Mental Anguish from Words Advice, The Rights that Have Been Violated, Where is our Hammer?

“Folks, it’s time to evolve. That’s why we’re troubled. Do you know why our institutions are failing us, the church, the state, everything’s failing? It’s because, um – they’re no longer relevant. We’re supposed to keep evolving. Evolution did not end with us growing opposable thumbs. You do know that, right?”
— Bill Hicks

Good morning; I’m sitting on the bean with some relatively strong coffee to my right.  It’s crispy outside, maybe 60; our weather has been Seattle-like for the last couple of days; it’s been nice.  To my left is my friend Jack; he’s going to go to brunch with us then head to meet some coworkers in Boulder; he’ll stay there and enjoy before heading back to his sailboat in Texas.

A couple of thoughts on this Sunday morning, I wrote a piece the other day and was told that someone had commented on Facebook that I was impacting her mental health.  If you are new here, I publish my work and then let others comment; I rarely, if ever, read the comments on Facebook; my job is done, the public can have their say on their interpretation of my work. But, unfortunately, Facebook seems a place the woke like to troll; therefore, I like to throw strikes and see who takes a swing.   I’m a free speech advocate, so by all means, say anything, but be kind.

If you are triggered or get upset reading my work or the work of others, you might need to get some therapy.  These are words, this is my opinion, I could be right, I could be wrong, I’m not too fond of the way the country is heading, and I find it therapeutic to empty my mind. However, words should not cause mental anguish and if they do, earnestly seek help.

Inflation is up; the CDC is spewing misinformation; the White House seems out of control with their pending lockdowns, which will further destroy one of the greatest economic booms we had experienced in 50 years before the pandemic.  Now that we have vaccines, the pandemic is over, the delta and other variants won’t kill you if you are vaccinated.   I’m not a doctor, but I can read data, and I suggest you do the same before locking yourself in your home if vaccinated.

I read the comments on LinkedIn, a business platform; I engage with clients, prospects, and friends, and it’s not the social hotbed mess that Facebook has become; LinkedIn is a place for sensible people to exchange thoughts and ideas, and inspiration.  LinkedIn is the only social media app I have on my phone.

I think rights are being violated these days; people wonder what rights are being violated?  Well, I guess let’s start with the ability to assemble peacefully.  During the lockdowns, the government refused our ability to meet socially or for common interests.  If you disagree, please share the errors of my thought pattern.

Children are not at significant risk from COVID; it’s a fact.  I think it is child abuse to have a child wear a mask; children die of all types of things; if you want to prevent all child deaths, let’s start with teaching swimming skills, drowning is one of the leading causes of death of children ages 0 to 5.  We cannot prevent every death; I’m sorry, life must go on.  I think it a violation of our rights, my body, my choice to force a child, or, for that matter, a grown-ass human to wear a face covering.

What other rights have been violated?  Imagine owning a rental property or maybe five rental properties and being told your renters no longer have to pay you rent.  Now, understand, you probably have a mortgage on the property, lenders require you to pay the mortgage, but without the rent, it might be hard to find the extra scratch to pay the monthly principal and interest.

Some businesses were deemed essential in some states, typically democratic controlled states, and others were not crucial.  I think it is a violation of one’s right to say their job is no longer essential.  Who is the purveyor of who is critical?  

Let’s review the Bill of Rights, the document that outlines our rights as citizens of our great country.  According to the papers, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.  I don’t know if you recall, but religious services were limited or shuddered by many governments last year, and it might happen again; that is a violation of our rights.

Continuing with the First Amendment or abridging the freedom of speech or the press. The White House announced they were working with Social Media to suppress the thoughts and ideas of some, I might be wrong, but I think that is a violation of the Bill of Rights. Next, let’s continue “or the right of the people peaceably to assemble.”   Most sporting events were held without fans due to a mandate by the government; if a person wants to take a chance and see a sporting event knowing it might cause their death, they have that right. Finally, the amendment wraps up, allowing us to petition the government for a redress of grievances.  I think that last part is a little vague; what is our process of letting our leaders know they have overstepped their reach, and what is the hammer we citizens have to hit back at their wild claims, misinformation, and mandates that have no basis in reality?

Folks, I am not an attorney, but I have one in the room with me; he concurs with my assessment. Although, he shares that someone might clap back, “you can’t yell fire in a crowded theater.”  His thought is people want to be controlled; they don’t have the will or the fortitude to make up their minds; they don’t know what freedom is or are willing to say, “wait, that thing you did makes no sense.”  He compared today to the book by Franz Kafka called the trial, where the preceding gradually merge into the judgment.  

Let me give you an example, and then you can move on about your day.  Last week LinkedIn suspended one of my posts.  They would not share which post, they gave me a form to fill out and appeal, which I did, but they don’t follow up.  So, as of now, I have had my Free Speech limited, but there is no rationale behind the limitation.  I know, I know, you’re going to remind me that LinkedIn is a private corporation, I understand, but it seems like the first step of a coordinated effort to silence alternative voices.  If they can de-platform the leader of the free world, no one is above reproach.

“Folks, it’s time to evolve. That’s why we’re troubled. Do you know why our institutions are failing us, the church, the state, everything’s failing? It’s because, um – they’re no longer relevant. We’re supposed to keep evolving. Evolution did not end with us growing opposable thumbs. You do know that, right?”
— Bill Hicks