Insomnia
- Jennifer Thomas
- Sep 25, 2017
- 4 min read
I don't typically suffer from not being able to sleep. If I have trouble, it is usually caffeine related or some worries that I can identify and turn off. I am lucky in that way, except that I don't have a good coping mechanism in place for my current bouts of insomnia.
Football players and the National Anthem
Last night, a friend posted something in support of the right of the football players to protest by kneeling during the national anthem. The ensuing comments, while incredibly well thought out and respectful, stayed on my mind and challenged me to figure out why I think the kneeling is wrong.
While there is nothing illegal about sitting or kneeling during the National Anthem, I find it incredibly disrespectful. Not just to veterans and military, but to EVERYONE. The National Anthem should be a unifier. A moment in time where the people gathered together can stand and be grateful for the men, women and children who have given so much in the fight for our country. A moment in time where we can be grateful for the right to protest peacefully, the right to free speech, free press and freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, the right to a speedy trial...I could go on and on here. Kneeling in protest during the National Anthem is like drawing a line across the country. While you think you are doing something great, you are further dividing this country and that is something we do not need.
On another level, those athletes are at work. Playing that game is their job. It is their job to put on that uniform, stand there respectfully during the National Anthem, and then play the game. I am all for them protesting on their own time, but when they are on my television to play a football game, that is all they are being paid for. I don't care what their political views are while they are doing their job. If they don't want to stand respectfully during the National Anthem, it is just like a cashier at a grocery store who decides it isn't their job to bag the groceries.
Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria and the Mexican Earthquakes
The storms in the Gulf and in the Caribbean and the earthquakes in Mexico have broken my heart. So many of the beautiful islands we have visited have been completely decimated. My heart breaks for the the people who have been left with nothing. I pray for them daily, that they will have the strength to rebuild, that they will remain safe until they can rebuild, that they know that the world is rooting for them and plans to get them the supplies they need are getting up and running.
North Korea
I really wish we could all just live in peace. Both sides of this disagreement need to come to the table, agree to disagree and move on. We won't bother you if you won't bother us. We need the United Nations and North Korea's allies to step in and try to return both sides to the status quo.
Americans need to stop visiting North Korea because it is too dangerous for us. To go from a country where literally almost anything goes to a country like North Korea is just inviting trouble. It is so much more complicated because our diplomatic relations are so very difficult. Just don't do it.
President Trump and this divided country
Right now, so much attention is being given to the far left and the far right, that the moderates in the middle are left scrambling to figure out how to carefully bring both sides together. I watched a 60 Minutes episode last night waiting for the new Star Trek to start (one of my favorite actresses is in it). The responses from both sides were explosive and emotional. That is not what we need right now. Everyone needs to take a step back and listen to the other side. There is value in what both sides are saying. And there is a way to meet the needs of both sides. It is called compromise. We all learned about compromise in school. Each sides gives a little and meets in the middle.
I respect the office of the President, but it is difficult to watch the way he handles it. Yes, people voted for Trump because they thought he could bring change to Washington. Right now, all that is happening is outrageous tweets, the "most respected man in America" calling foreign leaders names and campaign rallies deep in the heart of the Trump supporters territory to boost his ego.
I do appreciate the way he has handled the natural disasters in the Gulf and Caribbean. Kudos on that.
At this point, it is too much to hope that the country will be unified under President Trump and it seems that the damages that take place during his tenure will take generations to heal.
Call me names if you like...it seems that all the far left and the far right can do is bully people who try to speak up and ask people to take a breath and try to see the value in the other side. I won't continue to sit back and listen while people bully others and I hope the rest of the moderates in this country join me in that pledge.
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