We Must do Better



I recently took an online test and found out I was a Moderate, a little to the left but still Moderate. When I lived back east I would have considered myself Conservative, but since  I moved to the inter mountain west I've been labeled a Liberal. I'm still the same and my views haven't changed but my community has.

I feel Abortion is wrong but I also want it to be Legal so it is available for women to have a safe procedure, making it illegal won't make Abortion go away. I don't understand same sex attraction but I don't see the big deal about same sex marriage, I would rather live next door to a nice gay couple than  mean heterosexual couple. I believe Global warming is real and if it isn't Yea! I don't believe in Alien's or Zombies but if they are real I'm not ready. I don't own a gun but don't mind if my neighbors do. I don't drink but I'll drive you home if you do. I love the melting pot that our country is but I think we should declare English as the Official Language even though I speak fluent Spanish. Yes I am somewhere in the middle.

My family and friends run the gamut from one extreme to the other and sometimes with the emails they forward to me I wonder what they think my beliefs are. A few month's ago I got one of those forwarded emails that was so mean and angry that it scared me . My husband who is more conservative than I agreed that this type of propaganda being spread over the Internet was probably reminiscent of Nazi propaganda. People spread this type of inflammatory dribble because they first think its true, and second it scares them. We deleted it.

"The history of terrorist organizations suggests that they do not select terrorism for its political effectiveness. Individual terrorists tend to be motivated more by a desire for social solidarity with other members of their organization than by political platforms or strategic objectives. Terrorism has been practiced by a broad array of political organizations for furthering their objectives. It has been practiced by both right-wing and left-wing political parties, nationalistic groups, religious groups, revolutionaries, and ruling governments. An abiding characteristic is the indiscriminate use of violence against noncombatant  for the purpose of gaining publicity for a group, cause, or individual. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion. " Wikipedia.

Before 9-11 most of us never thought to much about terrorism, and certainly wouldn't classify any violent act in the US as a terrorist act. We now hear about Terrorism daily  but still when it comes to violent acts on US soil we don't call it what it is. Causing terror, spreading terror, pushing others to be afraid and act on irrational beliefs is something to own up to and stop.

Astronaut Scott Kelly said,"These days, we are constantly reminded of the unspeakable acts of violence and damage we can inflict upon one another, not just with our actions, but also with our irresponsible words. We're better than this. We must do better."

We are all responsible for what goes on in our society. Even if we never forwarded one of those nasty emails, quoted one of the shock jocks on a News Station, blanketed neighborhoods with our religious beliefs, snubbed someone because of their appearance, or shot someone.  By not recognizing the problem, admitting it exists and taking ownership we become powerless, and isn't that what terrorists want?

Whether I'm Right, Left or somewhere in the Middle  I Can Do Better. We all Can Do Better.