Life Lessons From Memaw
This week marked another historical event–the inauguration of the 47th president of the United States. For some people, this is a time of great celebration. For some, it is a time of being cautiously optimistic. And for some, it is a time of caution.
Also this week, we celebrated the birth of Martin Luther King Jr. No matter what political party you belong to, most humans believe the same core beliefs that MLK did. He preached during turbulent times in our history but his biggest message was for understanding our fellow man and for peace. I really think we could use more peace in our lives right now…
No matter your political affiliation, in the past ten years, we all have learned a few lessons in politics. I call them The Five Be’s.
Be Patriotic.
I was raised to be very patriotic to our country. I literally have 2 American flags and a Purple Heart, among other medals, in my house because of my grandpa (Memaw’s husband). He was a tailgun fighter during WWII, was shot down, and held as a Prisoner of War for about a year. It was a very scary time for Memaw but she continued to fly the American flag in our front yard. When grandpa returned home, after the war, he refused to talk about his time as a POW, but thankfully he kept a journal that I was finally allowed to read after his death. The 2 American flags were from his coffin and his son’s (my father).
We live in a great country and there are times we take it for granted. It really hits home when we see other countries at war and how their citizens have to live. No matter who is at the helm of our great country, be patriotic. Acknowledge and celebrate what we have and where we live.
Be Nice.
I know many people say that our society is getting worse and worse, with all the rioting, violence, arguing, screaming, and fighting. I don’t know if it has gotten worse or not. Maybe we are just more aware of it. Throughout history, we have had fighting, violence, wars, conflicts, and assassinations. All societies have these things in their history. However, maybe we are getting a little meaner.
People are going to fight. I’m sure you have fights in your own family and in your relationships. This is normal. But be nice. No name calling, no being intentionally mean, no saying things that are hurtful. Disagree, argue but still be nice. Do this to family, friends, neighbors, strangers, and even our enemies. Be nice.
Be Respectful.
Just because you believe something, doesn’t make it true. —Mark Manson
Along with being nice, be respectful. There have been many conflicts, with many people having many different views. This is a good thing. We don’t want everyone thinking the same way. This is why we have checks and balances in our government–our three branches (executive, judicial, and legislative) check and balance each other to represent all Americans.
As the political climate changes again, you will agree with some things and disagree with others. But always be respectful. Respect people and their religious affiliations. Respect their beliefs. Respect where they are in life’s journey. Respect their opinions. You may not agree with the things people believe in or their life choices or their opinions, but try to always respect others. Nothing bad comes from giving others respect.
Be Empathetic.
Along with being nice and respectful, having empathy for others will serve you well. Once again, you may not agree with them or their beliefs, but always try to have empathy for their plight. Let me give you a controversial example. I live in Chicago and we have had a huge influx of immigrants from our southern borders. They have been bused to the midwest to ease some of the overcrowding by the borders. Many people are against this immigration. One of the issues is that there is no good immigration policy in place. Almost everyone can agree on that. Some people believe we need to help them, no matter how they entered the United States and some believe that unless they come legally, with the policy we have in place now, then they should not be here. I think all of these views are solid views and I do understand why people feel the way that they do on both sides of this argument.
However, I have seen way too many people be mean about this. I’ve heard name calling and mean comments, and seen disgust and disrespect toward these immigrants. This is the time I would say you need empathy. Whether you agree that they should be here or not, they are still human beings. They are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and children. They deserve respect just because they are people. But they also deserve some empathy. Think about why they are here. Almost all of them left a life of poverty, violence, barely surviving. They come to our great country because they see job opportunities, better living arrangements, better education, and a chance for their children to have a much better life. Right or wrong, as a parent, wouldn’t you do everything you can, legal or not, to give your children the best shot at life? Think about it.
Be Balanced.
Do we have to be extreme on everything? Can I believe some things that Democrats believe and some things that Republicans believe? Can I be both conservative on some things and liberal on others? I think most people would say I am “straddling the fence”, but is that so bad? I just feel more balanced and not extreme. For example, with the immigration example above, I totally understand why they are running to get into America. I would probably do the same thing, especially for my children. But I also think we need to have policies in place and enforced to make sure those that come into America are doing it legally. I think this would help with the numbers of immigrants, getting them the resources that they need, but yet still protect the resources that we have in America.
I truly believe that we always need to have balance. Yes, I believe this in my opinions, my beliefs, and my views. Maybe if more people had balance, then there would be less hostility, less anger? Just a thought…
No matter who is running our country, we can still control many aspects in our own private lives. This is why we have free will. In my life, I want to live more like Martin Luther King Jr. and his values and less like a politician and their values. If you had to choose, which do you think adds more value to your life and less pain?
