I have made a concerted effort NOT to bring  political discussions to this forum.  In fact, that was the purpose of creating this blog.  This post, however, really isn’t about politics. It’s about how we, as a society, have sunk so low that we believe it is socially acceptable to be without common decency, speak before we think,  words do have consequences. In today’s America, it’s fine to stand without truth, kindness, and to be downright insulting. In fact, it’s admired and applauded. I’m sure all my nice friends, many who call themselves Christians, who shared the meme below never thought twice about it being offensive. But guess what?   It is. It offended me. And make the creator of it look pretty dumb.  It is full of false assumptions and hate.  Consider this post my community service for the week.

Consider this post my community service for the week.

This little clip has been making its way around Facebook. It’s an excerpt from The Andy Griffith Show about Opie wanting a bigger allowance and the importance of working for what you earn.  Something I think we all can agree upon, yes?

By the way, it was shared on Facebook by a page called Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children, which I find exceedingly ironic.  Especially after looking at the images and symbols on their page.
Watch:

Pretty standard scene from the show, right?  A lot of us grew up on these reruns and can quote them to this day. We felt like the Taylor family was our family.  We never (at least I didn’t) – in a million years – thought to use those little parables to divide, support blatant lies to further a hate-based agenda, and to insult a huge segment of the population, based on pure ignorance.  Many of those people you have insulted, you might even consider your friends.  Surprise, surprise, surprise!

Here is what makes this meme is so shameful and embarrassing.

This is the description posted under the video.

It’s blurry. Here’s what it says:

“This is the conversation liberals didn’t get growing up.”  Followed by some inane hashtags.

This is what I got from this shit-stirring post and the people who shared it. It leads me to believe that you all think Liberals (Democrats) were raised to have no work ethic, to have no respect for money, and generally are lazy, stupid, and want the government to support them.  Or else the whole post is racist dog-whistle talk.  Either way, it’s tacky, nasty, and uncalled for.  As a life-long Democrat from a proud family of fairly prominent Democrats,  I was not brought up in a wealthy family,  I started working at age 16, I skimped, scraped and saved for everything I have and still managed to pay back my student loans,  on time. The kind of ignorance communicated via this meme makes me angry, sad, and hopeless for the future of our country.

How DARE you judge an entire segment of the population based on biased bullshit? Talk about misguided. Those of you who have any sense know that crap isn’t true.

Usually, this is the point in my writing when I would inundate you with facts and statistics.  Actual facts and statistics.  But this time, I believe you can do that yourself.  A little hard work is good for you, and it pays off in the end, right? Just make sure your sources are legitimate. If you need help with that, let me know.

I will make these few brief points.

• Government statistics show that most welfare recipients are white, Southern, and vote Republican.   Not Liberals, not minorities, but white Republicans.

•  Statistics also reveal that the city holding the most beneficiaries of the SNAP program (food stamps – a favorite target of the GOP) is 99.22% white and 95% Republican. Owsley County, Kentucky earns the lowest median household income in the country, but they are the most prolific government-takers in U.S. existence.  Following the logic of the meme, are we to believe that this area in Kentucky is the epicenter of lazy, no-good, low-down, trifling white trash?

• At least 1 million United States Veterans are on food stamps or some kind of public assistance. Do YOU want to be the one to tell them to get off their lazy asses and work harder?

No, I don’t know everything.  But the things I do know I hold close to my heart and try my best to practice them in everyday life. They are really pretty simple. Love one another, and love your neighbor as yourself.  To do what I can for “the least of these.” Think the best of people, to treat others with kindness and respect (until they prove to me they don’t deserve it.) That includes informing them if they’re wrong or hurting others, knowingly or unknowingly.

My greatest wish is for all of us to live in harmony, without want or need, to be healthy, and to be ourselves without judgment.  What has led me to these beliefs?  The teachings of Jesus – a big, honking, socialist liberal.

I also like the fact that Sherrif Andy didn’t carry a gun. But that’s another topic for another time.