Sharon Kennedy: And you can look it up
I wish I could be like Casey Stengel or James Thurber and write in such a way that people would laugh at my witticisms instead of pulling their hair out in a fit of rage when I mention politics. If I could write fluff pieces like my friend from Albuquerque, my life would be much easier. Jon pens beautiful prose that reads like poetry. He writes about his little cabin in what he calls the “big woods.” If only our political train had kept chugging along its “normal” track, I would never have touched politics. But, alas, the train derailed. As Stengel said and Thurber wrote as a title for a short story, “You can look it up.”
I could write about my childhood and the innocent days of my youth. I could mention my teenage years, and all the decades leading up to and into my 70s. However, if you read my blog or my books, you already know all about those years. I suppose I could dig deep into my memory bank and find something I failed to previously mention, but I don’t want to do that. There’s so much unhappiness and hostility in our country, it seems silly to write about the past.
People sometimes send me nasty emails. I don’t mind. I appreciate hearing from readers who take a few minutes from their busy schedules and write to me. I know U.S. citizens are angry about immigrants flooding into our states that once belonged to Mexico. I agree that most of our political leaders are filthy rich swine wallowing in their tubs full of money from K Street lobbyists. Students should repay their loans, and lenders shouldn’t throw money at them as if it were candy that didn’t have to be returned. I, too, would be much happier if bedroom habits were kept in the bedroom and off digital media and the front pages of newspapers and magazines.
I’m probably as disgusted as you over the insanity of some politically correct edicts that are being thrust down our throats. We, the people, don’t seem to have much say in what passes for common sense these days. We’re in an awful pickle. Prices on everything from food to housing and gas continue to skyrocket. We aren’t doing anything in protest so their upward spiral won’t stop as long as we remain silent. We’re mad at law enforcement for doing their jobs, and madder still at the lack of punishment for criminals. Every direction we turn, we’re met with bills we can’t pay, laws we don’t want to obey, friends who have become enemies and an endless list of reasonable complaints.
It’s difficult to write opinion pieces without seeming to favor one side or the other. People are quick to judge. What might appear to be a slam at the MAGA movement is actually a red-light warning. If the current trend continues, we’re in danger of losing our democratic form of government and a capitalist economy. If that’s what millions of voters want, then have at it, but remember you’ll lose those awful programs initiated by lousy Democrats. You can kiss goodbye to your food stamps, social security payments, various forms of health care, unions and regulations regarding everything from air traffic control to clean water.
To quote Stengel, “The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided.” And you can look it up if you don’t believe me.
— To contact Sharon Kennedy, send her an email at authorsharonkennedy.com. Kennedy's new book, "View from the SideRoad: A Collection of Upper Peninsula Stories," is available from her or Amazon.
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Sharon Kennedy: And you can look it up
