Rare Visitors

We got some visitors at my dads house.  Let's just say they're related somehow and depending on what the future holds, I'll reveal how they're related.  They...let's call them Kit and Kat...came over during the day on a Friday.  It just so happens I was there because of some crazy stomach virus, my brother was there because he had the day off and my sister-in-law was there cuz she needed to use the computer.  Everyone was there, my parents, us and Cairo.  I'm not sure that they wanted to see us all considering the timing but we were all there none the less,on the defensive and speculations were flying like bees in a flower garden.

"What do you think they want?"

"You think they want money"

"It's just weird after all this time"

"It's just them two?"

"Maybe someone died?"

It turned out to be a pleasant experience....until we got into politics AND religion.  I could tell that both were very Christian but I was not quite sure what branch they fell under.   Still don't know but I smelled fundi and I didn't like it.

Let me make it clear, I'm all about tolerance and productive dialogue.  I have no problem with sharing notes and comments and being all peaceful but as long as I don't try to convert you and you don't try to convert me, we'll get along just dandy!  These ladies were not into converting but they were into some weird stuff, in my opinion.  We started with politics....generally agreeing with each other I'd say about 80-90% of the time but then the comment was made how children should be allowed to pray in school when they wanted to and that the word "God" should be kept in the pledge of allegiance and part of the oath people need to take in court.

I believe in God, but that doesn't mean every one does.  Plus, my views of God may be very different than others and I'm ok with that.  I'm not ok, on the other hand, with people telling me what view of God I should have and that Religion needs to part of our government.  Sorry, but I agree with the separation of church and state.  No religion has any right to mess with our laws and our laws has no business messing with peoples right to their own faith.

Needless to say the discussion got heated.   They stated how it's because of Jesus Christ that we have Easter and Christmas.  (really?  It's not because Christians made up holidays around pagan holidays to easily convert pagans to Christianity?) What blew mind was when one said "I know some people with money and they're Jewish, you know not even American"....WTH???  Not only were they ignorant of other religions but I was surprised at the their ignorance of their own religion.  It was at this point that I decided to shut my mouth because I knew there would be a lynching.  Then one said, you should never talk about religion or politics at  a party.  Over all we peacefully said our good byes with hugs, but I'd be surprised if they came around again any time soon.  The whole time everyone else watched, it was me and them and even though my dad tried to get into the conversation his knowledge is narrow and limited and kept him on the side lines.

Looking back I think I should have said what I thought, like" you can be Jewish and American! Jesus was a Jew!"  "Those holidays have pagan roots and have nothing to do with Jesus!"  "If I knew I was going to die tomorrow I would not become wicked and go on a killing spree!" Yes, the last thing they said was God doesn't let us know when we're going to die because if he did we'd all give in to our wickedness and sin then ask for forgiveness the day before.

Till next time, I suppose.  

I'm a pissed American

Back in the day when I was young and stupid I didn't care about what was going on in the world.  Heck, all I cared about was finishing school and going out with friends on the weekend.  Life changed that though.  Now the more I try to be informed the more I get pissed.   I had this image of the US as this great place where dreams come true and people do the right thing for the sake of justice for all.

Now, I realize that's not the case.  The people who are in power now and make decisions for the whole don't care about doing the right thing.  They only seem to care about the bottom line, not matter the costs no matter the causalities as long as they are on top that is how they vote.  Laws based on fears are unjust laws.  Laws based on ignorance are unjust laws.  How is it that this "great" and "wonderful" country has gotten to this very ugly place where it is more important to kill small business for the sake of large corporations?  How is it that it's ok to attack women and their decisions?  Why is it that lobbyists have more decision making power than the millions of Americans in this country?  What about taking care of "interests" in other countries makes more sense than taking care of our interests at home?  How is it that in this day and age we are still plagued with racism and religious intolerance?

All of this done while hiding behind the US Constitution, our founding fathers must be rolling in their graves and for what?  So that they can have the best of the best in the short time they have on this earth.  Let's face it, no one lives forever, laws are put in place so that the rich stay rich, they die and whomever is affected negatively by their horrible decisions will be left to suffer, well as long as they live life to the fullest who cares right?

The laws in this country are made to keep the lower classes low and the higher class rich.  They are made to keep minority voices quiet.  The more I see this, more crazies I see running for office the more I question how proud I am to be an American.  Dramatic change will come, I don't know if it will be a good thing or not but I do know who will be responsible in either case.  It will fall on those decision makes and the change will come from the majority.  The majority will either cease to exist or we will unite, rise and fight for positive change.  I'm rooting for positive change but at this point, anything can happen.