Granted, the news has a purpose, and when done right, it is a great service, but when I see a person hound someone to get the answer the person wants to tilt the scales, or when someone is misquoted in the media (especially "off the record" is printed and THAT is even misquoted - yeah, been there, done that), I've realized that too much brain energy is spent on discerning what's true or not as opposed to where the need for love and compassion is at.
But then comes the lefts and rights. The this-sides and that-sides. The our-way and their-way. Even people who will state the "open option" (whether your this or that) and then tell you how to think.
Seriously?
No one can think for themselves anymore?
As a society, we're so messed up that we need someone to think for us? And who is the best person for that - you? me? the Fox News or CNN reporter? the blogger with 1500 hits?
As the title of this blog says, you are on your side of the fence, and there are two sides of a fence. Face it, there is. And don't trust me - I don't work for a cable news service. Go look for yourself.
But when you try to stay in the middle (hear both sides, be in a conversation with everyone), it's painful (when checking that fence, straddle it, and see if it doesn't hurt!). But that's the cross we bear sometimes (yeah, a little phrase from my own occupation). But if we don't hear another side, we won't understand anything in the first place. We're nothing more than a bunch of robots who will bounce ourselves against the walls until our batteries run down.
The other day, someone mentioned that they called a plumber to clear a drain, based on the information that "the toilet was hopelessly clogged". The plumber showed up, grabbed a plunger, and after a few tries, opened the drain.
Fifty dollars for something the guy could have done himself. No, he wasn't happy.
But like he said, had he thought for himself instead of giving into some hype, the issue would have been resolved a lot quicker and cheaper.
(And truth-be-told, I gave into some of the same hype!)
We can all think for ourselves, but we can also listen to others to gain an understanding. It doesn't mean that we have to change our minds, but we can share some love and compassion. We can stop slinging ugly and hateful speech. We can stop shutting people down. We can allow people to be who or what they are or what they think, just as we would want to be who we are or be allowed to think a certain way.
If we can't get along, where will that lead us?
