oldfart
Member
Over the past 73 years I’ve met and known a lot of people. Early on I developed a few theories about human nature that subsequent experiences seem to have reinforced. I am continually amazed at the numbers of people, women usually, who continue to try to make bad marriages work. Even if their husbands are physically abusive and/or unfaithful, they hold onto what little is there in the vain hope of some sort of security. Generally they also believe that if they just try harder to be a good wife their husband will change for the better.
As I said, this is usually a problem with women but sometimes men do similar things, telling themselves they have to stay “for the children.” In the end, all they really do is teach their children how to lie.
One of the primary reasons people go through all this is because they don’t want to admit, even to themselves and certainly not to the world, that they’ve made a mistake. That’s why divorces are so bitterly contested with each swearing (truthfully, in their own eyes) that the other is guilty of ruining the relationship and destroying the family.
As I said, no one really wants to admit they could make a mistake of such magnitude. Not even people who join a political party only to see it devolve into the same sort of corrupt, muck-raking crowd as the opposition. How else to explain the expletives bandied back and forth between internet groups that support the different parties?
For the past few weeks there have been a lot of words spoken and typed regarding the relative merits of the Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the National Rifle Association (NRA.) In theory at least, they both strive for the same thing; absolute recognition by all U.S. governments, Federal, State and municipal, that the Second Amendment to The Constitution does indeed guarantee all citizens the right to keep and bear arms. Just as with political parties though, members of each group believes vehemently that their organization is the only one doing things right and the other is completely wrong.
Yet both are run by ordinary humans, capable of right, wrong and subterfuge. It’s at least possible that both are right about some things and wrong elsewhere. As far as the subterfuge issue, money brings power and as Lord Acton pointed out, “Power corrupts.” As I have frequently said, both groups are run by politicians and they know all about subterfuge. As someone else has pointed out, “follow the money.”
In closing, let me suggest that we try a little harder to see issues from both sides rather than dismiss opposing views out of hand before properly considering them. If, after looking at the question objectively we still believe in our cause we can, as reasonable people, say so without resorting to name-calling. There is also the possibility that we might change our minds too, though that would require us to admit we were wrong in the first place, something few of us have the courage to do.
As for me: I’m on my third (and last) marriage. I make mistakes and I admit it.
As I said, this is usually a problem with women but sometimes men do similar things, telling themselves they have to stay “for the children.” In the end, all they really do is teach their children how to lie.
One of the primary reasons people go through all this is because they don’t want to admit, even to themselves and certainly not to the world, that they’ve made a mistake. That’s why divorces are so bitterly contested with each swearing (truthfully, in their own eyes) that the other is guilty of ruining the relationship and destroying the family.
As I said, no one really wants to admit they could make a mistake of such magnitude. Not even people who join a political party only to see it devolve into the same sort of corrupt, muck-raking crowd as the opposition. How else to explain the expletives bandied back and forth between internet groups that support the different parties?
For the past few weeks there have been a lot of words spoken and typed regarding the relative merits of the Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the National Rifle Association (NRA.) In theory at least, they both strive for the same thing; absolute recognition by all U.S. governments, Federal, State and municipal, that the Second Amendment to The Constitution does indeed guarantee all citizens the right to keep and bear arms. Just as with political parties though, members of each group believes vehemently that their organization is the only one doing things right and the other is completely wrong.
Yet both are run by ordinary humans, capable of right, wrong and subterfuge. It’s at least possible that both are right about some things and wrong elsewhere. As far as the subterfuge issue, money brings power and as Lord Acton pointed out, “Power corrupts.” As I have frequently said, both groups are run by politicians and they know all about subterfuge. As someone else has pointed out, “follow the money.”
In closing, let me suggest that we try a little harder to see issues from both sides rather than dismiss opposing views out of hand before properly considering them. If, after looking at the question objectively we still believe in our cause we can, as reasonable people, say so without resorting to name-calling. There is also the possibility that we might change our minds too, though that would require us to admit we were wrong in the first place, something few of us have the courage to do.
As for me: I’m on my third (and last) marriage. I make mistakes and I admit it.
