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Friday, March 6, 2009

Remembering What's Really Important



In these economic times it’s easy to become focused on your own problems and fear for the future. I remembered something today that I’d forgotten. The first weekend of the month the FISH Food Bank accepts donations at Gig Harbor Safeway. Back when Safeway was the cheapest place in Gig Harbor for groceries I used to give to FISH every month. When they raised their prices and I started shopping at Fred Meyer all the time I got out of the habit of being sure to put something into the basket for FISH. Today I happened to only need a few things and since I was at Goodwill anyway and it was a lovely afternoon I decided to stroll down to Safeway to get my things and save the gas driving to Fred Meyer. That’s when I remembered about FISH. I took the shopping list from the FISH volunteer, but I always get toiletries. I know what it’s like to be without a tooth brush so I bought four and some toothpaste.

We can’t expect President Obama to wave a magic wand and put this country back together. I’m finding the Right Wing Rhetoric tiring so I’m taking a break from the news, but not from the notion that it’s going to take all of us to make the country successful again. Anyone who wishes President Obama to be unsuccessful is not an American because if he’s not successful we aren’t going to be either. If he fails we all fail. We are one nation.

The need at food banks and other charities is greater than ever, just when you and I are feeling less able to give. There’s a greater blessing in giving when there’s less ability to do so. I’m going to remember to go to Safeway the first weekend of the month and give a little of what I’ve got with a prayer that fewer people will need the help the next month. This is a long row we have to hoe, but if we stop sniping at one another and concentrate on caring for one another instead, things will get better quicker. We are all in the same lifeboat.

9 comments:

VW said...

I’m finding the Right Wing Rhetoric tiring so I’m taking a break from the news, but not from the notion that it’s going to take all of us to make the country successful again. Anyone who wishes President Obama to be unsuccessful is not an American because if he’s not successful we aren’t going to be either. If he fails we all fail. We are one nation.

CRAP!!!!!!!

I want him to fail, because it's becoming really clear that his success is dooming us and I've laid out my reasons before.

I'm certain you weren't cheerleading Bush. Does that make you un-American? It does if you think opposing Obama is un-American.

I got news for you, I'm tired of that kind of left-wing extremist attitude.

Dissent is patriotic, remember? It was the left wing that said that when they opposed Bush, now all of a sudden it's not? You can't have it both ways.

VW

Stephanie Frieze said...

Actually, VW, I was thinking of Limbah, not you, but you generlly take anything negative about the Right personally. Dissent is not the same as wishing for failure. If the current Administration doesn't find a way to clean up the mess left by the previous Administration it effects all of us. Not just me and not just you. I prayed for Bush and hoped for so much as a cogent sentence. Maybe President Obama isn't what he seems, but I hope he is since that's what we've got and in a national crisis--created by the shrub--we'd better pull together. There's a big difference between disagreeing with the government and hoping for it to fail.

VW said...

Yeah, well I happen to agree with Limbaugh. I don't listen to him much, but I understand what he's saying and I agree 100%.

What Limbaugh has said and continues to say is that he hopes Obama fails at turning us into some kind of Socialist state. If you even bothered to listen to what he actually said rather than only hearing what the press gives you, you might no5t be so quick to say stuff like this.

VW

Stephanie Frieze said...

My father, whom I loved and worshiped even when we didn't agree, ran around saying that the sky was falling when JFK got elected. It didn't.

I am glad that in the Great Depression Roosevelt decided to institute some programs to help take care of people. Those progams helped care for him and are caring for my mother today. o way could she have survived two serious illnesses last year without them. It happens to be that I believe we are on this earth to care for each other individually and as a nation.

Lorraine Hart said...

There was a brilliant column in yesterday's Tribune, done by Ellen Goodman about R.L.

The man is a sexist, vulgar, criminal, bottom-feeding example of the worst in right-wing extremism. The fact that Steele, Chairman of the GOP, was made to apologise to him (for telling the truth) shows a party faltering and flailing.

Only 28% of R.L.'s listening audience is women. Does that mean his talk is too intelligent for our pretty little heads...or that we actually have minds of our own and don't like what he has to say? We also manage to say we don't agree without jumping up and down, and pulling our hair out.

Lorraine Hart said...

Oh, and women are completely capable of listening to what's said, rather than being spoon-fed our news.

Lorraine Hart said...

Back to your point Stephanie, FISH is a wonderful way for us to help our neighbours in these difficult times.

Stephanie Frieze said...

Yes, regardless of where it's coming from I think we all have to allow that the news is bad and probably going to get worse. You are right, Lorraine, FISH is a wonderful organization as are many others who are struggling to help people just now. I truly believe that the course toward prosperity requires all of us to pull on the oars because we are all in the boat. And finally I am devoting many more TV hours to TCM for a little escapism.

M. Sugimura said...

I love the analogy about the lifeboat - it's so poetic!