If Not Facebook Then Where, If Not Now Then When?

It's been a very interesting and historic last two weeks. I'm sad to see the polarization between family and friends as people have expressed their feelings about the events that have unfolded in America.

Here are my thoughts about Facebook. Facebook is a social forum not a photo album. It's an ongoing conversation; a place for people to share more than family pictures and things you like. If that's all you want to do that's okay but please don't place your expectations of what Facebook should be on others. You can always hide posts you don’t like, ignore, or unfriend people, or join in on the conversation and by doing so you might learn something about the world around us, others, and even yourself. God forbid if we should learn something about you and get beyond the surface. The more we know about each other the more we can understand each other. If you don't agree with me or others, then express why you don't agree without being negative and hateful.

If you don't like what I think and believe and ultimately post, feel free to unfriend me. I won’t be offended. I've done it myself. But in retrospect, I could've just ignored the post and respected others right to express themselves. Free speech isn't an easy concept. It's easier to surround ourselves with people who believe like us, it's more comfortable and provides a false sense of reality that what we believe is right and others are wrong. It's a challenge to listen to someone screaming at the top of their lungs in support what they believe and that you totally disagree with.

I think what society is in desperate need of is civil disagreements (debates) where people can be confronted with different ideas, thoughts, and values to ponder and consider. To challenge and stretch our understanding of others and the issues that confront us everyday. You know the iron sharpens iron concept.

I truly long for thoughtful discussions with others that are not laced with emotions and that dissolve into idealogical arguments that further dissolve into shouting matches.I long for conversation with thoughtful people who want to listen to other points of view, who aren't defensive of their believe system. I've experienced this a few times and I can tell you that it's an edifying experience and that I want more conversations like this. There is nothing like the feeling when people understand and affirm you even though they may disagree. I want to stretch my thinking and to grow. It's arrogant of me to think I know everything or have arrived as an adult and that my thinking and even my values can't evolve as my world view is expanded by others.

So may be Facebook isn't the town square for social discourse on the issues of the day. If not, then where is that place? If not now, then when?

Act Your Age

Well I'm now 57. For as long as I can remember I could look in the mirror and see a little boy looking back at me. Now I see a middle aged man looking back at me with lots of lines in my face and silver in my hair.

I do sense the existence of that little boy. He now inhabits my soul and not my body. He is my muse that fills me with awe and wonder of the world around me.

He is still excited about what each day will bring and full of hope for the future. He reminds me to smile, laugh and play...to enjoy the gift of life, family and friends.

He tells me to follow my heart each and every day . He reminds me all the time not to take myself and life so seriously and most importantly to not act my age.

Every man my age and older still has a little boy inside his soul telling him to have fun and to keep exploring life. The difference is that some believe the lie that we should act our age and they choose to stop listening to the voice of the little boy and can only see the aging body in the mirror.

I will ignore the image in the mirror and resist the pressure my body places on me to act my age. I will continue to fantasize about being batman and acting stupid.

If I start acting my age I have lots of grandkids that still see me as a little boy...asking me to wear my batman suit or play ball or games with them just like a little boy.

Patriotism or Nationalism?

I hear the word "patriotic" used a lot in political discourse, especially from the right who claim anyone who criticizes America isn't a patriot. Let's not confuse patriotism with nationalism. "Nationalism and patriotism both show the relationship of an individual towards his or her nation. The two are often confused and frequently believed to mean the same thing. However, there is a vast difference between nationalism and patriotism."

Webster's Dictionary
Nationalism: loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially : a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups

Patriotism: love for or devotion to one's country

"Nationalism means to give more importance to unity by way of a cultural background, including language and heritage. Patriotism pertains to the love for a nation, with more emphasis on values and beliefs.

When talking about nationalism and patriotism, one cannot avoid the famous quotation by George Orwell, who said that nationalism is ‘the worst enemy of peace’. According to him, nationalism is a feeling that one’s country is superior to another in all respects, while patriotism is merely a feeling of admiration for a way of life. These concepts show that patriotism is passive by nature and nationalism can be a little aggressive.

Most nationalists assume that their country is better than any other, whereas patriots believe that their country is one of the best and can be improved in many ways. Patriots tend to believe in friendly relations with other countries while some nationalists don’t.

In patriotism, people all over the world are considered equal but nationalism implies that only the people belonging to one’s own country should be considered one’s equal.

A patriotic person tends to tolerate criticism and tries to learn something new from it, but a nationalist cannot tolerate any criticism and considers it an insult.”

zengardner.com

The very essence and spirit of our constitution preserves our right of free speech. Just because my opinion is different from yours and I'm critical of America doesn't mean I hate America.

It seems today that anyone who has a difference of opinion or is critical of America is quickly labeled as anti-american or a socialist. The very fact that I'm critical of the policies of our country is an indicator my love of country. I have a love for all peoples that supersedes my love of country.

I shudder when I hear the term American Exceptionalism...thoughts of Nazi Germany flood my mind. I simply don't believe in the ideal of American Exceptionalism. Does this mean I'm not patriotic and not appreciative of being born in a country I didn't choose to be born in? Certainly I'm blessed to live in America but it doesn't mean I wouldn't be equally blessed living in another country.

Philippians 3:20 Says we are citizens of heaven. When we start behaving like this, then our national and foreign polices will change and just maybe we can become an exceptional nation of people not because of our words, money or military, but because of our love for all people and all nations.

“Nationalism is an infantile thing. It is the measles of mankind.”
― Albert Einstein