Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Being a Pro-American



Well.

When one sits down to write a blog on a Saturday night because one is stuck at home with a bad cold and one cannot breathe through their clogged sinuses, one doesn't usually expect to wake up a few days later and find that one's blog has been read by over 100,000 people.

But there you have it.

Frankly, right now I don't know whether I should take credit for that blog or bounce the attribution to Mucinex - it certainly did its part.

The last few days have been a mystery to me and as a woman who overthinks everything (yes, aren't you glad you're not dating me?), I've been trying to figure out why this took off. After all, I certainly don't consider myself a political expert and as I mentioned in the previous post, I shy away from those types of conversations.

So, it's somewhat ironic that after all of the writing I've done, a post about the 2016 election is what went viral.

And the Gods laugh.

What I wrote was true - this election has changed many of the conversations I have, especially with my kids. And as terrible as the hate and ranting throughout the media has been, I do appreciate that I'm openly talking to them about things like sexism, racism, and several other isms that we might have accidentally ignored, living out in suburbia the way we do.

What's fascinating to me is actually listening to them because they're smarter than all of us adults. I've told them many times that I wish the voting age could be lowered because our kids have a lot to say and they come from such an honest place. A 10-year-old has no hidden agenda when it comes to things like healthcare. She's just glad her doctor gives her a sticker when she leaves the office.

And it's actually exciting to me that we're raising a generation of kids who are more shocked to see someone smoking a cigarette than a same-sex couple walking hand-in-hand down the street. While these kids are often buried in their smartphones, they're also a more tolerant group (I've found) and because they spend so much time online, they're often more informed than we give them credit for.

When I listen to my kids...they're a lot like me. They're not Republicans. They're not Democrats. They want what's best for their community and country and discuss issues that don't pigeonhole them into a certain party. Like me, they're not pro-Hillary or pro-Trump (that would be obvious from my last blog).

They're pro-America.

Someone asked how I felt about Clinton in the comment section of my blog about Trump. And this was my response:

As a parent, I consider the issues on BOTH sides a "teachable moment." Honesty, integrity, kindness, and inclusiveness should be a given with our leaders...not something that we have to search so hard for. 

I truly believe it's a teachable moment for us all. We have to learn from this. Yes, it's a mess, but we can be better because it's happened. Maybe this moment in history is the catalyst that helps us usher in a new era of politics.

Too hopeful?

22 comments:

  1. You are my new favorite blog. This, and the preceding blog, are spot on and brilliant. I never thought I'd be discussing these things with my kids either. (10 and 12, one of each) But, it is a spectacular opportunity to teach how not to behave. Keep up your wonderful words of wisdom. We are following.

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    Replies
    1. Hi KC,

      Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Who knew we'd be in a situation where you should be over 18 to watch a debate? Crazy!

      Catherine

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    2. Thank you very much.I'm not an American. I'm fact I'm from Guatemala, Central America with a close relationship to the United States of America. I have relatives and close friends that are American and I studied and lived for 13 years in the USA. Needless is to say that I feel that part of me has been left in your country, a place where I was lucky to find decent, honest and hard working people. It's been hard to me to watch this spectacle of madness and disrespect. Hopefully Mr. Trump will acknowledge some day that he's got issues. Hopefully everybody will learn what NOT to become, a racist, sexist man who mocks disabled people. who insults, lies and abuse everybody else from his Narcissistic pedestal.

      Delete
    3. Thank you very much.I'm not an American. I'm fact I'm from Guatemala, Central America with a close relationship to the United States of America. I have relatives and close friends that are American and I studied and lived for 13 years in the USA. Needless is to say that I feel that part of me has been left in your country, a place where I was lucky to find decent, honest and hard working people. It's been hard to me to watch this spectacle of madness and disrespect. Hopefully Mr. Trump will acknowledge some day that he's got issues. Hopefully everybody will learn what NOT to become, a racist, sexist man who mocks disabled people. who insults, lies and abuse everybody else from his Narcissistic pedestal.

      Delete
  2. Thank you for your perspective J M Thorne, Victoria BC

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    Replies
    1. Hi John,

      Thank you for commenting!

      Catherine

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    2. Thank you for your incite, yes incite for moving the envelope forward with this discussion. I've shared many of the same thoughts to spin this negative as you have to reveal the underlying themes transversing our understanding of this anomaly of an election.

      Delete
  3. Both this and the "Thank you, Mr.Trump" pieces are SO refreshingly honest and on point. Thank YOU!!!

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  4. Catherine, I have thoroughly enjoyed your views. Your blogs have captured the meaningful differences and multicultural aptitude of a generational, bi-lateral face within this nation. Your insight is wise and concise. I am newly inspired. Thank you!

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  5. Having read both posts, I say thank you for writing what I have been thinking and feeling.

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  6. SO much YES. This and today's...wow. Thank you.

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  7. You brought tears to my eyes. You see, I too am a middle aged white women, who grew up in the California bay area. I now know is a bubble and not the norm.You wrote my heart desire. Bless you

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  8. You brought tears to my eyes. You see, I too am a middle aged white women, who grew up in the California bay area. I now know is a bubble and not the norm.You wrote my heart desire. Bless you

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  9. Well executed for those of us that felt inadequate about the trend of this election. It's such a strange time in history with so much to consume. It's a real time for all families to have discussion about all of Trump's topic points and get into international politics a little. At the end the day, may the best person gain our confidence.

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  10. So sorry for your loss. Your perspective and opinions are well put. It is such a shame that our children/grandchildren have been exposed to a man spewing such hate. In light of all that has transpird this week, I don't believe Trump has a chance to be our president! It is just not going happen.

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  11. This is so well written and so well said, I wish I had written it! Thank you!!!

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  12. This is so well written and so well said, I wish I had written it! Thank you!!!

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  13. Thanks It's nice to know that women prefer communism
    to a non politician who is only trying to do the right thing for his country..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Comments like yours, Eugene are exactly what most of us are so disgusted about. I can't think of anything that this non politician could possibly do that would be of benefit to anyone except himself.

      Delete
  14. I very much enjoyed reading both articles you've written. Especially the first. You see, I am a political junkie. But I have been shocked and disheartened to see and hear the depth of vitriol taken place over the past year. More than that, the acceptance of Mr. Trump's words and behavior towards women is dumbfounding. I'm in my sixties and I can tell you countless times where I've been treated less than male counterparts, especially in business. From being paid less for doing more work to being objectified, unwanted hugs or kisses....you know the drill. I can't imagine what it must feel like to be a Muslim, or Hispanic, or Black. And then be a female of any group that has been vilified. I don't understand what happened to manners, and courtesy, or just plain common decency in the world anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I very much enjoyed reading both articles you've written. Especially the first. You see, I am a political junkie. But I have been shocked and disheartened to see and hear the depth of vitriol taken place over the past year. More than that, the acceptance of Mr. Trump's words and behavior towards women is dumbfounding. I'm in my sixties and I can tell you countless times where I've been treated less than male counterparts, especially in business. From being paid less for doing more work to being objectified, unwanted hugs or kisses....you know the drill. I can't imagine what it must feel like to be a Muslim, or Hispanic, or Black. And then be a female of any group that has been vilified. I don't understand what happened to manners, and courtesy, or just plain common decency in the world anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've already said too much regarding this election and the amount of bigotry it has brought to the surface. Seems America is not as "great" as I once though, but has deep hidden wells of hippocrosy. Sad!

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