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Blogs by Linda Law
IMAGINE BEING OFFENDED ! 3/21/2010 12:20:42 PM
I admit it. Once upon a time...I didn't know better...Many of us have to learn... some of us do...others do not... there is hope however... Ran away for the weekend, enjoyed the get-away as it was happening...nothing special; have done it often. Sometimes I think I run away as my "therapy" altho it doesn't last for long; always return to face the music...or the hard work ahead...or the worries...or possibly the dullness of day to day...but I do return!
In a nice hotel, near the river...I love water. It soothes me when I'm troubled. It's cheap too! Food and water. Basic life needs are my runaways most of the time. Over the years I have learned that what once were so important..no longer hold value. Today...I place value on each person.. not on their color, or their place of origin, or their financial status...not their beauty or lack of it... We each are special. I am not proud of many of the past beliefs that I held; nor do I beat myself up over why or how I came to those decisions. Environment affects our standards and therefore, I know that the times, the life, the family, the environment taught me many wonderful and honorable things. If I am honest, which I am...often to a fault...I also was taught many wrong...WRONG... values. It was and is up to ME to educate myself and decide which values are right for me.
These days I do not like how things are going in our country. I don't agree with not having medical care for everyone who needs it, regardless of why or who. I don't agree with prejudices of most any type...especially, those of ethnicity...color of skin...religion or lack of it. I've come a long way. I am proud of my President, and I am also the last person to believe I would say that. I studied before I decided...and made the choice that I believed was best. No bars held. No...I don't agree with everything, but I remain hopeful..and I love my country, and I love our people...we are honorable and we are winners. We are individuals who come together collectively...in spite of our inner likes or dislikes..we follow our inner beliefs.
Today, while on my "RunAway" laughing and enjoying the getaway...I stepped onto the elevator smiling and feeling happy and good about things...everyone on the elevator was smiling for whatever their personal reasons were...and then we stopped at another floor... a young, good looking couple stepped in... Nice, clean cut looking people... holding hands, and smiling too! When he stepped into the elevator..his front facing me... I saw his T-shirt... in full color...on a white background.. and my smile disappeared! Tears formed and much more than that....I felt myself spinning for a few seconds...and...it took force of will for me to not say a word! I was so offended! Offended...and ashamed.... It's a free country we live in. Our ancestors, our children, we...we...fight for that privilege every single day! Who am I to judge? I swallowed, and my lips remained sealed. No longer in an upturned smile... my heart hurt. It hurt.. I was ashamed! I believe what I want...and he believes what he wants. I asked God to forgive him...in my silent prayer.. I'm not a religious fanatic...but I love God..not ashamed to admit it, but that is my choice.. You have yours. I respect your choices.
As we stepped off the elevator...I did notice that a few seconds before this young man stepped onto the elevator, we were all smiling...even laughing about this or that...but when he got on...it became silent..no one said a word...and there were no more smiles...except those of the young man and his female friend... Was that coincidence? Was that my imagination? I don't know..but as I stepped off the elevator...it took a few minutes for me to stop and take a deep breath...to brush the negative from my heart... and to erase the picture of My President Obama...on that clean white Tshirt... whose face was streaked with paint...and his lips grotesquely painted in an upward smile...with bright blood red paint... The Joker... His face was forced to look like the Joker smiling...but...I saw nothing but sadness..pain..and it hurt me so much... I wonder how his children feel when they see those pictures....I hope they understand that there are many of us who do not see him that way... I was deeply offended. I'm sorry Mr. President.
hugs and wonderful wishes for each of you...no matter what you believe... It is your right and your privilege.
lindalaw
