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Having a positive impact on each other

bridge

When was the last time you changed someone’s mind by calling them names? Which name was most effective? Idiot? Dummy? Racist?

(in case it was last in poor writing skills, that was sarcasm.)

We need to decide why we are engaging each other. If it is simply to vent and to insult, then by all means, throwing out some nasty names may make you feel better… for a while.

If you want to have an impact, get people to think about something, perhaps think about things in a new way yourself, leave out the insults.

The past couple of months have been confounding for liberals, and even many centrists. They have a hard time understanding how others could vote for Donald Trump.

One reason: Elections are binary, life is not.

When you vote for a person it is a task of weighing many different aspects, balancing those things on which you agree and those on which you don’t, and then throwing the qualitative “how do I feel about life at this moment” thing that really messes us up. You have one vote that has to accept the good and the bad.

If you voted for someone with whom you agreed on all points without reservation, congratulations. I envy you your certainty. I’ve never had it and would be startled if I ever did.

Nearly half the people who cast a vote did so for Trump. I know a lot of people. I don’t always agree with them and some voted for Trump. They are not idiots, dummies or racists. We can have some very good conversations, some are even about politics.

But, I guarantee that if I started the conversation with “you’re a racist”, or they began with “you libtard”, it would be a one sentence exchange. We would have no chance to find out that there are actually a lot of points are which we agree. That we both want to help others, but have different approaches. That neither likes how the crackdown on immigration affects families, but one is sincerely afraid of potential terrorist attacks. We would not have an opportunity to talk through these things and see if we can agree and perhaps support a common position.

If all you want to do is cast insult, that’s your right. But no good will come of it.

If you really want to see a better place, work to bridge the gulf the election created. Once you start trying you may find that the bridge doesn’t have to be as long as your thought.

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Navajo Ute First Phase Blanket On ARS

Navajo Ute First Phase Blanket

Navajo Blankets have been popular American art for hundreds of years. Adapted from the Pueblo weaving craft at a time in the 17th century when many Pueblos sought protection from the Spanish by joining Navajo, the Navajo have created coveted art ever since. While much of the Navajo blankets we see today have intricate designs and deep colors of red, the original navajo blankets were quite simple, consisting of straight patterns of alternating colors. The colors tended to be earth tones and blank.

Among the most sought after Navajo blankets are the Chief’s First Phase Blanket. So, when one of these was brought onto the Antique Roadshow, the collector almost fell over. You’ll have to watch the video to see how much it is worth. But the part of the story that really gets me is that this family has been a hard working farming family without much money. All the while they had no idea of their hidden wealth. This valuable Navajo Blanket was passed from generation to generation, finally ending up simply being laid over a chair back.

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John Oliver bit on truth for Donald Trump

oliver on trump

If you are an ardent Trump supporter, you either have a great sense of humor or you hate this.

Reporters covering him asked, “What does he mean when he says words?”

From the wall to the travel ban, he is trying to implement what he said, this as admirable.

The observation that was funniest was his focus on Trump’s obsession with cable news. Oliver showed the timing between Trump’s tweets and stories covered on Fox. Frightening or funny, you decide.

Following this, he showed Trump’s propensity to quote Breitbart and Alex Jones.

View the full video, and although funny, makes great points. The bottom line, Trump doesn’t care about the truth. He cares about a bunch of people agreeing with him even without facts upon which to base it.

Spencer justifying the President’s lying about the things by saying “he believes it.”

The ending bit is the best. It is up to use to check the new we hear, especially if the news validates our own world view.

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Dancing aninamals

Dancing Animals

Sometimes we just need to find something to make a laugh. Unfortunately for the animal kingdom, dancing horse, cats, birds and chimps fit the bill. In the video below there are some funny dancing animals. Though there is one of a person making the cat dance and all you can do is hope that we (and the cat) are rewarded with a big chunk of the man’s hand taken out.
In truth, what kept me watching, well actually listening to this was the music. The animals provided some entertainment, but it ended up being the music that made it worth watching.

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Bali anyone?

Rice Terraces near Sebatu, Bali

http://thesundaychapter.com/2016/01/bali-travel-guide/

https://www.bali.com/

Bali, an island in Indonesia, may be the perfect vacation spot. The hotels cater to your every need, the landscape is beautiful with mountains, lush green rainforest, winding rivers with deep waterfalls, and animals in the tree all around you. As a tourist destination, very few places can live up to what Bali has to offer.
 

When you think of Bali, rainforest, mountains and ocean comes to mind. The photos of Bali are always breathtaking, in the ideal environment for rest and relaxation.

There is no limit to the number of photos you can find on the web. Here are some of the best images, giving you a good idea of what you’ll see if you visit Bali.

Check out the Hanging infinity pools in the Ubud Hanging Gardens, Bali

Hanging infinity pools in the Ubud Hanging Gardens, Bali

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/313563192787911343/

Rice Terraces near Sebatu, Bali

Rice Terraces near Sebatu, Bali

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/ASamikR5I2kQje1eMdy14AygjUxzfLsuyYwjCrfuuciQhZvCsWG00xw/

 

Bali swimming

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/51369251978825648/

Danu Bratan Temple at sunset

sunset-danu-bratan-temple

https://www.bali.com/

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Political Correctness stifles conversations

When I was about 13 years old, a friend and I were sitting in my room, and for some reason I blurted out “oh sh*t!”.

From the hallway my mom yells,”Steve, you don’t say ‘oh sh*t.”

My friend, whose family was very strict and would likely get a paddling for something like this (yes, that was a thing back then), looked at me with dread. I was going to get it.

My mom followed up, “It’s not ‘oh sh*t’, it’s ‘ahh sh*t.’”

* used so as not of offend anyone 😉

Most kids learn to bake cookies from their mom. I learned to swear.

But I learned more than that. I learned that you have to hear beyond the words. For most parents, when the kids swore, that’s it, they swore. You aren’t allowed to do that.

For my parents, when a kid swore, it was because there was something behind it. A feeling. A concern. A fear. Something. Maybe even just a joke, but that was okay.

Focus on the message, not the words
So, for fifty years I have not been overly concerned with the actual words people use. The words are not the important thing, it is the message they are trying to convey. Yes, there are some words for which there may be but one, very bad, message. There are others for which there may be multiple meanings, or the meaning has morphed over time. When we hear these, too often we jump to the worst of options and stifle our ability to get the message behind it.

Being Politically Correct
Political correctness is the process of trying to say what you mean while using words that don’t offend others. It places the responsibility for communicating solely on the speaker or writer. This person must try to anticipate the perspectives of dozens, hundreds, thousands, or perhaps millions of people. It is literally impossible.

Relieved of all responsibility in this is the reader or listener. They can remain selfishly tied to their perspective, making no effort to understand that of the messenger. We are allowing ourselves to become increasingly lazy with each offence. We take solace in the notion that the messenger is deeply ignorant for using words which are so clearly offensive. Yet our own ignorance compounds with each message that gets blocked by our walls of political correctness.

Politics is a process
Politics is about the process of managing and improving our society. In this, we are all affected. Over the past few decades it became apparent that some people were left out of the process. They didn’t know how to engage because the words, messengers and topics of focus were not things they could relate to. We made a conscious decision to be mindful of how we said things so that others would be able to join in the conversation. The intention was noble.

As with so many things, the pendulum has swung too far. We have gone from trying to speak in such a way as to invite others, to trying to be sure no one is offended. One speaker responsible for 1000’s of perspectives, and it is stifling our ability to communicate effectively.

Political Correctness is no longer about the words we use, but about the very topics we can discuss. It is preventing us from doing the very thing politics is suppose to help societies do, work through and solve social problems.

Entertainment
When it comes to entertainment (comedy, music, etc), there really is no such thing as political correctness. There is only the suppression of creativity. These things are meant to push us, make us think in ways that may be uncomfortable, or hit us with something completely new to us. But, if we choose, we can block these things out and live in our buble. It is up to us.

If you find yourself offended by music, comedy, television just turn it off, switch the channel or learn to deal with it.

If find yourself being offended in the process of political discourse, try to look beyond the words and into the message they are trying to communicate. If the message is still unacceptable, target the message, not the messenger or the method used to convey it.

Though I have learned that the words you choose affect how others hear you, I also know that people need to learn to hear better.

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The Dark Place

dark room

Where are you?

Here.

Where ‘here’?

I don’t know.

It’s dark though.

Can I help?

I don’t know.

Why are you there?

I don’t know.

Can I help you out?

I don’t know how I got here,

so, I don’t know the way out.

Is anyone there with you?

It’s too dark to see them if they are.

Who brought you there?

People.

Why?

I…gave them control.

Then I guess you found your own way out, haven’t you?

Maybe. But it’s not that easy.

Would you rather stay there?

No.

Are you going to take control then?

Yes.

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Banned, not abandoned: Ways to help the Syrian refugees

Charity logos

Syrian Refugees can’t come to the U.S. now. This is antithetical to our national self image and is being met with protest and outrage across the country. But it won’t change. There is a large but not vocal segment of our population that agree with the ban. As the legal battles get drawn out, and will likely align with the President based on historical actions, U.S. citizens who are concerned are frustrated. We want to help. We can help.

While our government forms the official policy for the country, it does not form our personal positions. We can still assist.

Below are six of dozens of organizations that help the Syrian refugees. From White Hats, volunteers at ground zero helping innocent bystanders immediately after the attacks to Save the Children, manning and supply refugee centers, there are organizations helping all along the refugee path.

Oxfam

Oxfam syrian aid

In Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, we are helping more than 2 million people with life-saving clean water, sanitation, and vital support for families who have lost everything.
Learn More

UNICEF

UNICEF

UNICEF and its partners are committed to delivering essential services for Syrian families and keeping Syrian children from becoming a ‘lost generation’.
Learn More

Save The Children

save the children

Save the Children has pre-prepared supplies and staff in some of the areas where families are being brought to, including 10,000 food baskets and 30,000 medical kits.
Learn More

Mercy Corp

Mercy Corp

Our teams are on the ground right now, delivering much-needed food, water, shelter supplies, jackets, warm blankets and other supplies to the most vulnerable refugees.
Learn More

Medical Teams

medical teams
In Lebanon, our teams visit camps to provide health outreach for thousands afflicted by trauma-induced conditions with no way to access a clinic.
Learn More

White Helmets

white helmets

When the bombs rain down, the Syrian Civil Defence rushes in. In a place where public services no longer function these unarmed volunteers risk their lives to help anyone in need – regardless of their religion or politics.
Learn More

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Another example of why capitalism and healthcare don’t mix.

aetna

I made, what I think, was a pretty rational argument for a Single Payer Healthcare system. There are plenty of quantifiable reasons to go that direction – outcomes, costs, efficiency, etc. But when the corporations work over the public as negotiation leverage, it affirms my belief that capitalism and healthcare are a bad mix

Our family had Aetna insurance last year. Near the end of the summer we received a letter from Aetna telling us they were dropping coverage in our market. This left just one insurance company to cover us. Just one.

In the process, we had to change doctors for our son. The new insurer wouldn’t cover the current doctor. He’d been with the same pediatrician for about 10 years. Without going into detail, it was good to have a doctor who knew him as well as his medical history. Now that connection is severed, because of insurance.

The Threat
When it’s proposed merger with Humana as challenged by the DOJ, Aetna threatened to drop our county along with 16 others. Throughout the conversations with the DOJ, Aetna was clear that if not approved, they would dump us. As soon as the DOJ filed it’s challenge, Aetna dumped the people it was covering.

Aetna went further, minimizing the paper trail by directing employees to have conversations via phone and not email, and classifying basic business correspondence as protected under client-attorney privilege.

It’s good business. That’s the problem.
The thing is, while I think CEO Bertolini doesn’t care about customers, he doesn’t have to. Its business, and that is the crux of the problem.

As a CEO, his obligation is not and never will be to the customers (patients). It is to the shareholders. Customers are just a conduit to put money in the pockets of the shareholders. That is the way businesses are and should be run. And that is exactly why it is bad for patients.

Paul Ryan justified the elimination of the ACA by citing Aetna’s decision to pull out of the exchange… It’s bad for businesses.

I’ll see Ryan’s position, and raise him.

Aetna’s decision shows why we need to replace health insurance. Its bad for Americans.

Choose your constituency Mr Ryan.

Profit motivated health insurance is good for business.
A Single Pay System is good for Americans.

Who do you work for?

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Look to fight for something, rather than seek something to fight against

For two months I have seen and heard a lot of despair. People are upset in the extreme because of the election and they are gearing up to fight against Donald Trump.

I think this is a mistake.

Eight years ago, when President Obama took office, and again four years later, there was an equally aggressive stance against him. We had 8 years of right wing politicians whose primary goal (and stated by some) was to oppose President Obama at every turn. Their position was supported by a boisterous body of hardliners who accepted no compromise.

Over that time there were areas of national interest on which both parties could have compromised. But it didn’t happen. We spent eight years with Washington tied in knots and a public frustrated by ineffectual governance.

To “fight against” President Trump is an effort that will reap no fruit; he will remain president, have the bully pulpit and continue to be who he is.

Rather than go forth with blanket opposition to President Trump, we need to select those areas about which we are passionate, involved, or deeply invested, and focus our energy to improve them.

“Fight for…”

Education, healthcare, poverty assistance, eldercare issues, childcare, defense, race relations, the environment … there is a nearly endless list of issues our country must address. Pick one, or two… if you are really energetic, pick three.

Learn deeply about the issue, research, listen openly to others, form opinions, then write and call legislators or local politicians.

Rallying against something is easy, especially when the target is so clear. But it is also ineffective. Focus energy constructively to create something better locally, regionally or nationally.

Commiseration is a short term placebo. It’s time for the real cure. Act in support of something.