Photo by Pat Bean
This is the fourth day in a row that I have sat down in front of my computer screen to write a blog, one about something insignificant that readers might find meaningful or amusing. I usually feel I’ve achieved that goal if my words give me my own aha moment, or bring a smile to my own face.
But each time I tried to put light-hearted words together this week, I couldn’t find any. Instead, I would go back to perusing the news, which quickly had my insides screaming in agony.
How did we become such a divided country, so full of angry people who can no longer tell truth from lies, or who can but won’t accept it because they don’t like it?
Why do I see facts differently from some of my own friends and family?
How can Americans put aside differences and work together — even if they never will see eye-to-eye? Writing this, I think of the words my granddaughter and her wife spoke at their wedding: “You be you and I’ll be me.” It works for them. Why can’t it work for this country’s population?
Michel Montaigne, a 16th century French philosopher wrote: “Men are tarnished with the opinions they have of things and not by things themselves.” I think this translates to what is going on in America today.
Frankly, I’ve always thought our country works best when one party has the presidency and the other party has control of Congress. It forces the opposing forces to work together, mitigating extremes in either direction. Anyone who thinks they deserve to get their way in everything every time is a selfish, spoiled child with no empathy for others.
OK. Perhaps this is enough ranting so that the next time I sit in front of my computer screen with a blank page in front of me, I will be able to write something insignificant and amusing. I dang well hope so.
Pat Bean is a retired journalist who lives in Tucson with her canine companion, Scamp. She is a wondering-wanderer, avid reader, enthusiastic birder, Lonely Planet Community Pathfinder, Story Circle Network board member, author of Travels with Maggie available on Amazon, and is always searching for life’s silver lining.
Pat Bean's blog 
We look on in amazement.
Exactly!
I’ll be honest, I am struggling over here.
One of the hardest parts for me is that so many people I know and love think this way.
I want to write too.
I’m not ready.
But you have said what I am thinking and I thank you for that. It makes me feel a little less lonely.
Thanks, Pat. I believe even the cheery little posts we read and write are not insignificant. And it’s okay to rant. Many writers online this week, some famous, are “doom scrolling” and having the same problem focusing. May our country start on a better path soon.
how about the hotel in kenya where the elephants walk. arusha out
It is awful. Attacked by Russian cyber thugs, attacked by the corona virus, and attacked by traitorous mobs from within. It is too much.
Same here, Pat. I’m not yet sure when I’ll be resuming my blogging again.
Take care, and stay healthy.\,
Pit
Mom, You’ve elegantly put into words how so many of us feel. The only problem is that our lawmakers refuse to compromise and work together. We’ve become a society of US vs THEM. My enemy is NOT my fellow American who disagrees with me. My enemy is ignorance. There are too many in this world who actively refuse to look at facts and never research what someone says. I remember when science was not a dirty word.
What too many people forget is that the Constitution starts with “WE”!
Thanks all for your comments. Pit I do hope you resume blogging, and thanks for pointing out the beginning of the Constitution. Thanks for commenting Deborah. You are so right. And since this was the first time you commented, I had to approve you. Arusha calling Cindi. I remember the elephants vividly and love you. And to all the others we just have to hang in their together and hope cooperation and kindness eventually win the day.
You’re most welcome, Pat. I did resume blogging yesterday, unfortunately with a very sad and disturbing story. Did you read/hear about the poor Manatee in Florida that had “Trump” carved on its back? I wish I from deep within my heart that I had had something positive to blog about, but alas.
But my next posts will be way more happy, I hope. I’ve prepared some slide shows of pelicans and seagulls in Port Aransas. Maybe I can even post them today.
Take care and stay healthy,
Pit
Looing forward to the pelicans and gulls’ pics Pit.
🙂