I met a new extended family member on Christmas Day. To avoid talking politics, we talked religion. He was fascinated about the depths of religious convictions of Americans. Long story short, I told him about a girl at the middle school who was perceived to be a devil worshiper. Numbers 1 and 2 were disturbed that she was observed chanting. I told them that if they wanted the freedom to pray before meals, she deserves the freedom to chant. If she is not physically harming them, she can practice her beliefs in any way she feels necessary. He said that is a very open minded view. He’d never heard anyone express it quite like that. I told him I have bigger things to worry about than what other people believe.
I have to worry about if there are clean underwear, gallons of milk and if I have something to cook for dinner. He asked what I worry about on the weekends. I said I worry about whether the cars have been washed. He laughed and stated I needed proper weekend worries.
What do weekend worries consist of? War, politics and religion?
The kids and I were recently discussing war. Number 3 has been learning about the Civil War in her gifted class. We briefly discussed how the kids think that America should but out of everyone else’s problems. I posed this question: When a country is committing genocide, should we but out? If a country is threatening us or one of our allies, should we but out and wait for something to happen. There’s no right answer. I think most of the time we, as a country with a very powerful military sometimes has to pick the lesser of the evils.
As far as politics goes, I am just completely disgusted. I think that our system is antiquated. I feel that our system won’t change for fear of the “good ‘ol boys” losing their comfy leather chair. I don’t think that people should be elected based on who they know with the biggest wallet. I feel that the electoral college is stupid and we should just follow the popular vote. I could go on all day with this.
When it comes to religion, I wholeheartedly believe that everyone should be able to practice and believe as they wish. I feel that people should be free to pray as they wish, wear any religious symbols that they wish and practice as they wish as long as it doesn’t directly affect someone else. People argue that Muslim prayers shouldn’t be allowed at work because it stops progress. This is complete and utter bullshit. Prayers take 3-5 minutes. I’ve seen people take 30 minutes for a 15 minute cigarette break. Maybe we should outlaw cigarette breaks.
Ok, those are my new weekend worries. Now I have a headache.
agnes mcgillicuddy 