If You Can't Beat 'Em...

As I look back on the year, it seems to me that the American news stream has had way too much in the way of personal, professional, and political potshots. With all the billions of our fellow humans here in the world, we will always be able to find someone who doesn't share our values, who acts differently, and whose approach to situations will be opposite ours. Somehow we need to survive, and possibly even look toward solving problems and increasing our comfort zone and level of happiness. Is hatred and criticism really the way to do it?

My view is that the hate mongering and the "holy war" M.O. is not going to cut it...just as it was horrible during the time of the Crusades. People need to find a way to work the strengths of those who don't agree with them, and agree to disagree about the rest without making the disagreement the central priority. Yes, everyone has strengths. Even the seemingly most vicious among us has an adoring mommy, or has an adored child or pet. Find a way to drill down to this, or the current nonsense will go on and on. If we don't turn it around, the 2012 Presidential election will be the least of our troubles in the long run.

Let's hope the new year will truly be a shiny one, just like in the cartoons. Peace to you.