Today, my mind is on some controversial topics that I just can’t stay quiet about.  I’m sure many disagree with my perspective, and I respect that, but just felt an overwhelming need to step onto my soap box for a bit…

• Newtown – I’ve held back, but I can’t any longer.  First, I think we can all agree that the recent Newtown tragedy is a horrific event that has generated a great deal of controversy regarding gun control policy and mental health service.  I am pleased to know that some initiative is being taken to prevent anything like this from happening again, but let’s be realistic.  There will always be crazy people left untreated.  There will always be a means of murder and crime.  But the fuel for these crimes is the media-based fame that perpetuates our generations need to do anything to be “seen”.  The ridiculous reality shows that make light of severe and inappropriate circumstances.  The you-tube sensations that encourage radical behavior.  It’s like society seeks to view demoralization and mental instability as entertainment.  Our children have great role models on television…pregnant teens, addicts, hoarders, criminals, liars, cheaters, manipulators.  And its all about fame.  Greed.  Entertainment.  So lets start with something simple.  Lets start with paying attention to our children.  Turning of the television.  Engaging their minds, and recognizing when their minds may be worth a professional exploring.  And when they act like shits, as parents, give them a reason to remember that’s not gonna fly now or ever.
• Pity Preaching - Somewhat related to Newtown, enough with the God shit.  I encouraging celebrating religion in a form that each individual finds comforting.  Having said that, when a tragedy has claimed the lives of 26 people, 20 being children, do not take away the right of the families and community to be angry by trying to make it about God.  I assure you that if there is a God, he was not part of an elementary school mass execution.  It was not in his divine plan to have 6 and 7 year olds slain while their classmates watched.  Sure, he may be comforting those children in the afterlife, but it does not change the fact that parents are burying their babies while brothers and sisters watch.  And they are allowed to be angry about it.  Furious, in fact.  They are allowed to grieve.  They are allowed to doubt their faith.  So the next time you think about giving some sermon about how it was ”in God’s plan”, or how “we may not understand how God works”, I suggest you bite your fucking tongue and simply pray that you never have to know the sorrow those families are experiencing.
• Lawsuits – I’ve seen several news stories lately regarding lawsuits.  One specific lawsuit got me a bit heated.  A woman and her husband flew to Europe for a trip.  The woman suffered from severe diabetes, and was morbidly obese.  Upon completion of their travels abroad, they attempted to catch a flight home.  Unfortunately, several airlines denied their boarding for various reasons…seatbelts and safety being the primary explanations.  The woman was so large that no belt would accommodate her, and the airlines had the right to deny her travels and refund her money if they felt that safety was at stake.  The woman had some complications with her illness, and 2 days later she passed away in Europe.  The family wants to sue the airlines that declined her boarding.  Are you fuckin serious?  Again with the blame game.  Wasn’t it HER fault that she allowed her health to deteriorate in such a drastic manner?  Wasn’t it HER fault that no seat belt in a commercial jet was capable of accommodating her?  But it much easier to forget about taking any accountability and just blame the airlines for discrimination.  In my opinion, once a person has allowed themselves to get past a point, they invite discrimination.  This world has been forced into constantly accommodating that which should be unacceptable.  Lets stop being so fucking nice and put it out there…if you care so little about yourself that you get to the 500 pound mark and don’t do a fuckin thing to change it, then why should we care about you?  People seem to believe that they’re entitled to all these right we have.  Just like criminals lose rights, so should those that become willing participants in their own demise.
• Brats – Has anybody else noticed that kids these days are brats?  I realize there are some good ones out there, and I hope mine joins those ranks, however, I can’t help but notice the decline in well-behaved children.  I coach, and I see a wide array of age groups come through.  Whether its toddlers or teens, many seem to believe it’s ok to be mouthy, disrespectful, and entitled.  They lack self-discipline, focus, and the basic manners that allow for cordial community interactions.  As a youth in sports, I knew that mouthing off to a coach or refusing to participate was not an option.  But coaches are now taught to “encourage” and ”be gentle”.  If you act out and are forced to run, it’s abuse.  If an adult calls you out for lack of effort, it’s humiliation.  Seriously?  It’s no wonder kids are growing up to be pansy-ass spoiled brats.  They’re all told their amazing and wonderful and perfect just the way they are.  Even when the way they are is naughty, rude, and ill-mannered.  I don’t know what’s happening at home, but being best friends with your children is the worst thing you can do for them.  My son knows that I am mom.  I am a nurturer and a care-giver, but I’m also a boundary enforcer.  I have yet to resort to spanking him, but the kids knows that when my voice is stern and my eyes are fixed, I mean business.  And I grew up this way too.  My parents taught me that respect is paramount.  That hard work gets results.  That there are consequences for each action.  So quit treating your child like royalty.  This is America.  They need their egos a little bruised and their decisions challenged.  Just like their immune systems, their heads and hearts need exposure to uncomfortable things to grow stronger.  Enough with the constant hand sanitizer and back pats.

That should do it for now.  I do not apologize for anything that offended you.  As with every other post, you read at your own risk.  My intent is never to offend but to express.  I always encourage feedback, and I always invite the sharing of other perspective.  I appreciate that no two minds are alike and that’s what I love about this world.