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| "Fuchsia Fantastic" will be my next painting; I'll adjust composition above -- a photo I took in Minnesota. |
Have you noticed that in the arena of life, it is those that “haven’t made it”
who throw hateful darts and arrows at those who have? Envy? Sour Grapes? Both?
This phenomenon was birthed by the Internet. A recent
study said that this spiteful and destructive behavior was spawned by the
“anonymity that the Internet provides.”
People concoct pseudonyms to hide their real identities,
and then take pot shots at those they hate, dislike, or are jealous of. It’s
one thing to harp at policy or behavior you disagree with; it’s quite another
to defame, bully, bash character or reputation in the name of truth and justice
or simply “getting even.”
Civility is not only a little used word its meaning from
lack of use is almost meaningless. It is more fun (at someone else’s expense)
to gang up on someone and hammer away at their faults and foibles. It’s not
cool to “play nice” anymore. It’s hip to be first to notice a fault and to throw
the first stone.
“Ah so,” the people say, "that’s true; and have you
noticed that pussy pimple on his fat ass?”
Before you know it a barrage of negative ugly thought gains
strength and is propelled in a slew of wicked words and e-mails intent on
bringing the intended target down; down to the level of the insidious few who sling bad fortune and bad taste for fun.
How do we put a stop to this kind of mudslinging that in some
cases has resulted in the death or suicide of the recipients?
Some would have us outlaw “hate
speech!” But hate speech changes over time,
depending upon which side you’re on? Should the government be the judge? Should
the democrats? The Republicans?
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| I loved the yellow sunflowers against the blue cloth, and the shadows! May paint this one, too! |
Should women be the judge of hate speech if a man is the
speaker? Should men be the judge if a woman’s speech is suspect? Should a
thin person judge someone who is fat or vice verse? Should a government in the process of
taking its citizens rights away accuse another government of Human Rights
violations?
You can see where this triangulated thinking leads. We’d
all end up in jail eventually. You can’t control everyone’s speech, and you
certainly can’t control anger even with fines. In a free society, people have
opinions and free speech not just for a few, but for all.
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| I'd like to paint this, too, but would anyone buy a painting of sea gulls? |
Would that everyone was kind and tactful, but they’re
not. Sometimes people get “hoof and mouth” disease, as my mom used to say when
I’d speak out of turn. We can’t punish everyone. But we can use common sense.
We can be more tolerant and forgiving. We can put our verbal and physical
weapons away and try to salvage common decency and good sense.
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| My granddaughter, the cook, would be fun to paint! |
