Are you sick of the drama? Me too.
Social media has literally changed everything in our country. It is the fuel of any online forest fire. With most people on facebook and some on twitter, issues get blown way out of proportion. Where before we were somewhat open minded, tolerant and respectful, the world now laughs at us for being childish, close minded, ignorant, and drop outs for anger management. Some are so hyper sensitive, even the smallest things can set them off. Honey Boo Boo’s reality show looks like Masterpiece Theater compared to what is happening now in America. The mantra in the U.S. today is, think as I do or you are an idiot. I thought people were supposed to get smarter with age? Instead many are more aggressive and close minded as ever. Are you sick of it? Let’s look at how we can survive all of this Jr. High School drama.
How To Survive This Drama:
- Be Open Minded:
Good leadership is so rare in our country because most can’t do 4 things; listen, understand, be compassionate and compromise. If you can’t do these 4 things, you can never be a great leader.
In this situation I totally respect and understand both sides. I think both have good and bad points. If you listen and understand people’s feelings in a rational manner without acting like a hot head, you can get that both sides have valid thoughts and a compromise can be reached. If we respected each other’s opinions, we could see both sides.
- Don’t talk about it or react online.
When people talk about it online, I just move on. Everyone says the same thing over and over and I’m pretty sick of it. The media is loving this. They now show the national anthem as if it was a game itself. And oh the commentary.
I’m not a drama guy so I don’t get off on it. I’ll avoid it and watch the game. I don’t care what some jock, ex jock, celebrity or team owner has to say about the situation. I don’t know them and they are not my role models. I don’t look up to them for moral or spiritual leadership. And for all the love he is getting, I especially don’t look up to Jerry Jones. Just look on the internet to Jerry Jones history and partying ways. Character is what you do behind closed doors, NOT what you do when you know everyone is watching.
So many are nasty online and if you engage with them, you are just going to make yourself crazy. On Facebook just keep scrolling. Even if it’s a friend or even if you are asked what you think, just move on. People no longer want to talk about things so they can get others viewpoints. All they want to do is have people agree with them, or to attack those that don’t.
- Stop debating with those that are close minded:
Remember that a lot of adults today are close minded and it really comes out online. Two thirds of the country blindly back either the Republican or Democratic party like cult members, and the final third of the country is shaking their heads. Social media has also made us all feel very self important; especially through our viewpoints. For many their biases and prejudices from their parents have really stuck to them.
I remember being 18 and my father trying to tell me how to vote in my first election. I told him I’d listen to him but I’d vote how I felt I should. My dad liked that I stood up to him and thought for myself. My parents told me to always do what is right even if the world is going the other way. When you deal with facts and what is right or wrong, you realize you should not trust ANY politician or ANY political party. Just look at history. In fact it sounds ignorant and naive to me to trust these people.
AVOID talking to biased people about this situation like the plague. NO GOOD can come from it. You cannot debate them or reason with them. They will not listen to you and they think if you don’t think like them then you are an idiot. I personally listen to everyone but I also realize talking to a rock is pointless.
Jims Jamz:
First off I have several relatives and friends that have and are serving in the military. That’s from WWII, to Vietnam, to the Gulf War to the Iraq War. They fought for the very rights and freedoms that we have today and I’m extremely proud of all of them. As some of them say, one of those freedoms they fought for is the freedom to protest. I would like the players to stand up but it’s not a big deal if they don’t. I don’t look to them to set my moral standards.
Our country was founded on protest. Many of the same people ripping on the players now are the same families that called people against the Iraq war Commies, un-America traitors, and many even thought they should be charged with treason. A total of 93% of Americans were for that war when the 7% were right. History. Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.
And as I watch the amazing Vietnam series by Ken Burns on PBS, I see the millions of people of all ages; including soldiers and ex soldiers; who protested a war that was motivated for all the wrong reasons. The day after the Kent St. murders, millions of students across the country protested on the streets and highways of our country demanding justice in an unjust war. Millions of mothers, fathers and ex military protested on Washington and other areas to bring our brave young men home. They were so passionate and loud that President Nixon listened. He had to. If you haven’t watched it you should. It has inspired me and brought a new respect for those of that time that fought, and for those that fought to bring them home.
The National Anthem issue hasn’t affected me in any way. If fans feel they need to burn their jerseys and not go to games or watch, then I respect that. If players and fans want to protest racism and other issues then I support that too. THIS IS AMERICA! When did we lose the right to do what we wanted? When political parties infused into the older generations that they were perfect, that’s when.
What is funny is that many of the people that are burning jerseys, are white and I don’t think that is a coincidence. If you never experienced racism and you live in a non sensitive society like we have today, you are not going to understand the issue or the feelings. And some that are for the protesters have little to no knowledge of the sacrifice of the military and their families. Remember those 4 points of leadership I had? If both sides would follow that, they both would understand each other.
I think the players are misunderstood as well. They don’t hate America; right or wrong, they think this is the loudest way of protesting the lack of justice and racism that they see in our country today. I guarantee if dozens of rich white people were unjustly killed by cops in rich areas around the country, caucasians would be outraged and wonder what is going on!
If you are sick of the pettiness, anger and dramatics of this issue and you just want to watch football, then do it. Personally I don’t see any change coming from this, only more division. Change is only found with dialog and compromise; something most adults are no longer willing to do in America. Men’s ego, close mindedness and greed has screwed up so much in the world and the NFL is no exception.
Our love for Patriotism is strange. While some scream USA and say respect the flag, almost half of people that can vote don’t. Corporations take jobs away from Americans just so they could get slave labor wages overseas so more generations of trust fund babies can be taken care of. On the other hand, many that are kneeling during the Anthem have never done much of anything in their lives in regards to fighting for people’s rights. Many of them now talk like they are civil rights experts when in reality they have a lot to learn.
So in ending, in true GOOD American fashion, I say respect people’s view points and then YOU do what you think is right. I for one will continue to worry about the X’s and O’s and still watch the NFL while respecting people’s rights to be angry at the players, and the players right to protest. I’ll also greatly respect those things that our country holds dear, but THAT IS MY RIGHT. If you do what you think is right without berating others that disagree, you will not only be a good American, but you will also be rid of the drama.
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