I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Man, what did I tell you all about taking the New Year gaiety too much to heart? :-) Blue, Lassie,and other northern dwellers, I feel compelled to apologize for the prejudiced view of some of my compatriots. The constant berating of Canadians making comments simply because they are Canadian and not American is jingoism, has to stop, and should be explicitly cited in the rules. This is an international board. It's a US-owned site but that doesn't make cyberspace America.

To my fellow yankees: we are an empire. That comes with its good and bad things. It also compels us to understand that when you influence the entire world, the rest of that world really does have a stake in what happens in our country and really does have a right to opine. If you don't believe that, look at US foreign policy for the last 60+ years.

Canada is one of our Greatest US allies. Our Friends. I love Canada & her people, and enjoy hearing your stories.



Our political views may differ, but as a christian, I pray that I can always act Christ like. If I'm any other way, I plead with you to give me "gentle correction."



Have a Lovely Day

Paula

I'm just finishing a book that was written as a tribute to the late Peter Jennings, by his friends, colleagues and family.

As many of you know, Peter was a Canadian, and there were plenty of people who complained that he was anchoring an American newscast while NOT EVEN BEING American.  He became a dual citizen in 2003, and sadly, died in 2005.

But, having travelled the world as a foreign correspondent, he actually did see all of the world -- including the U.S. -- with perhaps a clearer and more compassionate vision than most of us do.

One thing he said which stuck out in my mind is that the U.S. was the first country to be founded on "ideals".  That had never been pointed out to me while studying American history in high school.  It explains so much, about the way Americans think of themselves, and of their history and their aspirations. Peter carried a copy of the Constitution around in his pocket, and encouraged others to do so.

I wish all of you a 2013 full of many happy occurrences, good (and recovered) health, and the continuing love of your family and friends.  Hands across the border!!!

My entire morning has been taken up dealing with my manic mouse and Internet Explorer 9, which has this annoying habit of opening every single link in a new window. I can't seem to get it to respond to my settings commands, and the gurus on the Windows boards don't seem to have a solution. Off to see if I can re-install IE8.

Can someone please remind me why we all use Windows? (I can see you Mac lovers smiling and saying 'I told you so').

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope 2013 is kind to all.

I think Hillary had a DVT in 1998. She may be prone to clots. I wish her the best. I'm a huge fan of her strength, intellect, and humor.

I didn't miss the drama, atleast last night.  Aren't we suppose to be celebrating renewal and only good wishes on the first day of the New Year?  btw, Paula, I love your posts here because you are truely seeking out what we all have in common.  Scratching my head about old hippie and your current political beliefs, but I can handle it.  Hope you are doing ok?

On the Canadian thing..as I've mentioned before, my parents were Canadian and most of my family still resides in Canada.  My uncle was an officer in the Canadian Air Force and spent many years at NORAD, living in the US with his family.  I imagine our two countries have many other strategic alliances, treaties, agreements, etc., that gives each of reasons to worry about the politics of the other.  In any case, I can't imagine a bully telling my uncle, who is taking care that she be safe, to shut up and go away, just because he is a Canadian.  American Chauvinism should not be mistaken for Patriotism.

Changing the subject, once you go Apple, you will never go back!  I use PC's at work and they have gotten more stable, but nothing beats my Macs.

Some people can't stop the nastiness even on a happy day like New Years. That was evident on Christmas Eve as well. I said it then, I'll say it now. It makes me feel sad for people that are that bitter. 

Happy New Years, everyone!

Mary

Edit

Have the movie Chocolat playing as I write today - at least until Dd rises and takes over the computer.  Chocolat is one of my favorite movies about kindness and tolerance and joy. 

Happy New Year! (ducking from whatever Athena's picking up to throw)

Paula, you're the kind of conservative that many of my friends are - we disagree on politics but we don't feel the need to start calling names...and in the process of being nice to each other we find there are many things that we agree on and that we share many of the same interests.

Edited to add:  Linda I forgot to say how much I loved your pic, and that you had your reception at Gleaners - one of my favorite charities.  I also didn't know that the Capuchin Soup kitchen did catering, very nice.

Back to tending to my computer...Every single time I click on a link in any web site, a new browser tab button opens. Happens with IE, Mozilla and Chrome and I have no idea how it came about. Some techie on a Linux board proposed a really complex solution involving changing the coding in DOS. Not even going to try that without step-by-step guidance, but will keep plugging away. It happened after my mouse had an "episode" - mouse is better now. I did something very, very stupid - I doused it with soap and water . Paw to head - duh!

Deleted above graph and simply replacing it with this: Ye, it's the mouse. Ok, at least I have identified the problem.

It has always been about peace, love, tolerance and standing back and considering when you have urges to be else wise.  I'll be the first to admit that up until election time I did not take my own counsel and I'm sorry about that.  Every night before I get ready for bed I write a letter to the Universe at large and within the letter I always make a point of asking the Universe to continue to inspire me to remember at all times that love is the only thing that will totally cancel out hate.  I know it is trite to a degree but kindness really is its own reward and in general following your conscience will keep you from saying and doing too many things that you may regret at some point. 

I did read a couple of things from next door that didn't set too well with me but I just ignored it.  I was surprised when I saw that it had been deleted as I'm sure it should have been and I won't make bones over it, I was glad it was addressed. 

I too am glad that Paula reached out to communicate here.  I think it is easy to tell when someone is trying to go beyond and take the high road.  I do not mean to say many of the others would not or could not do the same --- but only saying that Paula has and to date has done so successfully.  Its appreciated. 

We are human and we are going to see things differently.  It is the differences, not the sameness that tends to lead us to better or more expansive ways of doing things or seeing things.....one of the many reasons I came to this thread when I did.  I think when we close ourselves off maybe more than we should, it becomes a little harder to maintain some flexibility or even understand that something may be changing and perhaps we should to, to keep with it. 

I hope serious reflection will see that there is no one answer and that if one tries to come from the emotion of love....maybe life will take on a somewhat better give, take and flow. 

Jackie

Very well said, Jackie. I, too, appreciate Paula reaching out to this side of the boards even though we may not always agree on everything. We've had our disagreements over here amongst ourselves. 

As far as anyone here calling someone over there a bully, well, as Freud once said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." 

Mary