It's time to take off the Rose Colored Glasses

I am a realist.  That means that I see things in black and white, right and wrong, truth and falsehood, justice and injustice.  Sometimes that drives my family and friends crazy, especially my daughter Rebecca who sees everything in color.  (She's an artist - she's supposed to! :D )

I used to dream.  I used to see rose and other shades of color, but then I grew up.  I often think of the scripture in 1 Corinthians:  "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a [woman], I put away childish things." (1 Cor. 13:11)  My kids say somewhere along the way I forgot how to dream and how to play.  That may very well be true.  But "real life" has taken over and I don't have time or energy to gloss things over, to say "Well maybe...".  So I stick to black and white.

When I see, I try very hard to see through the lens of Christ's Gospel. Jesus taught very clearly what was right and what was wrong.  He didn't leave any room for gray.

"For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.

"For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

"But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

"And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged."  (Moroni 7:15-18)

It is very clear to me that anything that draws us to Christ and to Heavenly Father is good.  Anything that does NOT draw us closer to Christ and Heavenly Father is NOT good.  Very simple.  Black and white.

And that is how I see things.

So when it comes to things like.... oh say.... politics, I see political issues in the same terms.  Yes - this post is ACTUALLY about politics.  So if my political views have offended you in the past, stop reading right now.  I mean it.  Right this minute.

Ok - I gave you fair warning.

Recently a black journalist named Mychal Massie wrote an article entitled "Why I Do Not Like The Obamas" (http://mychal-massie.com/premium/why-i-do-not-like-the-obamas/).  I have read it, I've shared it with others.  I've made comments on other posts.  Someone dear to me recently shared the article because they agree with many things Mr. Massie had to say.  They were then lambasted by people we thought knew them quite well, loved them, and cared for them.  My dear one was accused of being racist (as was Mr. Massie which I don't understand.  Can one be racist against one's own race?), compared to the KKK and told they were not living the tenets of their own faith.  This dear person was crushed as would any of us have been.

As you can imagine, I was furious.  As anyone who knows me knows, I get very very angry when someone I love is hurt.  In this instance it was worse than normal because I love ALL parties involved.  I counseled patience to my dear one, then wrote a short paragraph reminding all readers "I...will defend to my dying breath, the right of ANYONE to state their opinion whether I like it or not. However, it is cruel and ugly to attack someone (or SEEM to attack someone) in their own living room. Which is what has been done here. If you don't agree with [my dear one], fine. But state your disagreement civilly. And avoid even the APPEARANCE of calling [names]."

Now its my turn.  This is my blog and I can say what I want here.  That's the glory of our country and of the 1st Amendment.  I have that right and that freedom and it shall NOT be infringed upon by our government.  Plus, I've warned you.

Just some of my crazy family:  My dad, mom, brother
 and 2 sisters!

I do not like the Obamas.  Either of them.  And it has nothing to do with the color of their skin.  I have dear friends who are black.  I have a wonderful brother in law (in my mind the "in law" part doesn't exist) who is black.  He happens to be married to my half-Korean sister.  I have another sister who is also half-Korean as well as my Mom.  I have the most amazing friends who are of Hispanic origins, and a "son" who is Chinese/Filipino.  I have "sons" and "daughters" who served in my area as missionaries for our Church who are black, white, brown, and "yellow".    I love them (almost) as much as I love the children of my body.  So don't you DARE call me a racist!  I believe God in Heaven made ALL people and that we are ALL His children and should love and care for each other.  And that is how I treat anyone I come in contact with and how I expect to be treated.  People are the only things I don't see in two colors.  I see each one in whatever beautiful skin God put them in.  Calling me a racist can only be seen as an attack against me personally for reasons of your own.  What they are is anyone's guess.

I don't like the Obamas for a number of reasons, not so surprisingly (at least to anyone who knows me) for many of the exact same reasons Mr. Massie listed in his article. I believe they are elitist, looking down on the "regular" working people of this country. I believe President Obama is pushing his agenda to bring the good people of this country to their knees thru insane and economically unfeasible programs and taxes. (And OH YES I blame Congress for their part in that too!) 

I believe that both of the Obamas have insulted the citizens of the United States who are working hard just to pay the bills. They have done this by taking extravagant and expensive vacations, some barely disguised as "necessary" government business. And don't give me any crap about the Bushes doing the same thing. They went home to the ranch or other properties they owned, not Martha's Vineyard or Africa.

I believe that this President has done more than any other US president to divide and polarize the citizens of this country. He and his cronies have screeched racism, classism, and anti-faith rhetoric since their first term. Disagree with any policy or statement by this administration and you are labeled racist. Well-known and respected Christian groups and their followers have been insinuated to be (and actually named) terrorists.

He and his fellow Democrats and liberal Republicans have foisted on this country a socialist "healthcare" system that THEY refuse to be part of. I have no problem with finding a way for people to receive healthcare, but requiring every man, woman, and child to join the system or be penalized removes from God's children His first and most precious gift:  agency, the RIGHT to choose for themselves. Giving something of value to those who will not work for it removes their self worth and teaches them nothing. Remember the old adage: Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime. 

There are other reasons I dislike President Obama and his wife but these will suffice for the moment.  Let me sum it up this way:  I believe that President Obama, his wife, and their cohorts in the government are damaging, if not outright destroying, the children of God.  (And when you attack God's Plan, you are attacking God.

And this is where seeing in black and white comes back into the picture.  If something draws you to God the Father and His Son, it is good (white).  If it draws you away, it is bad (black).  There is nothing in between.  There is no way that you can be on God's side of the line if you're going against what He has taught.

Just the contention caused by Mr. Obama and his ilk is cause to doubt which side of the Light he is on.  A prophet of God once said "For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another."  Jesus praised those who make peace (Matthew 5:9).  And this administration does NOT make peace.  Not within the borders of our country or without.  Our allies despise us, our enemies hate us even more than they did 5 years ago.

I do not just dislike the Obamas.  I dislike and distrust ANYONE who lies, manipulates, cheats, steals or otherwise harms another.  That includes Cabinet members, Representatives, Senators, Governors, state legislators, police, parents, siblings, the guy down the street.  I don't care who you are.  If you lie to me, if you cheat, if you try to manipulate or coerce me or mine (and that means anyone I care about) I will do anything in  my power to expose the evil you intend.  I will try to convince others of what I know about you.  And I will try to back up everything I say about you with facts.

I don't just dislike Democrats or liberals either.  There are many things that Republican administrations have done that I have HIGHLY disapproved of, and I have said so.  I just didn't have Facebook to do it on! :)

So.... It's time to take off the rose colored glasses and open your eyes.  Stop looking at Barak Obama as a great and mighty hero.  If a Republican president had done or even TRIED to do the things that this president has done you would have hollered loud.  And I would have hollered right along with you.  The fact that his skin is black should have nothing to do with how he is judged.  He, his actions and the actions of his administration should and ought to be judged solely by how they match up to God's commandments and the teachings of the Savior.  Black is black.  White is white.  There is no gray.

Why is it so noisy in here!?

People are noise.  Not noisy, noise.  They carry a sound with them wherever they go.  Some people are very calm peaceful sounds – my grandmother was one of those.  When she was near she emanated that calm soothing sound and anyone near her felt its influence.  Some people are loud, harsh, brassy sounds like cymbals constantly clanging and banging.  When they walk in a room EVERYONE knows they’re there.

When I was young – a teenager and a young adult/parent – I didn’t mind the noise.  I relished it!  I surrounded myself with people of all sorts of different sounds.  I loved being in the middle of a huge orchestra, and loved even more if I was a major instrument in the noise being made, or even better, the conductor!  Oh to pull off an event or a party or a gathering of some kind!  A really big one, with lots and lots of people, especially if they all had a good time, THAT was my idea of fun!

As I’ve gotten older I’ve discovered I don’t like the noise as much.  I noticed it first when I would prefer to listen to something smooth and easy on the radio rather than the rocking and hopping music I’d always preferred.  Then I noticed myself choosing quieter friends – disharmony in the sound was NOT cool, I’d avoid it all costs.  I still liked people who had that loud sound but I needed less of them, and less time with the ones I knew.  I started finding myself preferring being around people like my grandmother who exuded calm, peaceful music, rather than that high energy bouncing off the walls craziness I had so wanted before.  (Don’t get me wrong I still want to be the conductor of a beautiful orchestra, but now I prefer Gossamer Heart by Lisa Lynne over The Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner.

Rebecca and I have talked about the noise people make.  She doesn’t make a lot.  Most of the time. J  Usually she is really quiet, doesn’t take up much space, doesn’t ask a lot.  She’s like a flute I think.  She can be low and mellow most of the time, and every now and then can emit piercing shrieks at the highest decibel known. Those moments aren’t so bad because they’re few.  She’s a good one to talk about the sounds people carry with them, perhaps because she knows what I’m talking about and doesn’t look at me like I’m insane.

My other big girls have different levels of sound - Ashley is a full out chorus of strings and winds with a little bit of trumpet and sax thrown in.  Vicky is ALL electric guitar and drums.  When she gets going, she GETS GOIN’!  But I don’t usually mind them even at their loudest.  

My littles make noise too, LOTS of it.  They are MADE of noise.  They aren’t even necessarily organized instruments either.  Maybe you have to grow into that.  They’re like …. Well, little kids :D…. playing with all sorts of instruments someone left lying around.  But they are NOISY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And their noise bothers me.  

The big girls sometimes bother me too.   I hate to admit it, but there really are times I’m glad they head home to their various places.  I even feel guilty about admitting that.  I should LOOOOOVE having them here – and I do!  I’m just sometimes ready for them to leave.

The little girls CAN’T leave.  So their noise stays.  And the times of peace and quiet are SO rare.  Just when I think “Ahhhhhhhhh!” someone comes in and STANDS there.  They don’t have to say anything.  I know they WANT something from me, and their noise is a loud CRASH on my quietude.

Even my wonderful love and companion is noisy.  Rebecca described him best – he’s static.  He doesn’t MEAN to make noise (not usually, though sometimes he throws something loud and brash in there), but just his presence disturbs the quiet, even when he doesn’t mean to, doesn’t MAKE any noise, doesn’t WANT anything…..  Becca says she thinks its because he has nowhere or way to let off his own dissonance that intrudes on his soul so when he’s calm and quiet it just sort of emanates as a constant, barely audible but so definitely THERE static.

It takes quiet to feel the Spirit of the Lord.  Psalms 46:10 says “Be still, and know that I am God”.  Many of the Old Testament prophets and even the Savior Himself withdrew into the quiet of the wilderness to commune with the Father and hear His voice.  Peter went up to the roof of the house to spend time in prayer and allow himself the time and quiet he needed to receive revelation.  The Prophet Joseph Smith withdrew to a quiet glade to have privacy for a conversation with the Lord.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I do have a wilderness available – I live on the edge of woods.  But I rarely get to go there.  My littles would find me and want to know what I was doing.  I’ve tried finding a bit of quiet in the house, kneeling and praying in my room or in the living room when the girls were outside.  That doesn’t last long enough, maybe a minute or two.  Someone ALWAYS appears and stands there.  They may not say anything at all, but their sound is everywhere demanding to be heard.

So where does a mother go to have peace and quiet?  Where can she find solitude to talk with God?  How can she shut out the noise of everyone and everything around her?