Dave Richards for May 15th…………
--Yesterday morning I was posting my trivia quiz question on Facebook and Twitter and was disturbed by what I read. Now, I’m not a fan of social media in general, but I do agree it has its place. I had the staff at the radio station “fix” my Facebook account so I wouldn’t see any posts except the ones I make. While I’m on the air in the morning I just don’t have time for that distraction. But they weren’t able to do the same with the Twitter account and I made the mistake of seeing the posts just below mine yesterday morning. I was very disturbed.
There was some poster who claimed to be a woman who stated in no uncertain terms or language that the Rhode Island General Assembly had better pass the bills due for a vote yesterday which would codify in State Law the protections of the U.S. Supreme Court decision of years ago regarding abortion rights, commonly called Roe v. Wade. She went on to post in a most threatening way that males had better learn their place in the new world where there are more women than men and that if men don’t, they will be destroyed. “Good morning? Who got up on the wrong side of the bed today?”, I asked myself. And then the insults came in from male posters, or those who said they were males. I figure you can never really know on social media if someone really is who they say they are.
Threatening to eradicate “useless, redundant males”, as was expressed, is just plain hate speech, in my view. And it seemed to be accepted by other females, which is even more disturbing, as nobody posted a word in disagreement. I cannot accept this. Sexist bigotry is no more acceptable when expressed by females than racist comments are when expressed by people of color. Two ‘wrongs’ do not make a ‘right’, and those who have been ‘wronged’ in the past ought to know better.
I think ‘wronging’ people with hatred and intent to do mental of physical harm is the way wars start. Just pick up a history book. They’ll all tell you the same story. The one thing which humanity has (so far) failed to get right down through the ages, and which has led to the most death and suffering is the failure of people to “subdue their passions”. Agree to disagree. Make your feelings known at the ballot box. And then for Heaven’s sake, abide peacefully by the decisions of election day. The alternative is never ending feuding. Just ask the folks in the Middle East.
It all starts with you, dear reader. When you control your anger and refuse to seek hateful revenge against people who displease you, you have done your part to move the world forward toward peace. Here’s another example……..
--I think Alex Cora, Mookie Betts, and the other Red Sox players who chose to not accept President Trump’s invitation to visit The White House last Thursday made a mistake. I agree it is a personal choice, and I don’t deny them that. Everyone who has strong opinions should express them. I just think it is a mistake to miss an opportunity to express your opinions as effectively as possible. I’ll explain.
If you or I agree or disagree with a policy or action of our president, we should tell them so, politely and firmly. It’s not only good citizenship, it’s common courtesy. I mean, how will they learn to please us if we don’t tell them what we want? And what better opportunity to tell them than when you see them in person?
If you don’t go when the president invites you, as a protest, you can say that millions will know you are unhappy. But those millions can’t do anything to improve your disapproval of the president’s decisions. The one person who has the most to say about what he will do next is the man himself.
I think if you disagree, and you meet the man and ask him to help you, then you are doing what you should be doing. If, after that, he continues along the same lines, well, then you have something to protest about. But to not even take a given opportunity for a word with him is not only unfair to him and yourself, but it’s a sure road to further disagreement and a missed chance for understanding.
We all have the right to protest and express our displeasure with our elected leaders. But they are people, too, and I think we owe them a civil word now and again.
There’s too much conflict in the world today. Some of it could be avoided with a little effort on both sides. BOTH sides.
--That's what I think. What do you think? Comments to: dave@onworldwide.com or postal mail to Dave Richards, WOON Radio, 985 Park Avenue, Woonsocket, RI 02895-6332.
Thanks for reading.
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