After a phone call with my dad yesterday, I've been thinking over some of my convictions. Somehow the topic came up, that he is now boycotting Wal-Mart. My first thought was, " Oh, here we go, someone else making their 'stand', which will never work, because there are millions not paying attention. And no one on the inside is really gonna care anyway!" I often get those emails saying we should as moral citizens be boycotting this company or that company. Target refused to do say Merry Christmas, Proctor & Gamble supports abortions somehow, GM motors is donating tons of $ to Pornography, the Starbucks logo means something about lesbian witches.
Okay so, of course I do not support those kinds of things personally, but years ago, I just gave up in trying to join a bandwagon of much of anything, because I never ever saw results. I got tired of being put down for my opinions, or no matter how much you protested, wrote letters, etc., things just didn't change. Pretty much everything is corrupt these days it seems. Someone on the "top" of so many companies is lying, cheating, stealing, and supporting nasty things. How do we know who really to boycott? I might boycott Wal-mart for child labor issues, but what's the truth about Old Navy clothes, or Nike's? Where does it stop, where do you start, and what's really the truth? Should I just become Amish and make everything myself, and hide myself from the world? ( somedays, that sounds really good!) I gave my little "spiel" to my dad and he agrees that's a common frustration, but is ignoring it altogether really the right thing to do?
Next, I got the quote. "You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything!" Fine dad, I get it....but some days it's just overwhelming. (Some of you might me humming the Aaron Tippin song by now.... you've got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string. Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name... ) We all know this quote, it is true, and what are we doing about it? I got to thinking about the lines I've drawn, and what lines I need to go research myself. We as a nation have gotten a whole lot more ignorant these days ( to put it nicely..).
"Ignorance is bliss", ( I agree, I enjoy it!) but is that the quote we are going to teach our children? Is that the right quote to use for my life? I decided I'd start out by listing here a few things that I do take a stand on, then I'm going to do a little internet research on a couple of other things. We do have choices to make, and every little one is important.
- I have a bumper sticker that says " Equal rights for unborn women" . I totally love it! After seeing my 10 week old baby jumping around in my stomach, the first thing out of my mouth was, " how can anyone kill that?" And I firmly put my foot down.
- I only buy organic or free range animal products. I can go on and on about this one, (hey dad, wait to you hear my soapbox about this one!) It's extremely disgusting on several levels. I'll spare you this time, but ask me and I'll sure let you know!
- I do think marriage should be between a man and woman only.
- I am all for equal rights, but not special rights.
- I believe in financial frugality. You will never catch me buying some brand name purse for $2500.00, when I could go down to Macy's and get a great one for $25.oo, THEN give the rest to starving, or homeless, or orphans, etc. That is just absolutey ridiculous! The waste in this country infuriates me!
- I stand firmly for Jesus as the only Way, Truth, & Life.
- I only eat dark chocolate! ( okay this isn't vastly important, I just prefer it!)
Okay, I've also decided to lighten the blog up a bit, and tomorrow I'll write something fun!
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4 comments:
Ok, I'm trying this again...
What I said in my last LONG comment was that we do the best we can with what we know and are able to do. If everyone followed their convictions then I think the world would be a better place. Sure, we don't all have the same convictions, but that is kind of the point. One person can't do everything but one person can do something. I personally recycle like crazy, try to support locally owned businesses/restaurants and I do NOT shop at Wally World. I think when someone says they do a certain thing it is important to respect it, ask questions if you want, but don't say, "Well, you do this and this but won't do this...?" Just do what is important to you and let people do what is important to them. It can just be exhausting, but if we followed every e-mail we get and everything we hear then we'd sew our own clothes, grow our own food, and never leave the house.
A challenge: do an entry on what you think equal rights looks like in a country that does not allow homosexual marriage.
Michelle - somewhere in between two extremes is a balance. That middle part of the road whereby you can live, and sleep at nights. The problem creeps in when we become overly philosophic about cultural standards. What is ok for you may not be ok for me, and vice versa, etc.
But what happens with that type of philosophy is that it is not tied to anything of substance. For example; when you are doing 55 mph on the freeway the question is: 55 mph compared to WHAT? Actually the answer is: 55 compared to 0 mph. Or 110 volts in the wall is 110v compared to what? O volts [or ground].
So you see everything has a relative point to tie the standard to; what is right for you OR wrong for you, needs to be tied to something to give you reference. You are nearly 30 years old... compared to what? Your day of birth...etc. I am sure you are getting the point.
So you are unhappy about Wal-Mart -and about where do you draw a line? Well, for me, my standard for reference has Biblical roots. Have I violated that rule before? Have I violated Biblical standards before??? You know the answer to that one - but my point of reference for my behavior always remains solid...the same...whether I violate it or not. Of course - in society; i.e. today's culture, if you set your standards to what is popular or trendy today, then your standards are tied to what I call 'floating' truth, It isn't a solid reference point. That's like tying your boat to a dock that isn't anchored to terra firma -before long - you are adrift at sea : But hey - you are still tied to the dock!!!
The point in all of this is you hold your ground young lady! You compare your beliefs; your convictions and your ideals of societal pressures - to what you feel is an anchored reference point.... If you don't stand for something - you'll fall for anything. If it is God's Word, then compare all that you hear to that; is Oprah profusing some new idea that in today’s culture sounds good - but it contradicts the Word - then think about it; what have you tied your reference point to? The problem is that our rationality will make it sound like 'hey this is a good' idea; but is it good because society says it is? Have we become societally [new word] conditioned?
Keep thinking things out; keep challenging what you hear - be a Berean and accept the things you hear - then test them against your reference point.
OK enough of that - but now you know why I say some of the things I do and espouse some of the ideas I have. It isn't about my political convictions; or my age, as you and I both know - I have struggled with maturity and acting my age - at any rate; my ideas and strong opinions come from a solid reference point. I trust Maddy will see that in you two and adhere to that same rock of truth for her life!!!
Love ya -
DaD
I remember a film of a little boy walking along the seashore. The beach was covered with dying starfish that the tide had brought in and left for dead.
This little boy began picking up the starfish, one by one, and returning them to the water where they could live.
A critical onlooker said, "You can't save all of these starfish. Do you really think that what you are doing makes a difference?"
The boy, still holding a small starfish, sincerely replied, "It makes a difference for this one."
Needless to say, the voice of the critic was silenced and I was inspired to do what I could when I could, encouraged by the truth that it is the quality of our contribution that matters more than the quantity of our contribution.
Okay, I'm a bit convicted...I think I'm going to go now :)
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