Yes, in the old days I would merely punch such as these in the mouth, deeming their contempt and rudeness towards others not acceptable conduct at all!

Rodney's Painted Pen Commentary


The Art of Being Nice

My Mother taught me when young, that if you didn't have anything nice to say about someone, to then not say anything at all! Can I get a witness?
Probably not....

Yes, the world remains no more the place I once knew, have I changed or it I wonder? but this much I do know! Being this, that folk just aren't very nice anymore are they?

Yes, we actually seem to boastfully pass out insults, as we of old, used to pass out compliments! Yes, the "Golden Rule" as well as most other gauges and admonitions of good seem to have just been set upon the shelf deemed unworthy. Why indeed do we become so quickly tickled in childlike fashion, when we have hurled an insult, or hurt another's feelings I ask?

Do we think our rude behavior shall warrant a gold star for our forehead at the end of day? You know, like the kind we got in nursery school if we didn't wet our pants! I know not, though I daily attempt to restrain myself insofar as responding to such as these, yet at times I confess, my reservoir of patience becomes completely spent! I then in basic form resembling yesterdays man, hunger to show them that I as well can play the mean game too! Oh well, my parents taught me that that brought a man down to the same level of the one he objected too, and good and true advise it was.

Yes, it remains difficult to be nice to be sure at times, for the world seems filled so often with these passive aggressive cowards and thugs of heart that insist on insulting you, but do it with a smile, hence in their own mind, hoping you will not notice the blatant lance of insult launched!

Hey, I cant speak for you, but I remain not a fool this day, and surely I know when I have been insulted or mistreated verbally or otherwise, As I think most do as well! The only fools that seem not to know, are those that ridicule and insult others daily, and do it in this passive aggressive style, depicting the cowards they truly are, because frankly they remain to cowardly to just tell you to your face!

Yes, in the old days I would merely punch such as these in the mouth, deeming their contempt and rudeness towards others not acceptable conduct at all! Yet....now they lock you up and jail you for such unbridled passion displayed, yet the hate monger who uses words as his weapon may continue on dancing in insult hurling fashion and form, yes, day in and day out.

Why is it so hard I ask, for people to just be civil? Why must we always attempt to lift up our insecure egos by demeaning another? And yes, often we do it wearing tags amany, depicting our varied moral guidelines, character, principles and disposition, making the hypocrisy so much the worse.

Yes, we stroll about with our ornamental Christian T-shirts declaring what we are to others, yet our conduct and verbal discourse remains quite different indeed. Oh relax, I only use Christians merely as an example, no more no less, I respect the basis and foundation of the institution to be sure, make no mistake about it! It just remains the sordid and perverted ambassadors I often meet, that I disapprove of! I merely wish these folks so quick to judge others, would walk the walk themselves! For surely as you amble down the mall while cursing your child, and head smacking him, while clad in your I love Jesus T-shirt, well, .....need I say more?

I full well realize the nature of this letter shall incite many indeed, yet you know, Christians in my walk, have often represented some of the cruelest folk I have ever met, yes, basted in unwarranted elitism! Naturally what I find so puzzling, is that the premise and foundation, remains so diametrically opposed to how so many act! Oh I know the slogan 'Not perfect just saved!" Well, just perhaps that's the T-shirt and billboard you should sport and wear next time you're pummeling and cursing your kid in public, rather than the let the love of Jesus show through one!

Me, disrespectful! Not at all! I rather think the disrespectful ones remain these that insult the name they wear, bear and broadcast by their horrid conduct towards others, yes displaying the true heart they bear. "For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh"

Be it Muslim or Christian alike, if you look into the camps of both this day, you shall see not nearly enough proof and evidence concerning what we claim to be, stand for and endorse! Shame on us I say!

I seek not to paint pretty words this day, nor to make friends which I shall not! I merely have lost my stomach for these fools parading in hypocrisy and blatant falsehood indeed. Are not folks with religious backgrounds and persuasion, supposed to be nicer than youre average bear waltzing about I ask? Well, that's what I have always thought since my youth, perhaps I merely remain stiffly naive.

I suggest only this, if we are going to walk around as billboards proclaiming our faith, with our assorted pins, T-shirts, tracks, slogans and bumper stickers, often designed to make others feel less than, in my opinion, let us walk the walk, and represent the basics of the belief system at least! Yes, love your brother as yourself! For surely when the world sees so many in T-shirts depicting folk as children of love! The least they can do is act like it! Or either leave the T-shirt at home.

Oh yes, I know you are trying to be a good witness, but my friends, it takes more than a T-shirt and words plastered on it to convince a skeptical world, oh yes, it requires true love shed abroad towards others if you want your witness to be effectual, and resting in power.

It remains a program of attraction rather than promotion I think, and if this be the case, may we then be more attractive this day in time, yes? And a good start I should think, would be merely to be nice! And yes, if you have nothing good to say about someone, then perhaps we ought not speak at all!

Hmmm, perhaps I have just broken my own rule?

Peace,
Rodney Evan Bohen