---Mother Teresa
I am trying to remain objective...really I am. I understand that the changes in our political arena that are causing my unhappiness are long overdue changes for other people. I accept that some people believe that taxing the rich to help the poor is socialistic, and although I believe we all have a moral responsibility to help those in need, I see where others might not.
Although I am vehemently pro some forms of gun control, I can even see the other side's fear of controlling their rights to own weapons. They believe that when our constitutional rights are slowly weakened, we might end up losing everything we worked to attain, and although I believe that our gun manufacturers upped the constitutional ante when they introduced automatic/semi-automatic weapons to the general public, I try to remain objective.
Please help me understand though, the preoccupation so many people have with how people identify themselves and who others chose to love. Why would our politicians remove a law that allows children to go to the restroom without being bullied or embarrassed. Transgender people are not interested in using bathrooms to spy on other people's private parts, and bathrooms have private stalls if you are concerned.
Thousands of people lose their battles with cancer every day. Our water supply and the air we breath are filled with pollutants that are making us ill. Gangs roam our inner cities taking pot shots at each other and amassing "collateral" damage in the form of toddlers and young teens. Terrorists, both foreign and home grown, are altering our way of life as they threaten our safety. How then, do we find the time to spend even one precious moment involving ourselves in someone else's sexual preference or gender identification?
People do have the right to feel uncomfortable around transgender people and/or same sex couples. They have every right to be uncomfortable around those that are different than they are, and they can even peacefully discuss their discomfort, because they live in a world where freedom of feelings and speech are given. Under our constitution however, they do NOT have the right to put their discomfort above other people's rights. If they are uncomfortable sharing a bathroom with someone, then they need to find another bathroom...the onus is on them. If they are uncomfortable with same sex marriage, then they can avoid interacting with same sex couples, but they have no right trying to stop others from seeking happiness.
To find love and personal acceptance in a world that offers up natural disasters as easily as it offers a sunny day should always be the goal...not the problem. Sharing a word, a smile, a lifetime with another individual is a very personal choice, and that choice should not be affected by anyone else. That is a given, but what I can not make myself understand is why anyone thinks that they should affect another's choice.
My choice of books this week included Her Honor by William Coughlin, which centered around another controversial subject. Kathleen Talbot is a newly appointed judge, and the subject of mercy killing surrounds her. While I found the book offered a few too many characters, the plot was strong and the controversy quite topical.
I also reviewed The Chocolate Cure (Love at the Chocolate Shop Book 4) by
Roxanne Snopek. It was a light novel featuring Madeline Cash, a realtor who stumbles upon romance while trying to become a better person. Silly but fun.
As usual complete reviews of both of these books follow this blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly