What do you guys do when you see

[_Jersey Girl]

a friend or relative say stupid s-hit about the current social/civil unrest on Facebook? I'll give examples.

Someone going crazy about defunding the police when you know good and well they haven't read all the reports, reasons for re-configuring how community services are delivered to our communities? What if it's a spouse of a police officer?

Another...someone posting about the renaming/reimaging of Aunt Jemima Syrup with a meme that says, "If you are offended by a syrup bottle. You are the problem". And, you know it's the stereotypical image that's offensive---and you know they can't think their way out of a wet partially torn paper bag because they re-post stupid memes instead of actually discussing the issue in their own words?

Not that memes can't be useful at times.

Do you pipe up and say something when you really feel you should? Do you ignore it? Do these things bother you at all? Does it really eat at you like it does me? How do you let it go and should you? What if you feel like you're compelled to say something or compromise your integrity? Do you look away? How do you look away?

I can think of numerous examples of this that have come across my screen in the last few months starting with issues regarding COVID-19. Does the ignorance make you feel crazy? Does it make you feel like you never want to see these folks ever again in your life because you're so disgusted with them?

Finding it increasingly hard to be charitable. Feedback, people. Let's hear it.

[_honorentheos]

Here's an article that, while short and simple, makes a case for perspective in these divided times:

https://reason.com/2020/06/12/both-left ... civil-war/

An excerpt: These current events are the most disruptive times in many of our lifetimes, but they are nothing new—nor are they particularly awful. We are not headed toward a new civil war, so everyone—on the Left and Right—should stop using over-the-top rhetoric. It only encourages us to view our fellow Americans as enemies, to see ourselves as members of warring tribes rather than citizens of a nation, and desensitizes us to violence. The nation has real divisions, and singing Kumbaya won't heal them, but our society still functions remarkably well.

Civil wars take place when neither side sees any hope under the current arrangements. I see lots of hope. If you spend hours on social media, you might conclude otherwise. But try taking a break from reading the odd thoughts of your Aunt Agnes or arguing about politics with a "friend" you may never have even met in person. Do you see people at each other's throats when you head to the bank, store or office? Of course not.

We may not be united, but this remains a wealthy and generally peaceful nation. Even the latest conflicts can be resolved with reasonable solutions that are entirely attainable within our system. Before the riots, Americans seemed to agree on the need for police reforms. We don't need a revolution to, say, reform the union protections that keep bad officers on the force. Whatever one thinks of Trump, his administration will one day pass.

Instead of bloviating about civil wars, we need to talk about restoring civil society. Everyone has been quoting Martin Luther King Jr. these days, so I'll finish with one of my Martin Luther King favorites: "There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies." Better yet, let's stop thinking of our political opponents as enemies instead of as misguided fellow citizens.

[_Jersey Girl]

Civil wars take place when neither side sees any hope under the current arrangements. I see lots of hope. If you spend hours on social media, you might conclude otherwise. But try taking a break from reading the odd thoughts of your Aunt Agnes or arguing about politics with a "friend" you may never have even met in person. Do you see people at each other's throats when you head to the bank, store or office? Of course not.

Thanks, honor. I do need to comment on this part though.

or arguing about politics with a "friend" you may never have even met in person

Unless it's in the Paradise Forum, right? ;-)

[_honorentheos]

Civil wars take place when neither side sees any hope under the current arrangements. I see lots of hope. If you spend hours on social media, you might conclude otherwise. But try taking a break from reading the odd thoughts of your Aunt Agnes or arguing about politics with a "friend" you may never have even met in person. Do you see people at each other's throats when you head to the bank, store or office? Of course not.

Thanks, honor. I do need to comment on this part though.

or arguing about politics with a "friend" you may never have even met in person

Unless it's in the Paradise Forum, right? ;-)

You pickin' a fight?!!

[_Temp. Admin.]

Finding it increasingly hard to be charitable. Feedback, people. Let's hear it.

My feedback: You can have opinions, or you can have friends. Which is more important to you?

[_honorentheos]

Finding it increasingly hard to be charitable. Feedback, people. Let's hear it.

My feedback: You can have opinions, or you can have friends. Which is more important to you?

Meta.

[_Jersey Girl]

You pickin' a fight?!!

You talkin' to me?

[_honorentheos]

[_Jersey Girl]

Finding it increasingly hard to be charitable. Feedback, people. Let's hear it.

My feedback: You can have opinions, or you can have friends. Which is more important to you?

Leave me alone I'm grieving for my sanity over here!

[_Temp. Admin.]

Feedback, people. Let's hear it. . . Leave me alone I'm grieving for my sanity over here!

Will the real Jersey Girl please stand up?