I Envy Those Who Have All the Answers: I Have Only Questions

I envy the professional bloviators in the mainstream media who have all of the answers. You know who they are: the usual suspects at MSNBC, FOX, CNN. All of those people with tingly feelings and cigar cravings. I don’t watch television opinion pieces that much, but I get the gist of them enough by crawling around these internet tubes.

Although I find them all pretty nauseating, and wonder why on earth anyone would form their opinions based on their spittle-laden spoutings, I nevertheless envy the sureness and convictions with which they profess their beliefs. It must be comforting to be so right. And all the time, no less !

I, on the other hand, have nothing but questions. I wonder if that makes me stupid, or just simply less dogmatic.

Of course, I have some core tendencies: an almost innate fiscal conservatism and a live-and-let-live outlook on social issues.

Where do these come from?

I think my fiscal views came from growing up with Great Depression-age parents in a middleclass family where daily expenditures were the topic of supper conversation. Nothing was ever wasted, so when I see waste it makes me cringe. I also work in a profession where efficiency of time, space, and resources means that you succeed or fail. It comes naturally to me. It is only common sense.

My social views, probably considered liberal by some, come from an entire life working and living with people of all races, creeds, and sexual orientations. What their particular bent might be is immaterial. And knowing people as people, with the same fears and struggles and everyday concerns as myself, kind of overshadows any differences we might have. The differences are so unimportant in the end: it is the commonality that binds us together on this planet.

So, when I see people supporting massive legislation that they have never read that will impoverish us for decades to come, I want to ask, “Don’t you understand, there is no more money? There must be a better way.”

And when the social conservatives spout venom-disguised-as-religion against gay marriage supporters, I have to wonder: “Why are you so hateful towards people to have done you no harm?”

Baffling, to be sure, but I have learned that there are certain positions that people have that they will never be dissuaded from, so there is no use trying. I would consider most of my circle of friends to be much more socially conservative than I am, yet we manage not to come to blows and instead focus on what we have in common. I love them all.

Heh, I published a letter awhile back that I had sent to my Senator opposing the “Defense of Marriage” legislation that was introduced in Delaware. It later occurred to me that I had never asked Chainsaw how he felt about gay marriage. Although we have many ideals in common, we are independent beings and have our own ways of thinking. I did not have a clue what he felt about it.

Me: How do you feel about gay marriage?

Him (after a moment of thought): Sure, let ‘em get married. I don’t give a flying (expletive deleted).

Seems to me he might not be marching in the streets or renting Brokeback Mountain any time soon, but I took it as a somewhat reluctant “yes”, LOL. Well, maybe more of a “whatever”.

I shake my head at all of the enmity and hatred in the world for those whose views might be different from one’s own. I wonder at the lack of decorum and decency, and am in awe with the complete blind ignorance with which people follow a particular party without ever actually reading the legislation they so ardently either support or do not support, depending on which talking head of the day is telling them what to do.

The shock and awe method of debate is becoming quite tiresome, and brings all of humanity down quite a notch or two.