My slant and rant

At the end of my fingertips, every day, there is a story. I see, I feel, I think, I write. 

I could take the next 500 words to expound on what I feel about the media’s obsession with terrorism.

I could take the next 510 words to paint a picture of what I think about the business of racial profiling that I see every single day in the news, when the media giants decide what is the most important story and suck the marrow out of it. 

I could add another 500 words to express my opinion and disgust for how we are drawn to the major news stations each day with a really good cup of coffee, and where we seek and find a stirred and foul pot so full of the bad and the ugly that it makes us bitter.

 Many of us come away with an empty cup, convinced there is absolutely no kindness anywhere, no smiles, no happiness, no friendship, no goodwill, no simple humanity, nor hope. 

I don’t have “cable.”  Call me naïve, it’s okay.  (I learned a long time ago that what others think about my choices is their “stuff” and not mine.)

I woke up one morning in mid-2012 excited that I was planning a trip to Wales, U.K. and the television news gurus were spouting at the mouth about how dangerous it was to fly.

All of the bad and scary news immediately robbed me of my excitement about my trip abroad and I was drawn deeper into the fray. From inside my heart leapt my joy--exchanged in an instant for fear, trepidation, and suspicion. Absolute joy sucked out—and replaced by the second-guessing of “living” for the “what if” of dying. That is when I turned the television off. 

Yet I’m not stupid. I know the world has a tremendous amount of chaos and angry disruption and unthinkable days that bring many of our innocent fellow earth dwellers to an end far short of their expectations. Despite the fact that I don’t have a intravenous line to cable television, I am not clueless. I am not heartless, and I am not ignorant of “what is.”

But, despite all of it, I will not respond in a conversation that begs the question “What is this world coming to?” That way of thinking is a direct result of too much media influences and be sure of this—the big guns—the mainstream media—capitalize on shock value and they are winning. 

And if you are going to spew out negative comments about the Syrian refugees and immigrants who will be given a chance at a new life in this great country within the next few weeks—I, for one, will not fuel that conversation either.

Unless you grew from an amoeba at the river’s edge—we are all the lucky stock of immigrants who long ago came from lands of unrest and poverty to find a better life.

Welcome home.

To paraphrase the best sayings of the moment;

Shut off the television. Dance, sing, and talk to strangers. Smile at everyone. Say “thank you” to someone who doesn’t expect it. Love, and make it count. Take chances. Spend a lot time with kids, laugh every chance you get.

Help someone in need.  Help others, again and again and for Heaven’s sake, be positive.