And One More Thing

A month of developing a difficult theme has certainly been a challenging and rewarding experience for me.   What I know for sure from this experience is that keeping an open mind and an open heart is a reward regardless of the value of any of the “thinking effort” I may have put into the venture.  I have learned to appreciate that each day is an open book of experience, whether it be a small enlightenment on how a butterfly flies or a hen sits on her eggs (or eats them) or the bigger lightbulb turning on, to know how to manage one’s life no matter what is thrown at us.

Opening one’s self up rather than closing up “the shop” because of this or that is what a truly valuable life is all about.  Disappointments come but we can let them go, joys come and we can retain them in our memory forever.  How we choose to handle the ups and downs is how we grow and mature.  What we project from ourselves on to others can be positive or negative so does it not behoove a person to put out the best?

I was reading something that said we are all energy – and I say, let that energy be positive, happy and loving and it will go out into the world and spread so much more of it.

That is kinda what I think.  J

Tools for your Loved Ones

Yesterday I talked about YOU and today I would like to remind you that many of you will have children and grandchildren.  For those who don’t you may have nieces or nephews, or close friends with children that you have enjoyed over the years.  With all the thinking, the experience and the energy you have it is time to fill another role (if you feel you are able, and why shouldn’t you feel that?)  Mentoring.  Passing on your life experiences both personal, historical and the hands on ability of your craft whether it be in telephone etiquette, secretarial, mechanics and the myriad other things you have perfected over the years.

In today’s social media maelstrom world, it behoves this older generation to actually TALK

to your family, friends and children in a healthy way.  Help them get the tools they will need because we have to be vigilant about what is happening in this very different world they will inherit.  Yesterday’s values, morals and principles are still ideals they can aspire to.  Help them reach their full potential as human beings, good citizens, a kind and thoughtful person who can make a difference if it is only in a tiny circle or in the world at large.  Every drop of goodness, kindness, peace and grace is a bonus is this world.

Teach them to read good books, teach them to love nature, find things that they will love forever, always encourage, avoid the negative and accentuate the positive.  And listen, listen, listen to those darling little folks.  They will adore you forever for just LISTENING.

“Smile, listen, love.”  Me again (Susanne Abildgaard)

Who Are You?

Throughout July I tried to jumble up the intense thinking with lighter notes, politics with the personal but at the end of the month I hope you have been inspired to look into your inner self and try to see who you are as a whole, mature person.  I cannot tell you how much (although I certainly have attempted to do so) how very valuable I found that little workbook “Jumpstart Your Thinking” by John Maxwell.  AS I have re-read it and looked at my notes (and added to them) I discovered that while I was definitely improving my thinking abilities, understanding different levels of that thinking, and also began to see myself evolving as an individual.  Furthermore, I began to see myself in a different light.

Takeaways from the book (as well as other books I have read) is that writing down thoughts, ideas, observations and musings is truly invaluable to get into your own head space.  It also helps jumpstart you into action, however small those baby steps may be.  Let’s face it, my readers are not getting any younger and a great many of us are senior bound if not already there.  We have worked for some 40 odd years, making a living and often being sidetracked outside of our personal lives.  That is the way it is in this work-a-day world.

Now is the time to let that go as much as can (economically speaking) and seize the day – capre diem, my friends, carpe diem.  Think about all the things you loved when you were a child and a teenager and even a young man or woman.  What were those aspirations?  Are they still niggling at you?  Can you get your mojo back?  Your enthusiasm for that sketch pencil, that welder, that shovel, that curriculum.  Remember that when you turn 65 many university and college courses are now open to you FOR FREE.  You can take music lessons, art lessons, philosophy and even medical courses.  Take a look at what is out there and go make some happy memories for yourself.  Destress, decompress, create, have fun.  And think, think, think about YOURSELF.

“You are more than the sum of your parts.”  Me (Susanne Abildgaard)

Starting to Sum Up July

This has been an intense month of looking at personal and political thinking and I do hope that it has been informative, enlightening and a little fun along the way for my readers.  I hope there have been some good takeaways as well.  Things such as understanding where one’s thinking originated, how one is able to change mindsets, how one can grow in their thinking and how they can be accountable to themselves on a daily basis in how they have used their mental abilities for good.  I like the anecdote that John Maxwell used about Benjamin Franklin who said that he asked himself every morning what good he could do that day and at the end of the day he asked himself what good had he done.  Big or small, we should always try to make our day count for something positive.  I like to say, at the very least, give someone a smile. 

I would also like to ask you, on the political front, how you can use your power to vote in the next election.  I don’t ask you to change your beliefs or you style of voting but I do ask that you make every effort to exercise your franchise.  It is really disheartening to know that almost 50% of voters fail to vote.  When I think of how hard our ancestors worked to gain this right, this privilege it simply makes me wonder how little value is placed on it today.  Voting means you can influence what happens in your city, province and country.  Exercise that right.

“Until input (thought) is linked to a goal (purpose) there can be no intelligent accomplishment”  Paul G. Thomas

Scandinavia, Socialism and Research

Research is an intense form of thinking which takes up quite a lot of time, not only in simply finding the information on a given subject but also in evaluating the source.  I have noticed how easy it is to accept an article based on a blog website that appears to be an official media site (i.e. “main stream media” such as the Washington Post or other credible newspaper).  I will admit to falling into the trap myself but I seldom base my opinion on just one source (university research training both in history and English).

Curiously enough, and moving away from the political, I picked up a book I had on my history shelf for quite a long time and started reading about Robert E. Lee.  The book is called Lee Considered by Alan B. Nolan and I found myself simply amazed at the revelation that until his book there had been almost NO proper biography on Lee that documented his true beliefs about slavery, emancipation, secession and the Civil War.  Most of what has been written has been taken at his own word, his after the war letters and evidence at the investigations by the USA congressional hearings.  He was elevated by his own men, relatives and the South in general as a Jesus-like icon and it has rarely been questioned in the 170 years since the end of the Civil War.  Amazing.

This again puts a very different perspective to my feelings about Lee and I realize more than ever that I was very wrong in not seeing the whole statue removing issue in a more reasonable (non artistic light).  I humbly apologize to all those who may have been offended or confused about my obstinacy!

Thinking about research and research about thinking – this is something I certainly need to develop a little more because sometimes the truth is buried so deep it’s hard to know that there is “something there”.  I feel certain that one of my sisters is going to ask me to dig deeper into aliens.  Well, I knew it was coming before I even started this article.  J  Aliens look out – I am watching for you!

Below are some of the official sites of some countries with social programs; as well the statistics on taxation in the countries.  (And you knew I wouldn’t give up on this agenda.  Curiously (side bar note) I noticed that English as the second official language of all 3 Scandinavian countries is not longer listed and I am curious as to why that is – I will be asking my cousins about this and will update you.  It was definitely on their sites some years ago).

https://sweden.se/

http://denmark.dk/en

https://www.visitnorway.com/

http://www.oecd.org/germany/governmentofgermanyusefullinks.htm

https://europa.eu/european-union/index_en

TAXATION RATES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_model

https://tradingeconomics.com/sweden/personal-income-tax-rate

https://tradingeconomics.com/denmark/personal-income-tax-rate

https://tradingeconomics.com/norway/personal-income-tax-rate

 

My Head is about to Explode

This is a mantra Meghan McCain uses whenever she doesn’t like what is said and that would be anything that a common sense Democrat or non- Republican might say.  Today her head was about to explode because the Democrats may have a “splinter group” who may have socialist ideas to put forward.  Somehow McCain is equating anything that may possibly benefit American citizens on taxpayer dollars as socialist and OH MY GOD socialism has failed everywhere in the world (totally untrue).  She asked (and then drowned out Joy Behar as she named countries where socialism is alive and well AND NOT COSTING ITS CITIZEN 94% PERSONAL TAX RATE --- dear God in heaven my own head is about to explode from her narrow-minded, ignorant, gasbag commentary.  She is so ill informed, virulently loud mouthed and obnoxious that it is all I can do not to go on her Twitter account and lambast her).  However I am not going to sink to her level. 

I don’t tout myself as a political commentator (as she fondly calls herself – I call her Daddy’s Parrot) but I happen to know quite a lot about the success of socialism throughout Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Germany and France, to name a few countries that have a wide range of “socialist” programs and who have had socialist governments at one time or another.  I can tell you one thing, while the personal income tax rate in Scandinavia is high, there base pay is also high enough to support them to still have a middle-class lifestyle (after taxes).  If any of my readers doubt my comments I invite them to look up the various countries official websites and you can navigate through the various topics.  As well you should look up the EU website which gives an overview of what is required to be a member, or associate member.
Because I don’t want anyone’s head to explode due to misinformation.

“I am still learning.”  Michelangelo

On a Cheerful Note

When the news gets you down or your personal circumstances seem about to overwhelm you how do you take refuge?  Do you reach for the Scotch, a donut, roll over and put the pillow over your head, call in sick or otherwise try to drown out what is upsetting you?  All are temporary solutions as you likely know only too well.

No I don’t have a solution for you but I do have some consolation.  “This too shall pass” comes to mind.  “No one died” is another placebo to calm your nerves.  But at the end of the day knowing your own strength and reminding yourself that you have nothing to fear if you have the resolution to stay true to yourself will keep you sane.  It will also give you the pride and additional strength to know that no matter what life throws at you, you are able to survive because you have faith in yourself.  God fearing people will say that it is God that gets you through and yes, this is true, but it is God that gives one strength to endure and stay true to the morals, values and principles we have established for ourselves.

“We do not suddenly become what we do not cooperate in becoming.”  William J. Bennett

More Thinking about Greatness

In writing yesterday’s blog I struggled somewhat with certain personalities and ended up scrapping them from my article because they did not live up to my standard of greatness.  People are flawed, this we know, but I do have difficulty applauding one segment of a person’s life when another part of their activism goes against the grain.  I will therefore make a personal admission that I WAS WRONG about something!  Yes, I have been arguing with my brother about the whole removal of statues thing – he is pro-removal and I was against it (because of the art, feeling there was a way around destroying the art by writing both sides of the story on a side panel).  However, I now realize that if I am going to split hairs about the Famous Five then I must concede on the other issue.

Now you may be wondering what I have against some of the women of the Famous Five (I will keep them nameless).  Yes, they fought for women’s right to vote and other equal rights for women.  However, looking into them more thoroughly I discovered some of them worked on less noble causes, most especially the pushing through of legislation that saw the systematic sterilization of thousands of people who were deemed “unfit, degenerate, morons, etc.”  Coincidentally my brother had been telling me some things about eugenics the other day (completely unrelated to my article and research) which shocked me.  I had not realized that eugenics were still on the books in 1972 here in Alberta! 

Furthermore unwed mothers were put into homes and then their babies were taken away from them without them even seeing the baby, knowing the gender or knowing if the baby was alive or dead.  This may have been done with the mothers’ parents’ consent but the young mothers apparently had no rights since they were under age.  I did know that such things happened but I did not realize that it was on such a large scale across the country and that there were so many parents who essential abused their daughters to such an extent.  It is rather unnerving to realize what self-righteousness can do to an otherwise decent person.

While I find all of the above appalling I wonder how many in today’s mad world think we should revert back to these “ideals”?  I shudder to think there are any but I fear I am being a Pollyanna in that hope.

“I believe that we must maintain pride in the knowledge that the actions we take, based on our own decisions and choices as individuals, link directly to the magnificent challenge of transforming human history.”   Daisaku Ikeda

Remembering Greatness

In these troubled times it is almost painful to look back on some of the great people from the 20^th century; people who took civilization to the next level, and the level after that.  Civil disobedience, civil rights, nonviolent protests for civil rights, human rights and women’s rights were significant movements and achievements that made the 20^th century the greatest century since Classical Greece.    
T.E. Lawrence was remarkably diverse in his interests from archeology and writing to warfare his outstanding work in the Arab world both in unifying many tribes and writing of his experiences in “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom” earned him the title “Lawrence of Arabia”.  Mahatma Gandhi was an activist who fought by nonviolent means to gain India’s independence from Britain.  He in turn was given credit by Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King for their own nonviolent fight against civil and human injustice.  Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan were in the forefront of the Women’s Liberation Movement (second wave) while Emmeline Pankhurst led the way for the suffragette movement in the first wave.

There are many other great, forward thinking people in the 20^th century but below I include quotes by and about some of the ones I have written about here.  If only the first 20 years of this century had more vocal and publicized activists our world might be a different place.  Instead too much attention is given to self-promoting vacuous wannabe celebrities (who shall remain nameless here).

 

T. E. Lawrence - General Sir Edmund Allenby on Lawrence “I gave him a free hand. His cooperation was marked by the utmost loyalty, and I never had anything but praise for his work, which, indeed, was invaluable throughout the campaign. He was the mainspring of the Arab movement and knew their language, their manners and their mentality.”

 

Gandhi  -  Albert Einstein on Gandhi:

 

“Mahatma Gandhi's life achievement stands unique in political history. He has invented a completely new and humane means for the liberation war of an oppressed country, and practised it with greatest energy and devotion. The moral influence he had on the consciously thinking human being of the entire civilised world will probably be much more lasting than it seems in our time with its overestimation of brutal violent forces. Because lasting will only be the work of such statesmen who wake up and strengthen the moral power of their people through their example and educational works. We may all be happy and grateful that destiny gifted us with such an enlightened contemporary, a role model for the generations to come.  Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood.”

 

Barack Obama on Gandhi:

 

“I am mindful that I might not be standing before you today, as President of the United States, had it not been for Gandhi and the message he shared with America and the world.”

 

Nelson Mandela   "I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances."

 

Martin Luther King  “I still have a dream, a dream deeply rooted in the American dream – one day this nation will rise up and live up to its creed, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.  I have a dream...”

 

Betty Friedan – “The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning [that is, a longing] that women suffered in the middle of the 20th century in the United States. Each suburban [house]wife struggled with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries … she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question — "Is this all?" in “Problem that has No Name”

 

“The future depends entirely on what each of us does every day; a movement is only people moving.”  Gloria Steinem

Funny Thoughts

Sometimes when I wake up at night and then cannot fall asleep again I will start with the “self talk” which can get so loud that I even begin to answer back – out loud!  Reading “The Untethered Soul” I find myself laughing since I recognize myself in the first few chapters.  Granted I rarely do the self talk during the day – at least not to the extent Singer writes about but I used to go on and on and on, and as I say sometimes it still happens at night.  Now I realize that the way to quiet that “voice” is to start breathing deeply and go into meditation mode even if I am lying flat on my back.  And guess what, it works.

I reflect on my childhood memories and those of my nieces and nephews and I smile and chuckle at these historic anecdotes.  I suppose that everyone has memories of stealing cookies from the cookie jar?  Well we didn’t have a cookie jar when we were young but we knew where Mom put the store bought cookies.  She had them in the cupboard above the stove.  The fliptop metal kitchen garbage can was beside the stove.  You guessed it, we would climb up on the garbage can and flip open the cupboard door (quietly) and search for the bag of cookies, quickly take one out and then lightly jump down from the garbage can and make a beeline for the basement.  The basement you wonder?  With 5 of us kids (Char wasn’t born yet) we had to be stealthy so none of the others would know we had snitched one.  Once down in the basement we would go behind the stairs and I would shimmy up one of those poles that holds the whole upper floor up.  I had done this countless times and never breathed a word to a soul.  Imagine my shock when one memorable day another kid was up that same ‘secret’ pole!  It was John.  And he also had a cookie.  Crazy!  As we whispered together we heard another person scampering around the corner.  Screeching to a halt Jeanette looked guilty at us.  A third person about to go up the pole.  So much for thinking I had the greatest secret hiding place.

Kids – gotta love the little thieves, eh?

“Only a very exceptionally gifted mind could cope singly with all the problems which present themselves in the perfecting of a home.”  Arnold Bennett

Golly, Golly, golly

Day 21 with 10 days to go and yep, I am feeling frantic.  What more is there to say that doesn’t regurgitate what I have already written?   

I am taking the deep dive now into being somewhat critical of people – but it’s essential to this theme.  I happened to look at a stranger’s comment on a Friend’s Facebook page.  This person didn’t want people to comment on politics because her blood pressure would go up.  This is where confidence in one’s thinking is important.  I know there are lots of people who don’t like arguing, debating, or even discussing controversial things but I take exception to asking people to refrain from making comments on the headliner comment (it was something to do with He Who Shall Not Be Named).  What I mean by that, if one of my friends posts a political comment (as the originator), I believe it is anyone who is a friend of theirs prerogative to comment --- why else would they post, and why are you friends.  Naturally I believe one ought to be civil about it (if you are in disagreement with them) – and if you really value the friendship perhaps you refrain.  But for a third or fourth person to make a comment and then get all hissy about someone else’s comment on the thread . . . sorry, that doesn’t seem acceptable to me. 
Here’s why . . . as I said earlier this month, one needs to build up one’s confidence in their thinking (opinion in this case).  If you don’t feel confident in discussing politics, either online or in person, well then say it up front – and online, just refrain and move on down the line, sweetheart.  Don’t get hissy with other people because they have an opinion (and God forbid it should be different from yours).  This is what makes the world go round and what makes life interesting.  OKAY, I know I am one of the few, the happy few, who enjoys “debating”.  I was raised on it and (I boast) I am pretty darn good at it.  J  I have confidence in what I think on politics and I am not afraid to show it.
At the same time, if someone wants to debate me on economics and currency I am going to be polite and say that I don’t know all that much about it, but I will listen to you, go away and look up “facts” and see if your analysis is valid.  I do my homework.  But I tell folks frankly if I don’t know much about something       . .  . I will listen.  I don’t wave my hands at them and say “stop, not appropriate, my blood pressure will go up”. 

What’s the new word they are using for weaklings?   “I am not a snowflake”.  J

“It’s not that I am so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”  Albert Einstein

   
   
  

 

Attitude in Thinking

Let’s be bold and explore what I think it means to have an attitude in thinking.  As I said a few days ago, why on earth did I decide to use 31 days to explore thinking, nominating myself as some sort of an expert.  Well, I think that I have an ATTITUDE towards thinking that makes me somewhat of an expert.  Right or wrong I think a lot and often quite deep, if you will.  I will be out watering my irises and rather than thinking about my garden I will be thinking about what is happening around the world, or about the development around my town, or Napoleon vs Wellington (oh yes, boring but yes).  Not unusual?  I suppose there are plenty of people who also think this way but they aren’t writing a blog about it . . . so I win.  J 
Kidding aside when I think about attitude in thinking I think about something special, outside the norm, outside the box kind of thinking, but with an added bit of attitude.  I don’t mean being cocky or not-it-all’ish attitude.  Attitude in thinking is looking at subjects that others don’t look at except in a cursory sort of way.  It’s picking up on something that sounds really wrong and yet no one else seems to have heard the phrase.  Its hearing something that can make you laugh when others are crying, and crying when others are laughing.  Yes, it can mean being somewhat perverse but at the same time nothing can make you admit that it is wrong thinking.  (stubborn?  mayhap).
Attitude is a state of mind when you are a free spirit and enjoying whatever it is you are thinking even if it is dark.  You know you are exploring the unusual, the unnamed, the adventure of the mind that no one else is likely to have.  At least, in your own mind, no one else has been there because it’s not “out there”.  And then you ask a question like “where have all the hippies gone”?
“If you have not slept, or if you have slept, or if you have headache, or sciatica, or leprosy, or thunder-stroke, I beseech you, by all angels, to hold your peace, and not pollute the morning.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Happy Brain

A person may be a born optimist but it doesn’t mean they can’t still hone their funny bone.  I bought a book a few years ago “Train Your Brain to get Happy” which I found quite interesting.  Each section has a little quiz and then ideas on how to up the ante of your happiness.  I know that for people with depression or who may be a “natural born pessimist” the challenge of getting to the happy place is much greater.  The first step, like so many first steps, is simply to WANT to get there.  Then you need to BELIEVE that you can get there.  Finally you then have to do the WORK. 

 

Nothing falls into our lap when it comes to our brain power and ability to think or will our way to “whatever”.  Sure a person may be lucky in some things but achieving great thinking does not happen because you woke up as a Stephen Hawking or Albert Einstein.  Even these great men had to work hard to get to greatness.  Okay, we may not be wanting to become an Einstein but don’t we all want to feel that our ideas are worthy of discussing and implementing?  I’m not talking about changing a doorknob.  I am talking about the things in our lives that can have a lasting effect on ourselves, families and friends.

 

Specifics?  I am living with “terminal” cancer.  I choose to direct my thinking past my illness and on to everyday things first (daily chores, writing, morning coffee with Mom) and then I delve into the news for a little bit (I don’t like to hang on to news too long because it is 90% negative – just to get the overview and then I will move on).  That takes me to around 10 a.m. when I start my activity mode, most of the time that will be out in the garden, watering, weeding and creating new scapes.  As I work away I will philosophize with myself, thinking over what I heard on the news, what I saw on social media, what I had read the night before or early in the morning.  Why do I do this? First of all, it comes naturally to me, always has.  But I want to pull things around, stretch it (to use Maxwell’s term) and come up with a new blog for my readers’ consumption. 

So why am I blogging?  I started this blog in 2011 and at first it was simply to challenge myself to write something rather like Oprah’s “What I Know for Sure” article in her magazine.  More recently I have felt that I would like to bring encouragement to my readers to make their lives happy, honourable and inspiring enough that they will feel that they can make a difference in the world.  Sometimes I may sound like the school marm of yore but truly I just want to say YOU CAN DO IT, whatever “it” is.

Let us then be up and doingWith a heart for any fateStill achieving, still pursuingLearn to labour and to wait

William Wordsworth

Girlhood Values

Balancing this theme of thinking with tough subjects and light fare is certainly a challenge but “I’ll give it the old college try”.  In fact it is rather fun to work the brain in both directions but to do it on the same day is a little mind boggling!  Oh yes, puns intended (I grin). 

I pulled out my old Girl Guide Handbook and found myself delighting in the reading.  I was amazed to see I had a First Edition of the 1965 handbook.  Then I got a real surprise (since I do not recall learning about this “back in the day”) but February 22 is THINKING DAY in the Guiding world!  Who knew?  I was on a roll for sure in this book review!

What has really impressed me is how much I have lived The Promise and The Law without even being conscious of it.  I don’t say that to brag on myself but rather to impress on my readers how really valuable Guides and Scouts are in helping to develop young people’s characters for the long haul.  Core values such as being obedient and trustworthy, helping other people, mentoring others and valuing nature to name a few.


The Promise:  I promise, on my honour, to do my best; to do my duty to God, the Queen and my country, to help other people at all times, to obey the Guide Law.
The Law:·         A Guide’s honour is to be trusted·         A Guide is loyal·         A Guide is useful and helps others·         A Guide is a friend to all and a sister to every Guide·         A Guide is courteous·         A Guide is kind to animals and enjoys the beauty of nature·         A guide is obedient·         A Guide smiles and sings even under difficulty·         A Guide is thrifty·         A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.

The Motto:  Be Prepared

I remember there was a song that encased the Guide Law and I used to sing that to myself often even when I was older and I still remember most of the words and the rushed melody (in some parts).  I think most families had these same core values and Guiding just helped reinforce what parents were teaching their children.  As well, schools had a role in reinforcing what we were learning at home.  I do think that is different today.   
“The real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people.”  Lord Baden-Powell

 

My Heart Is Crying

Last week I became more incensed than usual by a news story out of the USA (what a surprise).  My brother had mentioned earlier in the day that Stephen Colbert had done a skit relating to the story that a one year old “illegal immigrant” was in court, before a judge, being grilled about that he had done wrong.  I did not believe him.  I thought it was a joke.  To my astonishment Global National had the story on as their final segment.  I was so terribly angry I was “spitting blood”.  I am not calmed down yet over this travesty, insanity, unbelievable behaviour coming out of “the greatest country in the world”.  Anyone not living in that country knows how absolutely bonkers, idiotic, delusional these people to BELIEVE that they are even in the top 20 of “great” nations.  They are absolutely dead last on the list of evolved countries (which I count upwards of 26 to 30) and I suspect those countries just bordering on the list are ahead of the game when it comes to evolution of civilization.

Let’s talk specifics:

·         Social programs like paid maternity leave, employment insurance, social assistance are marginal at best and non-existent in most states

·         Health care – marginal at best, non-existent in many cases

·         Gun control – God forbid that these people understand what that is.  Apparently “guns don’t kill people, people kill people”.  If you understand this logic, move to the USA because normal people don’t get that logic or want to get it!  Even their most “evolved” thinkers cling to that holy of holies – The Second Amendment.  If you are the greatest country in the world why would you need a gun for self protection?  Oh that’s right because your neighbour is a Negro therefore he is a dangerous criminal who might rape you, rob your or heavens above, take out his cellphone in his backyard and become a target for a policeman to shoot him in the back. 

·         Pro Choice v Pro Life – what other country in the world would look at reversing a woman’s right to choose or take away contraceptives but provide free Viagra (via insurance)?   The same country that gave us the MeToo movement!  Hello?

·         Capital Punishment – the only country in the “western world” to have capital punishment.  The belief that capital punishment is a deterrent to crime does not hold water when you see the statistics of American crime compared with European crime rates, per capita.

·         Mass shootings – they are in a league of their own on this one

·         Racism – again, they are in a league of their own.  Their disgusting treatment of their fellow Americans (African-Americans, Puerto Ricans, etc., anyone who is not white) is so shockingly unbelievable to me that I feel it is an international disgrace and should at least be sanctioned by the world in the same way that South Africa was sanctioned back in the day.  Tell me what is different?

The list could go on for miles but these are the top rankings of uncivilized thinking “norms” in  America.  When a judge can sit on his bench and look down on a one year old child (who probably doesn’t understand a word of English) and ask him in all seriousness if he knows what he has done is wrong  I think it’s time to forget about taking the judge all the way to Guantanamo Bay for waterboarding.  Let’s do it on live TV and let the rest of the world will cheer.  (Yes I know I am talking nasty, mean, bad and wrong but as I said in the beginning I am so spitting blood mad that I can’t think straight on this one).

“As the twig is bent so is the tree inclined.”  18^th century proverb