MICROCOSM/MACROCOSM VS. SIMPLISTICS

Although this blog is NOT political- humanitarian efforts for the troops - this one posting will verge on a general political discussion. I don't much like labels; they get in the way and are often phony representations of position, pretended wealth or image. For example, I have always been both amused and horrified by the rush to purchase items that have the labels on the outside. I've seen both men and women wearing clothing and accouterment from head to toe, all representing different expensive labels. To add to the silliness of this pretense, is the rush of some to purchase phony labels to pretend they have the funds to wear whatever labels they are displaying. Sometimes it works for them: people tend to be impressed and often with the phony!
In politics, labels just get in the way and blind people in the needed effort to cooperate. Yesterday, a group of us met out at the Reagan Library. Some of us were so called Conservative Republicans and others were labeled Progressive Democrats. We sat at a table for lunch and began to chat about issues. We started off agreeing that this is a fabulous library, well run, and full of interesting things. I said, "Let's get rid of the labels here and just pick a topic - any topic. Let's start with what we agree upon and then put out certain basics that are dear to our lives and thinking." So we did that. One person said, "I believe that there is a microcosm/macrocosm issue here: we should have our government live as we have to live both morally and in the fiscal sense." That made sense to me. Is that simplistic? Maybe, but it seems like a good place to start. Another person said that security of her home meant everything to her; both she and her husband had spent a great deal to protect their property. Well, security of our nation means a great deal to us and it seems that we need to consider security of our nation as part of our budget. Another person felt that personal privacy and freedom both represented great aspects of her moral foundation. So, when we got to the specifics of feelings about airport security, all of us agreed that we would have to give up certain considerations for privacy and freedom when anarchy of behavior has clearly become an issue with regard to enemies of our country. Funny how we all agreed on specifics, when they were discussed without the labels of Republican and Democrat. We just talked. We talked about HEALTH CARE. We talked about ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. One of us suggested that in California, jobs could be created with fixing roads or building de-salinization plants to help with our water problem. We made compromises on specifics. We found agreement. Nobody will listen to us because we are the 'little people' who may be the backbone of our country, but who do not get huge salaries or bonuses for failure. Were we being simplistic or is there a lesson here when measuring the microcosm with the macrocosm?
Then we talked about SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS. Everyone at the table, regardless of feelings about the wars, agreed that SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS is a fundamental issue with which we all could agree. Simple. Movement. Action. No labels. This blog, way back at the beginning postings, evidences a PROCESS by which anyone can take action in this support - action from the simple card sent or different sizes of boxes filled with things for the troops.
We laughed when we agreed that COMMON SENSE divided our participation in this lovely day. One person drove. One person paid for all the lunches. One person led a tour. One person paid for photos for everyone. We cooperated. We used COMMON SENSE. We freely came together to share opinions, made decisions for action on issues and we COOPERATED.
So, we were a MICROCOSM and wonder why things cannot happen like that in the MACROCOSM of political discussions, decent compromise and action.... Is it too simplistic to suggest that both sides of the political aisles do what we did at lunch and are doing with our personal projects? We just talked; we used our common sense; we took specific issues and decided on how we might come together to solve specific problems. And then, we act.
No labels here other than names of yarns that are on sale! You might want to check sales on Paton's camouflage color yarns at JOANN'S CRAFTS. You might also wish to consider one color, in browns, of LION'S BRAND FISHERMAN'S WOOL YARN; 8 ounces. Those brands or labels count....unless, of course, you can find another label that provides quality, more yarn to get the job done and is less expensive. This paragraph is a microcosm; it is not an anacrhonism...
There is one label and brand that means everything and we need to remember that and be grateful: THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERIA and of course DEMOCRACY. To make it work, we all must be involved. As a former history teacher, I have to add that the definition of democracy - either pure or representative - is involvement and government by the vote in a free enviroment. I also recall a pamphlet called COMMON SENSE.
I'm done with political party labels - way done with them. I am an AMERICAN - we are all AMERICANS and participants in the democratic process. We need to talk about specifics and issues, without hyperbole and flaming language for or against something. We need to talk, as a family talks about familial issues, and we need to make decent compromise for the common good. We need to avoid people who use the airways with a lack of decorum and who add emotional matches to hugely important issues with which we all MUST deal. That is truly what being an American is all about. American is enough of a proud label for me. It is a gift.

I shall return to talk of knitting in the future. But after luncheon yesterday, some things seemed too real - not simplistic at all. KEEP KNITTING AND CROCHETING...politics aside!

Sincerely and respectful of all opinions,

Adria
General Mama and "Mama-Schu"