Killing the Messenger

3/30/2016

The Lay of the Land

By Lyn Messersmith

Killing the Messenger

            My spouse and I don’t always agree on what radio station or TV channel to listen to, but it’s no big deal. When I turn the ignition in the pickup that he usually drives and Limbaugh blasts, I just turn it off. I don’t turn on NPR when Bruce rides with me.

I agree with some things Rush proposes, many in fact, but his delivery and manner irritate me. When Mara Liasson is part of a panel on FOX News, Bruce generally supports her view, but he objects to the liberal slant that often comes through on public radio. Now mind you, I would sit through a Limbaugh rant for his sake, and simply think of something else. He’d do the same if I turned on All Things Considered on our way to town. We just choose to respect one another by limiting exposure to irritants.

That being said, it never hurts to scout out the opposite camp. An open mind can work wonders. We’ve been watching the political debates, and were happily surprised to discover that the moderators on a channel we generally avoid were fair and respectful, while those on the network we watch more frequently were snarky, and made numerous attempts to set candidates against one another.

The Constitution allows us freedom to express views that are unpopular, but more and more Americans seem unwilling to tolerate dissenting opinions. Universities create “safe spaces” where students who get their feelings hurt can go to whine. A free speech zone is set up in some public square so people can rant, supposedly without being harassed. Wait a minute—a free speech zone in a country where the first amendment guarantees the right to speak out?

There’s no end to the process of appeals in judicial matters. It reminds me of a kid who pleads, begs, and throws tantrums until the parent gives in out of sheer weariness. We have marches, protests, and standoffs by the dozen, most of which turn into riots where police are paralyzed at best, and injured at worst, where property is destroyed and the economy damaged.

The process of choosing a leader for our country has become a circus; a competition among clowns, and I’m not just speaking of those running for office. But when you give citizens the right to speak, that sometimes happens. I’m no cheerleader for Donald Trump, but the protesters who disrupt his rallies ought to be ashamed. Claiming free speech as justification for shutting down free speech is ridiculous.

I’ve thought considerably about this, and concluded that fear is the only winner in this fight. Some of us are afraid that Mr. Trump’s rhetoric will continue to fuel the anger that is rampant among the citizenry; others fear that his supporters lack the ability to differentiate between promises and policy. Not to mention many in government who fear an upset in the power structure.  That would include a Justice Department that is considering prosecution for “climate change deniers.”

My own fear is based in knowing these people have the right to vote. And that they will.

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All In Good Time

3/23/2016

The Lay of the Land

By Lyn Messersmith

All In Good Time

           

“Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.”

Don Marquis

           

            The semi-annual silliness is upon us again. We’re back to getting up in the dark, and barely being able to stay awake until it gets dark. Next fall we’ll begin trying to keep up with yesterday but right now we’re rushing toward tomorrow.

Have you noticed that daylight savings time gets a few weeks longer every year? One of my friends says she wishes they’d just extend it to all year, and be done with the matter. I get her point, but what would be wrong with just staying on standard time? We have plenty of stuff to confuse us without adding any more. Gee, it’s enough to make a body want to move to Arizona. The better part of wisdom may be learning to leave well enough alone.

Perhaps adjusting the clock is simply a symbol of our tendency to discontentment; the notion that nothing is ever well enough; that different will be an improvement. Recreational shopping falls into that category. You don’t need anything, but if you wander through the mall something will surely catch your eye and be revealed as a necessity.

“Would you like to supersize that?”

When did a regular size burger and order of fries become just an appetizer? For that matter, why order an appetizer? Mama used to shut off the snacks mid-afternoon, with the warning that I’d spoil my supper. Any waitress could testify that a ton of food is thrown away every day because people who had to have an appetizer left half their dinner. Those who don’t leave half will end up supersizing themselves.

Americans aren’t very good at delayed gratification, and our culture applauds this. One credit card isn’t enough. That house plan, car, or clothing style is last year’s model.

Payment plans offering no interest for the first year send two messages: that we shouldn’t just save until we can afford the item and that we’re gullible enough not to realize the deferred amount will be added later. Sort of like cutting off the bottom of the blanket and sewing it on the top to make it longer equals daylight savings time.

A talented and ambitious young woman recently lost her job. She’s been in a position of power and prestige for nearly twenty years, but the company is downsizing. She believes it’s unlikely she’ll find employment at the previous salary, so with the older child out of the home and his sister nearly in high school, the family considers selling their house and finding something smaller. Good for them, but that’s not necessarily the opinion of some people close to her, who haven’t the ability to differentiate between want and need.

The truth is, times change. There is the growth spurt period when a kid eats like he has a hollow leg, and needs to, but if that continues indefinitely his health will suffer. For a few years, the family may need a Suburban to haul the kids around, but eventually a compact car makes more sense. Both of my homes are older, and the small rooms with few electrical outlets are frustrating at times. But, given our age, and the fact that we are only two, it would be wasteful to remodel. Well enough as is.

Most of us think in terms of what we’d like to have, rather than what we really need, or can afford, forgetting that our needs will inevitably change. Goals are fine, but when nothing works out the way we planned, perhaps the lesson is that well enough is good enough, for now.  Pushing the river is futile. Sometimes it’s just not time yet.

And sometimes it’s later than we think. Got to hurry—the clock says noon already.