beliefs. Politics should be something that we discuss without becoming incensed. I can disagree with another’s viewpoints without hating him. Most of my friends support a different party than I do, but that never has kept us from being friends. 

I’m concerned about our choices in so many areas. I don’t know what I think about the continuing war in Gaza. When is enough enough? The government disappoints me over the Ukranian War. We made a pledge to that country to support them in their fight for freedom and independence from Russia. For some unrelated reason, representatives aren’t willing to provide funds for that small country to stand up to the big bully next door. If we allow Ukraine to be swallowed by Russia, we will forever feel the shame of our weakness. 

I call on all of the folks who take seats in the House and Senate to get over themselves and their party loyalties. For the next four years, I dare those chosen to govern to do just that without worries of losing support from donors or other party members. Be what you promised your constituents and keep their welfare in mind. If our leaders don’t have a change of heart now, they will for the rest of history be known as individuals who let the greatest nation known to die. Unity is strength.  

  

TIRED OF THREE THINGS

 I know that I’m at the age where no one wants to hear what I have to say on any subject. Most folks just call me grumpy, or worse. For years, I commented on most controversial subjects and spared no one’s feelings. I’ve mellowed these days, or at least I feel that I have. Still, sometimes I just have had enough of some topics and can’t keep my mouth shut.  This is one of those times, so bear with me. 

I’m steaming about the destruction of our language. After having spent 30 years teaching writing and grammar and literature, I’m on a slow burn at what new generations are doing to destroy English. Part of the blame goes to social media. The use of such shortened communications as “lol, lmao, and btw” creeps into formal papers for work or school. Students are no longer able to write in cursive. For some reason, it was dropped from the curricula of schools and replaced with other “serious” courses. I can guarantee folks that the inability to sign one’s name speaks volumes about the quality of his education. Something special has been stolen from individuals: their unique signatures.  

What still fires me up most of all is the misuse of personal pronouns. Let me list just a few of the INCORRECT usage of pronouns: “Keep this secret between you and I.” “The warning was issued to my husband and I.” Yes, the use of “I” is incorrect. How can you test if a pronoun is the correct one to use? Simply omit the other person listed before the “and.”  

Just as confusing is the new, politically correct use of “they” to refer to a transgender person. Now, I have no intention of discussing that topic, but when an individual declares that he or she is transgender, the use of “they” is absurd. We all know, or should know, that ”they’” is plural. I implore those who might be facing this issue to choose one side (he or she) and leave the plural pronoun alone.  

Another topic that is wearing thin with me is the worries about artificial intelligence. I’d like a different name for it because intelligence cannot be artificial. What I have observed over the years is that the dependence on computers and cell phones has crippled us mentally. Too often, people let their electronic devices answer their questions. Developers pump more information and capabilities into these items. An easy way to control AI is to limit what we put into programs. If we don’t, the takeover of our society might well happen when a computer uses what it’s been fed and makes a moral judgement against our survival. 

Last of all, I am simply fed up with the division that has overtaken this country. We no longer have political parties. Instead, we have factions. Political parties find little agreement as factions from the right, middle, and left fight each other. Nothing is accomplished in the halls of congress because the infighting of the parties themselves prevents bills from being passed and sent on. I’m tired of the failure of our elected representatives to look out for the American public.  

Go ahead and call me grumpy, dim-witted, and shallow. I don’t much care. I have no idea how much more time I have on this earth, but I’d sure like to spend it getting along with people of all viewpoints. This tendency to only associate with like-minded individuals only leads to more darkness and failure to learn. Step across the line and talk to someone on the other side of things. You might discover that most people have similar opinions with only nuances making those beliefs different.  

It’s New Year’s week. Let's spend time learning to once again tolerate the view of others. Then, go ahead and love those who have different takes than you do. Otherwise, our wonderful country that leads the world in helping others might just fizzle.  

BUSY TIMES

 It’s a busy time of year for all of us. I used to have things that ate away at my time and kept me busy. These days, other people, organizations, and conditions demand my time, in addition to some standard occurrences.  

Some of my time is spent with my brother Jim. We try to play golf once a week. Both of us are rather poor players, but it’s fun to knock golf balls around and just hang out together. Yes, we’d like to have better scores on our cards after rounds, but being together is most important. 

Jim and I also find plenty of projects to keep us busy. Just today, we finished a two-day job at his daughter’s house. We cleaned a basement area at Mindy’s. Her house is an old one in Fountain City with plenty of yucky stuff that has accumulated over the years. We emptied the place, tore out a dilapidated work bench, and rearranged items. I built her a worktable for the basement, and we placed it in a convenient place. None of the work was that important, but that “hanging out” was priceless. We’ve been doing the same thing since we were wild little twin boys. 

Aging has a way of eating up my spare time. I’ve visited doctors too many times this month. One trip had me in a chair at an ENT specialist. He checked me out, prescribed an antibiotic cream, and scheduled another visit in February for a check-up and a CT scan on my nose and sinuses. This week I am visiting an imaging center for a lung scan. It’s something that doesn’t cost me a dime, and it offers a look for anything that might need attention. I also visited the eye doctor and received a prescription for new glasses.  

Earlier this year, someone talked me into joining the church choir. I discovered that hitting low notes still is a challenge, but I don’t do too badly. Besides, I’ve had fun working with the choir and the director Gage and the accompanist Paula, who keeps me in stitches during practice. I sang in the church choir during high school, and returning has been a blessing. I still might ask to join the praise band before long. That would take up even more time.  

Christmas of course, is right around the corner. Amy and I will travel to Hendersonville for a few days to celebrate with our daughter Lacey and Nick and Madden. We also want to visit friends we made when we owned a condo down there. We’ll return to Knoxville in time to celebrate Christmas with our son Dallas. Our menu for the day will be chili and tamales. My Christmas shopping is completed. Like most men, purchases are limited to ones for my wife; she stresses and deals with the rest of the shopping. I don’t think she trusts me to do much more than pick up items she’s already bought.  

While we are in Hendersonville, Amy and I will celebrate our 49th anniversary. Next year will be the big one, but I’m stunned every time I think about my dear wife having put up with me for so long. I am not an easy person with whom to live; I have quirks that would drive most folks up the wall. Some years have been rougher than others, but overall, we still love each other and enjoy the time we have together.  

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas. Your reading my thoughts and gripes and praises has blessed me more than anyone can imagine. I hope that the good lord allows me to continue to peck away on the computer and create an occasional piece that is special to readers. This is the one thing that takes my time but rewards me for every second I spend.