Tomorrow is election day. Please take the time to Breathe, Relax and Discern
I wanted to post my second part to Civility several days ago. I had to take time to reflect more carefully as I noticed the rhetoric consisting of demeaning, belittling, false accusations of individuals seemed to increase. Of late there has been an increase in demeaning cultures, most especially non-white countries.
There was a comment made to the effect that America has become a trash can from an individual who has said that immigrants are poisoning this country. A comedian who recently commented that Puerto Rico was a “floating island of garbage.” He felt his comments were acceptable (since the campaign had the chance to vet his jokes) and allowed it to be added to the teleprompter. I read that this person was going to call VP Harris the “C” (not communism) word but that a bit too far for them. There were other jokes and comments from others that belittled other ethnic groups. Several speakers used disgusting adjectives when talking about certain individuals or political groups. There is no bottom for these individuals.
Then a certain individual at a rally decided to simulate oral sex with the help of his microphone and then hand. This shocked me.
You know what shocked and disgusted me more? How the audience laughed at the action. They laughed at all the jokes.
This so outraged my senses that being civil with anyone who joined in this horrific behavior was not my first instinct. My first instinct was to confront and insult with some vulgar language. But having gotten into the habit of stepping back and reflecting I was able to calm down.
I recalled those times when I was one of those people who joined the group that would belittle and demean a person or group as a teenager and young adult. It was moments when peer pressure took over and impaired my judgment and compassion. Moments when love and grace should have given me the strength to speak up and condemn such behavior I succumbed to not “fitting in.”
With the above thoughts I have decided that I can and will have civil discussions with these individuals when I can. I do not have to comment or feel the need to reprimand anyone for their behavior. I am not their mother, father, sibling, pastor, priest. I will leave their moral behavior to their parents and religious leaders.
I can express that I was personally offended by the behavior. Then go about talking as if it is a settled matter. What they felt at the time or feel in the aftermath is for them and their conscience.
I’m not sure if this helps anyone who was as enraged as I was. I hope it does. We all need to have a sense of peace within our soul. We deserve the joy and peace that God has offered everyone.
Have a blessed day.
Millie Padilla 