Exploding Heads

The news around the world gets to me sometimes, and when it does, I just want to shake someone to prevent my head from exploding. Yes, I’m on my soapbox again this morning. But you knew that, didn’t you? Mostly my rant is about common sense and the lack thereof. Now I don’t consider myself to be knowledgeable on all subjects, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure a few things out either, does it?

For instance, I woke up this morning to find in the news that the Arab League was now all upset about the No Fly Zone in Libya and the air strikes. Ummm…they just supported it the day before. And now they say they are concerned about killing other Muslims and getting involved? So why the flip flop? Was there a breakdown in the language translation at the United Nations or what?

I’m not in favor of killing anyone, but the decision was made, and the Arab League was in complete agreement. Did they think those fighter jets would be loaded with BBs? Makes me think there is another far more sinister reason for flip flopping. Because surely they knew what it meant. For now, we’ll just have to sit back and see how this plays out. And any way you cut it, it doesn’t bode well for world affairs.

On another note, I’ve been following the case of the protesters who place themselves outside of military funerals and disrupt services with their anti-gay and anti-war messages. I’m sure everyone is aware of this church group by now, and most people would not begrudge them their right to shout their message from the rooftops no matter what we think of the actual message. But we DON’T think it’s okay to deliver the message in such a way that grieving family members are targeted and caused further grief.

I for one have not always agreed with what has occurred in the War On Terrorism. But terrorism does exist and we must fight it. It’s only common sense. But not one time have I ever NOT supported our fighting men and women. Anti-war protests are much better laid at the doorsteps of the Capitol Building—not at the feet of grieving families.

But the Supreme Court agrees with the free speech rights of the protestors. I can’t say I was shocked. The Court is, after all, sworn to interpret and uphold the laws of this land. However, with that said, the Court is also charged with making sense of our laws, and therefore, in some cases clarifying or even making decisions that throw laws or interpretation of laws out the window. And NO, I don’t suggest we throw free speech out the window!

But I have to say this: The rights given to us by the Constitution and Bill of Rights are only “rights” as long as we don’t infringe on the freedoms and rights of others. At least that’s the way I look at it. Maybe that's an over-simplified approach to it all, but it works for me. Respect others.

It is a sad day when individuals take it upon themselves to purposely inflict pain in order to bring attention to themselves. To say that God hates anyone—gays, a particular race, gender, etc.—and is handing out punishment as a result, goes against the very grain of Christianity. So the reasoning of these church members eludes me. And now that they have “permission” to do what they’ve been doing? I imagine it will only worsen. They will become bolder and much more aggressive. I see a lot of sorrow to come on the horizon.

And then there is the catastrophe in Japan. Thousands upon thousands are dead, thousands are missing, and the people of Japan are barely hanging on. So what do people do? Make jokes about it. A famous comedienne and a governor’s press secretary have lost their jobs by doing just that--making fun of such a horrendous tragedy. There was a college student who made a video about being miffed over Japanese students on their cell phones trying to find out what had happened to their loved ones back home. My own kid posted on X Box to some friends about what is going on in Japan and the response he got shocked him. He ended up deleting a few friends as a result.

Were these people raised by wolves or what?

What has happened to compassion and tolerance in our world? It seems to no longer exist. More and more it appears as though we are living in a world of pure madness, and the mob mentality has taken over, bleeding people dry of all common sense. 

I read a local story this morning. A story from North Carolina in a town about a hundred miles from me. There was a big fight going on in a mobile home park. A man was passing by on his way to get his kid a late night snack from a fast food restaurant at about 9:15. From this mobile home park, a man ran out in front of him and the driver of the car hit him—unavoidable accident. But others from the park saw this happen, ran out and snatched the driver from his car and almost beat him to death.

And here’s the shining light.

A woman came along in her car, saw what was happening, sat down on her horn for over five minutes to draw attention to the situation—therefore saving the man’s life. The woman was obviously afraid for her own life, but she said she just couldn’t drive away and leave him there.

Hope is what keeps us going. That tiny light within each of us that promises things will get better. It’s what gives us the strength to face a mob, defy those without a conscience, and move mountains when everyone said it was impossible. We live in dangerous and complicated times. There are no easy solutions. But if we all sit down on the horn and refuse to leave those who need us? I think we’ll weather the storm just fine.

Yeah, hope springs eternal. Even from a jaded lady with an exploding head like me.