Words......

Ok here’s the deal, I went to the public library today, one of the greatest institutions our country has ever created. It is open to anyone - a place of quiet refuge.

Libraries offer worlds beyond our everyday lives, wonderful worlds to explore through seemingly endless shelves of books, through movies, magazines and periodicals – all free to those possessing a library card. It was designed for the people, for the masses – and it is an absolutely brilliant idea. Public libraries also offer services to their patrons such as access to computers, free tax consulting in the spring, art and exercise classes throughout the year.  But in the end it is all about the power of words.

I park next to a car that has stickers everywhere on its backside, lamenting this country’s turn towards “socialism.” The message clear  - that somehow our government is the enemy, that we are controlled by a malevolent corrosive system.  

This imperfect thing we call democracy - our government - provides police and firemen in times of great distress and fear, it provides a safety net in the form of Medicare and Social Security.  Is it perfect? Nope, but it sure has a lot of positives going for it.

Here’s another deal, I am tired of it all – the left, the right – the manufactured outrage from both sides. The willful ignorance, the  vitriol in dealing with very complicated problems - the environment, gun violence, our lack of civility.  We use ugly words to define one another, words that could just as easily be used to inspire or disarm.

When did we lose our sense of humor? I don’t need a lecture, make me laugh and I’ll start to listen. For the owner of that car, how about  a quiet moment of self-reflection in order to see the irony of using this very public facility.

John F. Kennedy quotes:

“For the enemy of truth is very often not the lie - deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”

 “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House- with the possible exception of Thomas Jefferson when he dined alone.”  (Describing a dinner for Nobel Prize winners)