Opinions & Feelings, Bullying & Teasing, and Thoughts
by Barry Bauer
We’ve learned a couple of weeks ago that expressing an opinion can cause an uproar on a talk show. Bill O’Reilly chose politically incorrect words to give a simple and honest explanation of what he thought and the ladies didn’t like it and a couple of them tried to belittle him by walking out on their own show.
How would you like to be an invited guest to their house for dinner?
Last week we’ve learned that expressing a feeling is equally upsetting to some folks. Case in point, the firing of Juan Williams from his job at National Public Radio for expressing how he feels if a certain situation comes up on an airplane.
I’m sorry folks but that’s a “trained response” he’s expressing, and he ought to be free to express it without fear of reprisal. We are finding out that we have to be super sensitive about other people’s feelings, and in return, they’re not at all interested in being super sensitive about ours.
We are told to believe that it’s just a coincidence that the terrorist acts we’ve experienced in recent history were committed by Muslims. So they tell us to quit connecting the dots.
Have you stopped yet?
Does that mean we are not free to think or have feelings anymore? It appears that’s the case. So don’t go around saying, “I’m free to be me,” because chances are you’re not.
Some optimist will come along, look at this situation, and tell us “it could be worst.” And some pessimist will come along afterwards, and tell us “it could be better.”
So which is it?
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I have no solutions for the bullying and teasing problem that’s suddenly come to light after years and years of existence. Over a half century ago I was on both the receiving and giving end of it in school and in life. For me it’s always been there and not something new that’s just come down the turnpike. As an adult I feel bad for any harm I caused others. I only wished I felt that way when I was a kid.
So how do we speed up the maturation process or would that be abnormal?
Sometimes in life, things are in reverse order. We learn things too late in life. We need more information earlier but where do we get it, from parents, the church, the schools, the workplace, or if you prefer but I don’t, the government?
As for the bullying and teasing I received . . . it made me tougher. Life is supposed to do that to you so you can to survive in the real world.
Can we get rid of the problem? I don’t think so, Gram. We are currently involved in a national attempt to legislate human behavior. I don’t believe that’s possible until we can start reforming all the people we have incarcerated in prisons and maybe then we can work our way up. That would be the first place I’d start, assuming I have some kind of magical solution which takes us back to the first sentence I wrote in this segment.
Humans are flawed and nobody but nobody takes responsibility for that . . . not even God.
* * *
Some thoughts:
Charlie Sheen is a spoiled brat.
Barack Obama is a terrible President.
The Detroit Lions will still win six games this year.
Bret Favre should retire and deal with his personal problems.
The women on “The View” are going cuckoo.
The Spartans will lose two football games in a row.
The Department of Education is a boondoggle.
And finally, the Republican candidates will do well in next week’s election.
Until the next time . . .