Freedom of Speech – A Must Read for Both Women and Men

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Blogging, Media, Networking

On Thursday night, millions across the nation were watching as President Trump made his acceptance speech for nomination for reelection. Eyes were glued to the ‘tube or tellie’ as the president and his wife walked down the steps of the White House. I felt the effect of the RNC ending on the front lawn of the White House was effective. Ears were alert and listening earnestly, as to not miss a single word of the speech.

The president started his speech by thanking his supportive wife and family. A nice touch, but as Trump spoke, I couldn’t help but believe it was a repeat of 2016’s acceptance speech. It was sort of dry to me. The only thing I related to was the needs of the critically ill and health protection for pre-existing medical conditions. He did talk about his opponent, of course, former Vice-President Biden.

I expressed my opinion on my own FB page the next day. I expected a reaction, but not a war. One crazy woman (I will call her) responded with “hateful and heartless”  feedback about Trump. She sounded very angry in general. First, he was a demon – oh my God! He took children away from their parents’ arms and he lied 20,000 times. I’m impressed that she even counted at all. Chuckle. By her responses, she actually showed her ignorance.

My own sister responded back that she was adamant about voting for the person God intended for our country. This same crazy woman started to backlash my sister. She said Trump was Godless and that my sister was out of her mind. In my sister’s defense, I expressed that my sister had the right to express her own free opinion. Yet, the crazy woman kept commenting and with it, promoting more offensive and hurtful feedback against me and anybody else defending my opinion.

More damaging was a man’s response to my sister that ‘dumb women’ voted for President Trump. Whoa – you’ve hit below the belt! I am a well-educated, intelligent, talented, and articulate woman. I am not a liberalist nor advocating for a women’s rights movement, but I do believe in what is right.

My sister’s feelings were hurt. I could tell. She refuses to comment on my FB page anymore, especially about political matters. I have learned a big lesson here. It is difficult to express yourself, even on your own website. I will not make any more comments about political affairs and/or parties again. It’s a shame that social media has come to this. So much for freedom of speech. In truth, there is no such thing.

 

Recognizing Denial

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Blogging, Connecting, Inspirational, Media, Networking, Reflection, Social Media

A few weeks ago, I watched a program on the Dr. Phil show. It presented Sarah Jakes, who is the daughter of T.D. Jakes, one of America’s most beloved ministers to hit the media. At 13 years of age, she became pregnant and became a mother by age 14. She went on to have the baby, graduate from high school, and be accepted into college. However, at 19, she dropped out of college and started to dance nude at a local nightclub. Sarah claimed she had very low self-esteem when younger and any attention was better than no attention at all, no matter how degrading or offensive to her.

This show was meant for me. In fact, it is freeing after over 40 years. I too had very low self-esteem as a young teenager. Making good grades in middle school (practically straight A’s in every subject), my grades started to decline in highschool. What was worse than poor grades, were my parents’ attitude toward me. When I was 13 years of age, I was approached and sexually molested by a family member (not blood-related). My parents tried to keep it quiet and conceal it from the public, but I was psychologically damaged.

Once I told my parents what happened, the response I got was repulsive. “We stopped it,” was the response. The person who victimized me told my mother it was my imagination as if I made up the whole thing. But I did not, and I have a witness to it.

I didn’t get pregnant nor have a baby. Neither did I drop out of college nor dance nude in a nightclub. I did suffer internally for years, sought professional counseling, and even dated and married an attorney. But truth be known, the psychological damage traveled to my marriage. It caused problems with me and my husband. One reason I am divorced today with no children.

I believe I majored in Abnormal Psychology in college to better understand myself and what I was going through at the time. No wonder my self-esteem was so low. I felt like crap. Adults have a hard enough time with sex. Just think about children. They don’t have the maturity or mental capacity to understand fully what is going on, although children are expected to act appropriately.

When your children speak to you, please listen. Don’t shovel it under the rug, as if to hide it. You are only hurting your child more. Be a protective parent. It happened, but I can not change the past. I can only be aware that it does exist and in wonderful families too.

The Age of Sanctuary

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Blogging, Writing

Are we living in a new age of sanctuary? For six months, we have experienced the effects of COVID-19 on the world. Our nation has encountered the pandemic, as attention is taken off the flu and existing epidemics. Now the emphasis is on the coronavirus and how to treat it, not how to get rid of it. There are some preventive measures with social distancing, wearing facial masks and/or gloves, a sterile clean environment, washing hands often and good hygiene. However, no matter how much caution is taken, the coronavirus is rampant and increasing in number in some states.

Someone near and very dear to me has recently contracted the coronavirus, along with her husband, from his co-worker. It becomes more ‘real-life’ when it hits close to home. Although quarantined for two weeks, it couldn’t have hit at a worse time. School-age children are just starting back to school and people are ready to start a new school year. My elderly father is “at-risk” in an assisted living facility. It seems the weak and the elderly are most vulnerable. Those with pre-existing medical conditions are afraid to expose themselves to an uncertain illness. Obviously, not a safe environment to live in right now.

What becomes of our society in the future? Are we to remain living in fear and staying home? Does this nightmare of the pandemic ever end or is it a reoccurrence from now on? Certainly, things have to change soon. The government tends to not deliver all the news to the public when it happens, yet, the politicians expect to be re-elected to office. I have news for you. Once re-election hits, some of these fears will disappear.  Rather, the public is led to believe that China lied to Americans and “kudos” for President Trump for not believing their bullshit.

It’s an emotional and spiritual roller-coaster – warfare between good and evil. But optimism overrides negativism, as I feel we will overcome this ordeal as a nation. Life precedes death and it will be maintained. America was built on God’s promises to restore and preserve. He will see us through this pandemic. We need to be patient and believe that Jesus Christ will guide us through this trial. Keep the faith and know that the end of this pandemic is coming, hopefully, sooner than later.