Monday Musings...
Welcome to a new month AND a new week.
One of the curious things about life is that, as we "mellow with age", or become "more seasoned", we find out stuff we never knew...or readily dismissed, until we had a few of those "personal assessment" moments.
Sooner or later, we turn around, or look in the mirror and we find we truly ARE (for the most part) the sum OF our parents.
For some, that's a good thing, AND one helluva testament or legacy for our parents.
For others, it may become the one thing they've dreaded.
For me personally, I think I got the "good stuff".
By that, I mean the best of what my parents represented to me are still alive and well, residing in yours truly.
And if our parents have any vices...well, we ALL have some somewhere, and that's just because that's the way the model was put together since day one. If we didn't have ANY vices at all, we'd pretty much be as PERFECT as God himself, and we're not even close.
But striving for betterment isn't such a bad thing.
Now, I'm like my Dad in one regard...I like the whole "live and let live" gig.
You don't bother me, and I won't bother you.
It's much like the Golden Rule...I treat you as I would like to be treated, and YOU do to me likewise, and we all get along with as few problems as possible.
Sounds like a plan, right?
Well, you'd THINK as much.
Things don't always go "as planned", though.
(Aye, there's the rub)
While YOU (or I, for that matter) might be perfectly content with this Golden Rule, OTHER PEOPLE have differing beliefs and principles that THEY live by, and you don't figure into "their" equation when it comes to "getting along".
Of course, you've all seen these people so many times before.
They are the ones cutting in lines, or being the most obnoxious person at a gathering, or the sloppiest individual you're even seen, and they could be the LOUDEST one in the bunch.
You all know how I feel about the whole LOUD issue...it doesn't have to exist, at least NOT in it's current form...and certainly NOT in the name of ANY form of "tolerance"...or even "cultural diversity".
We do, however NEED certain noise to get things built, or moved, or repaired, or even to warn us of impending alarm (fire engines, ambulances, and police cars to name a few). It's a necessary evil of our society.
Other noise we simply DO NOT "need"...nor want.
But have it we do, and in ever increasing abundance.
Now, I suppose, in some perverted way, these acoustically-challenged idiots "think" (and does THAT word EVER miss the mark) they have every "right" to SHARE whatever noise they have at their disposal with everyone else, regardless of the exact SAME rights the OTHER people have.
And every month, for the past 4 years, I have been sending along to our FWPD Deputy Chief (and quadrant captain) a "report" that details the specifics that happen in our neighborhood, since we don't actually have a VIABLE Neighborhood Association (in name and officers only).
We have to first have a viable COMMUNITY in order to have a real N/A, and since we only have a conglomeration of transients and other assorted human refuse infesting the area, the voices of the last few remnants of humanity like OURS go relatively unnoticed (or worse...ignored).
Here's another case where I am my father's son...when I'm trying to advise you of something important, don't EVER IGNORE ME...!
Better for anyone to placate me by nodding with false concern (which I will ALSO find out about), than outright ignorance of who I am, and what I am trying to convey.
That will get you on my negative "A" list REAL fast. You don't really WANT to be on THAT list, trust me.
And although I will have compassion and will forgive someone THEIR faults and missteps, I NEVER FORGET.
To me, it's "Forgive...but remember".
When we remember...we learn (to not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of, mostly).
And sometimes, we even have to "refresh" the memory of those who went against us in the first place. They believe because we "forgave" them, they can go back and do the same old crap again....not so.
But, I digress...
I have stated to our D/C for YEARS that what has come to our neighborhood WAS in fact...COMING.
And you would have thought that the police Command Staff, having been privy to this (for years), would have, or should have, or could have done something to, if not halt this growing bane against our part of town, then perhaps slow down the rising tide of criminal intent from those supplanting the once decent people by moving into MY neighborhood.
Nope...sorry, wrong. Bad assumption on MY part.
I suppose it's OK to be wrong once in a while. It helps to offset ALL THE TIMES I happen to be RIGHT.
After all, one must have parity in one's life.
But, parity be damned...in this case.
I've always said that I don't give a rat's ass WHAT these other people do in the confines of their OWN houses, but when whatever they choose to do affects how I am trying to live MY life, and spills out into the community with repetitive nauseum...well, that's where I draw the line.
When they believe that the whole neighborhood is THEIRS (and theirs alone), and that no other person has any right to live a normal life, that's just wrong.
When they think they can be as LOUD as they want, and that everyone is deaf (or should be)...that's wrong.
When they feel that dancing in the damn street with music blaring after midnight is perfectly "normal", that's wrong.
When they force THEIR lifestyles into YOUR life, because you don't matter to THEM...that's too damn wrong.
You want to do drugs...fine, just don't come down to MY place and smoke it...OR sell it.
You want to play your music...got no problem with that, AS LONG AS I don't have to hear it at all. You never hear MINE.
You want to run around intersections like a screaming bunch of primates in heat at the zoo... go ahead, AS LONG AS you're NOT using MY property (or the damn intersection) as part of YOUR frigging"playground", kapeesh?
Now, you'd probably say we all "could" get along, but it's certainly not because I'm NOT doing "my part"...I am.
I leave THEM alone...UNTIL they inflict themselves upon or into MY life.
Then I call the police to shut them up for about the 37th time (this year)...that's a LOT of "second chances" and warnings, don'cha think? I don't go out of my way to "bother" them (as they do with us)...I consider my life is too important for that crap.
Apparently, theirs IS NOT. But since YOU (the taxpayer) are footing their bill, it's fine to them.
The funny thing, is that they might become uppity with the police (God knows they have such little respect or fear of them as it is), like their sh*t doesn't stink or something, when all they have to figure out is that if THEY make an earnest attempt to act in a CIVIL manner...the police will NEVER be called on them...by ANYONE...for ANY reason.
How f$cking simple is THAT to comprehend, hmm?
(you'd be surprised HOW difficult it actually IS...for THEM)
Then again, the police (command) have to give a damn as well, and by that, I mean they have to not issue so many frigging "warnings" or second chances. Everyone is entitled to ONE...after that, you're making fools out of the police, and everyone else that believes in JUSTICE...for EVERYONE.
So yes...I AM my father's and mother's son...and I'm damn proud of that distinction.
I know MY rights, and the rights of others, and I have my parents, teachers, assorted mentors and friends to thank for that.
I know what is FAIR...and what is NOT.
I know my limits, AND my boundaries, unlike so many of those that either live in or pass through my neighborhood...and DO NOT.
And I didn't have any magic formula, or hidden powers, or even a secret handshake to figure that one out.
I had people who gave a damn about ME...and others like me.
Sadly, many today simply do not.
That's a far cry from the manner in which our ancestors grew up.
And that's a far cry from what it means to be citizen of this fine nation.
Time to figure out the best and fastest way to get that train back on the right track, before we destroy one another.
Only then, can we, as a people, dispel the clouds of such ignorance.
Although ignorance might be bliss, we all don't need to be THAT "blissful", do we?
Therein lies the lesson.
Be well, make a difference today, and...
Stay safe out there, America.