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brightsmile003B 84F
585 posts
7/28/2018 7:28 am
We need to let our hearts feel the pain of others.

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Hawkslayer 88M
13298 posts
7/28/2018 7:56 am

Good read, brightsmile, I enjoyed it. .But I firmly believe that the words "politician" and "honesty" do NOT belong in the same sentence, So, that is all I have to say on this matter.

It only takes a drop of ink to make a million people think. There are many stories.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/28/2018 10:16 am

    Quoting  :

Hello Leaf...Thank you for your input. My intent is not to make this blog political and this lady used her frustration at Trump supporters to make her point. She listened to Van Jones and saw things differently.

I heard Van jones say...."Stop the labeling and start the discussion" which truly changed my way of thinking about people. I "sorry to say" use labels also. I called Hiram a Racist and dismissed him......he probably called me the N word and dismissed me also. .lol. He is probably like some of the men that she talked about... hurt by things over which they feel they have no control. If Hiram and I had not labeled each other and had a little empathy for each other then we could have had a discussion that might have been more positive.

What I am trying to say is that I will stop putting labels on folk and try to have a discussion with them if I can. I think the world would be a better place if we all did.

Thanks for your input and being able to feel empathy for others....friend Leaf.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/28/2018 10:24 am

    Quoting Hawkslayer:
    Good read, brightsmile, I enjoyed it. .But I firmly believe that the words "politician" and "honesty" do NOT belong in the same sentence, So, that is all I have to say on this matter.
Hello Alfie.....Thank you for your input. I am glad that you enjoyed it. I agree with you absolutely. I think all politicians are liars. I say that because they have to say what ever the voters want to hear in order for us to vote for them. There is no way they will please all of us in this country. I guess it is the nature of the beast....politics.


sparkleflit 76F
10271 posts
7/28/2018 10:54 am

Every time I listen to Van Jones I marvel at his patience with Human Beings..........I agree that we need more empathy, but ..........


Rocketship 79F
18529 posts
7/28/2018 11:46 am

Van Jones is a wise man!! Thanks for sharing this.


Hawkslayer 88M
13298 posts
7/28/2018 12:24 pm

    Quoting  :

The simple answer to your question is this: "I stopped listening to them many, many years ago, so many years that I really can't remember how many."

It only takes a drop of ink to make a million people think. There are many stories.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/28/2018 1:45 pm

    Quoting sparkleflit:
    Every time I listen to Van Jones I marvel at his patience with Human Beings..........I agree that we need more empathy, but ..........
Hello Sparkleflit....Thanks for your input and I was amazed when I heard him for the first time. When I heard him I decided that I needed to make an effort to listen more and try to understand what another person is going through.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/28/2018 1:54 pm

    Quoting  :

Hello Leaf......You did make a great case for empathy. I did not misunderstand I knew that you were not talking politics but since you were the first responder to the blog ,I wanted everyone to know that even though that cut and paste was about Trump voters....I was sharing it because of what I had learned from Van jones. I am not as good at expressing myself with words as you and some of the other bloggers are. I am better expressing my views through paintings.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/28/2018 2:06 pm

    Quoting  :

Hello Hiram..........I am so sorry that you misunderstood what I was explaining to leaf. I was explaining how in the past I have labeled and dismissed people also. I agree you have also been cordial and pleasant to me as I have to you. I called you a racist because of the hateful bigoted and racist blogs that you write sometime here.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/28/2018 4:33 pm

    Quoting  :

Hi Leaf...........I believe you are right that politicians are public servants or should be however I guess I have just met too many of the "salesman" types.

In the future, I am going to make an effort to listen to what they are saying and try to have empathy and perhaps I can change my mind about all of them being liars.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/28/2018 4:36 pm

    Quoting Rocketship:
    Van Jones is a wise man!! Thanks for sharing this.
Hello Rocketship...Thanks for stopping by. I recently had the pleasure of listening to him and I was amazed. He seems to have a genuine love and respect for all people. He made me want to do better and I am.


Rentier1

7/28/2018 9:47 pm

I sympathize with those in that position.

However, I still fail to understand how they could possibly think that a con artist like the Mango Mussolini would do anything to address their concerns.

Perhaps nobody can.

But I would have thought it more likely that the progressive elements still left in the Democratic party would do something.

Republicans, and especially Trump, look out for the already wealthy.
Trump's much vaunted tax cuts are ample evidence of that.

It really seems to me that these people cut off their noses to spite their faces.


Seattlechick8 67F

7/28/2018 11:32 pm

Great Article Bright-I Am A Deeply Conservative Woman Who
Likes Van Jones Very Much-I Did Vote For Trump And Many Times
Have Had To Rethink Why ? I Guess Because Hill And Bernie We’re Not who
I Wanted AND I didn’t Want To Throw Away My Vote
This Nation NeedsMuch Healing And Coming Together
I Pray The Dialogue To Get There Begins Soon
P/S——Ignore Hank l-So Many Of Us Do lol


1gasilverhead2 83M
4003 posts
7/29/2018 5:02 am

Being nice to someone you have an issue with doesn't mean you are fake...it means when you were raised you were taught how to be polite.

.
The beginning of life, conception..


brightsmile003B 84F

7/29/2018 6:41 am

    Quoting Rentier1:
    I sympathize with those in that position.

    However, I still fail to understand how they could possibly think that a con artist like the Mango Mussolini would do anything to address their concerns.

    Perhaps nobody can.

    But I would have thought it more likely that the progressive elements still left in the Democratic party would do something.

    Republicans, and especially Trump, look out for the already wealthy.
    Trump's much vaunted tax cuts are ample evidence of that.

    It really seems to me that these people cut off their noses to spite their faces.
Hello Rentier.............Thank you so much for your input but you went political. The point is.........We need to stop labeling folk and try to understand and have empathy for another persons walk in life. I am going to change my ways because of what Van Jones said. I put this blog up so that other folk might think of doing the same.

Example.........I now know that you do not make a joke of everything and I learned that by talking with you and hearing that from you........not by putting a label on you and dismissing you as a person that I should not take serious.I am glad that I did because now we can talk to each other as online friends.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/29/2018 6:44 am

    Quoting  :

Hello Panther........Thanks for your input and what you said to him is very true.


bijou624

7/29/2018 6:53 am

You can ask anyone who knows me but I've always had such empathy and sympathy for anyone with problems as I have many myself. But since Trump was elected I find myself basically hating someone for the first time in my life, and I find myself hurling swear words at him when he's on t.v. It is so obvious to me that Trump is a lying and dangerous con man and I can't help but think that his supporters must be really gullible and not too smart if they can't see Trump for who he is, a person who could not care less about anyone but himself. Until his supporters see this too, I'll try to be more forgiving and understanding of them but I honestly don't see this happening.


Rentier1

7/29/2018 7:02 am

    Quoting bijou624:
    You can ask anyone who knows me but I've always had such empathy and sympathy for anyone with problems as I have many myself. But since Trump was elected I find myself basically hating someone for the first time in my life, and I find myself hurling swear words at him when he's on t.v. It is so obvious to me that Trump is a lying and dangerous con man and I can't help but think that his supporters must be really gullible and not too smart if they can't see Trump for who he is, a person who could not care less about anyone but himself. Until his supporters see this too, I'll try to be more forgiving and understanding of them but I honestly don't see this happening.
Stop being political!


brightsmile003B 84F

7/29/2018 7:02 am

    Quoting Seattlechick8:
    Great Article Bright-I Am A Deeply Conservative Woman Who
    Likes Van Jones Very Much-I Did Vote For Trump And Many Times
    Have Had To Rethink Why ? I Guess Because Hill And Bernie We’re Not who
    I Wanted AND I didn’t Want To Throw Away My Vote
    This Nation NeedsMuch Healing And Coming Together
    I Pray The Dialogue To Get There Begins Soon
    P/S——Ignore Hank l-So Many Of Us Do lol
Hello Seattlechick............Thank you so much for sharing this because some folk have said that Trump voters were all racist which is not true and you just proved it.

To be real honest I believed that too until I heard the comedian Sinbad say that not all Trump voters were racist last year. He said a lot of them were like you and were just tired of the way things were and wanted a change. I think the dialogue has already begun Seattlechick with you and I. I have learned from what you said and know that by listening and talking to each other without labels we can heal our country. Who knows Seattle it could be starting with you and I. I would love to talk with you about this more are you on Fbook?


brightsmile003B 84F

7/29/2018 7:11 am

    Quoting 1gasilverhead2:
    Being nice to someone you have an issue with doesn't mean you are fake...it means when you were raised you were taught how to be polite.
Hello 1Gas.....Thanks for stopping by and as always I appreciate your words of wisdom. I was raised to be polite and kind and I hope I have always shown that side of myself to you and others here.


MrsJoe 76F
17306 posts
7/29/2018 7:45 am

    Quoting brightsmile003B:
    Hello Seattlechick............Thank you so much for sharing this because some folk have said that Trump voters were all racist which is not true and you just proved it.

    To be real honest I believed that too until I heard the comedian Sinbad say that not all Trump voters were racist last year. He said a lot of them were like you and were just tired of the way things were and wanted a change. I think the dialogue has already begun Seattlechick with you and I. I have learned from what you said and know that by listening and talking to each other without labels we can heal our country. Who knows Seattle it could be starting with you and I. I would love to talk with you about this more are you on Fbook?
Saying that all Trump voters are racist is just an anti-Trump propaganda ploy, and I'm afraid that there are folks who believe it. I don't think you do. Mrjoe and I are both Trump voters, and you know us well enough to know that we aren't.
People need to get back to days gone by when they could visit with each other, talk to (not about) each other about lots of topics, enjoy each other's company and share a cup of coffee or meal............. or just a computer conversation if face to face isn't possible. When people helped people because it was the right thing to do, not because the government took it from us and gave it to whomever it chose.


Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.


starwomyn 70F
8871 posts
7/29/2018 7:45 am

Great article. I totally understand why some folks supported Trump as a working class person in West Virginia. I've seen young people working two crappy jobs to support their families, still can't make ends meet and get slapped around by bureaucracy . There was no faith that government as usual was not working for them.

I have actually been in the Senate and Congressional buildings talking to our elected officials or the staff that present them. It is important to be able to listen and understand both sides of an issue in order to find resolutions.

I have been called a libtard and snowflake more than once and the minute someone starts name calling, I walk away. It makes them appear ignorant. Why would I want to act like them and start name-calling someone has different views. It is better to stick to the issues.


Abracadabra


MrsJoe 76F
17306 posts
7/29/2018 7:50 am

    Quoting starwomyn:
    Great article. I totally understand why some folks supported Trump as a working class person in West Virginia. I've seen young people working two crappy jobs to support their families, still can't make ends meet and get slapped around by bureaucracy . There was no faith that government as usual was not working for them.

    I have actually been in the Senate and Congressional buildings talking to our elected officials or the staff that present them. It is important to be able to listen and understand both sides of an issue in order to find resolutions.

    I have been called a libtard and snowflake more than once and the minute someone starts name calling, I walk away. It makes them appear ignorant. Why would I want to act like them and start name-calling someone has different views. It is better to stick to the issues.
Hi Star! I would never call you a libtard or snowflake..... and you and I are examples of people on totally different sides of some issues, who can get beyond that and still communicate with respect and even affection. As for names, I might say you are a flake, but you are my favorite flake!

Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.


Rentier1

7/29/2018 8:20 am

    Quoting MrsJoe:
    Saying that all Trump voters are racist is just an anti-Trump propaganda ploy, and I'm afraid that there are folks who believe it. I don't think you do. Mrjoe and I are both Trump voters, and you know us well enough to know that we aren't.
    People need to get back to days gone by when they could visit with each other, talk to (not about) each other about lots of topics, enjoy each other's company and share a cup of coffee or meal............. or just a computer conversation if face to face isn't possible. When people helped people because it was the right thing to do, not because the government took it from us and gave it to whomever it chose.
I would never claim all of them are racist.

But all of them seem to able to ignore and excuse serious defects in his personal life and business track record.

And I have serious doubts about their ability to think critically.

A Missouri nail factory just had to lay off staff because of Mango's steel tariffs. But the Trumpies working there still have faith, and think he is going to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Reality seems not to matter with his supporters.

I can understand why Americans are unhappy with the current system.

But the answer is to overhaul campaign funding, and not elect some clown who is only out to satisfy his own ego.


MrsJoe 76F
17306 posts
7/29/2018 8:41 am

    Quoting Rentier1:
    I would never claim all of them are racist.

    But all of them seem to able to ignore and excuse serious defects in his personal life and business track record.

    And I have serious doubts about their ability to think critically.

    A Missouri nail factory just had to lay off staff because of Mango's steel tariffs. But the Trumpies working there still have faith, and think he is going to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Reality seems not to matter with his supporters.

    I can understand why Americans are unhappy with the current system.

    But the answer is to overhaul campaign funding, and not elect some clown who is only out to satisfy his own ego.
Bike, in spite of your frequent satirical and snide comments, I have always thought you were a serious thinking fella. This response just solidifies my opinion of you. Now that I've said that......
"I would never claim all of them are racist. But all of them seem to able to ignore and excuse serious defects in his personal life and business track record. And I have serious doubts about their ability to think critically." I would have said the same thing about Obama voters. He got a vote in this house in his first election, but not his second one, because of his policies, actions, and words.
We will have to wait and see about Trump's second election. I think most of his voters realized there would be rocky times, but expect it to eventually turn out ok. Anytime you take actions to fix problems, there are rough times. As I said, we will see what it looks like in a couple of years.


Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/29/2018 9:06 am

    Quoting bijou624:
    You can ask anyone who knows me but I've always had such empathy and sympathy for anyone with problems as I have many myself. But since Trump was elected I find myself basically hating someone for the first time in my life, and I find myself hurling swear words at him when he's on t.v. It is so obvious to me that Trump is a lying and dangerous con man and I can't help but think that his supporters must be really gullible and not too smart if they can't see Trump for who he is, a person who could not care less about anyone but himself. Until his supporters see this too, I'll try to be more forgiving and understanding of them but I honestly don't see this happening.
Hello Bijou.....Thank you so much for your honest comments . If you will check some of the comments or books of Mr Van Jones I believe you will feel differently about it. I would suggest you try talking to a person who voted for Mr Trump with an open mind. ....you might be surprised.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/29/2018 9:27 am

    Quoting MrsJoe:
    Saying that all Trump voters are racist is just an anti-Trump propaganda ploy, and I'm afraid that there are folks who believe it. I don't think you do. Mrjoe and I are both Trump voters, and you know us well enough to know that we aren't.
    People need to get back to days gone by when they could visit with each other, talk to (not about) each other about lots of topics, enjoy each other's company and share a cup of coffee or meal............. or just a computer conversation if face to face isn't possible. When people helped people because it was the right thing to do, not because the government took it from us and gave it to whomever it chose.
Hello Mrsjoe..........Thank you so much for your response. I agree with you we do need to get past the labeling of each other and talk to each other as just fellow human beings. As you say it was done in the past and we can do it now if people want to. I think that we have made a difference in this blog. I think we will find that when we talk honestly and really listen we would have empathy and tolerance for the point of view of others. I know I have.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/29/2018 9:35 am

    Quoting starwomyn:
    Great article. I totally understand why some folks supported Trump as a working class person in West Virginia. I've seen young people working two crappy jobs to support their families, still can't make ends meet and get slapped around by bureaucracy . There was no faith that government as usual was not working for them.

    I have actually been in the Senate and Congressional buildings talking to our elected officials or the staff that present them. It is important to be able to listen and understand both sides of an issue in order to find resolutions.

    I have been called a libtard and snowflake more than once and the minute someone starts name calling, I walk away. It makes them appear ignorant. Why would I want to act like them and start name-calling someone has different views. It is better to stick to the issues.
Hello Starwoman.........Thanks for your response ,I always love your responses and I think you are a smart lady. I agree with what you say now that I have heard and read the articles by Van Jones. I don't like the name calling or labeling as I call it either. I believe that when folk start cursing or name calling they have a very short vocabulary.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/29/2018 9:43 am

    Quoting MrsJoe:
    Hi Star! I would never call you a libtard or snowflake..... and you and I are examples of people on totally different sides of some issues, who can get beyond that and still communicate with respect and even affection. As for names, I might say you are a flake, but you are my favorite flake!
Thank you Mrsjoe for this.............perhaps these blog responses will help others change their minds and understand that we can agree to disagree without labeling or calling names and still enjoy each others friendship.

Or we might listen to the other side of an issue with empathy and understanding and make a new friend.


Rentier1

7/30/2018 8:38 am

    Quoting MrsJoe:
    Bike, in spite of your frequent satirical and snide comments, I have always thought you were a serious thinking fella. This response just solidifies my opinion of you. Now that I've said that......
    "I would never claim all of them are racist. But all of them seem to able to ignore and excuse serious defects in his personal life and business track record. And I have serious doubts about their ability to think critically." I would have said the same thing about Obama voters. He got a vote in this house in his first election, but not his second one, because of his policies, actions, and words.
    We will have to wait and see about Trump's second election. I think most of his voters realized there would be rocky times, but expect it to eventually turn out ok. Anytime you take actions to fix problems, there are rough times. As I said, we will see what it looks like in a couple of years.

You seem to be a nice lady, so I will eschew snide comments.

Rocky times come in different flavours.

There are those that you did not cause and have little control over.
E.g. the rise of China.

Another flavour is the one you caused yourself, and should have known it would cause grief.

In this category I would put most US invasions of small countries - Iraq and Afghanistan most recently.

Mango's rocky times are mostly his own doing. I suspect he had advisors who gave him good advice that he ignored.

Among these are the tariffs that are hurting American farmers and manufacturers, and his lovefest with his pal Vlad when he threw the US intelligence community under the bus.


brightsmile003B 84F

7/30/2018 12:44 pm

    Quoting  :

Hello Panther..........This has been a great discussion and I appreciate everyone's participation. I like you and respect you we used to chat when you came to the chat room. My intent with this blog is to get folk to stop labeling others and try to listen to a viewpoint that is different than theirs. I am very happy that folk feel that they can express their opinions on my blogs.........But.....you have responded to responses that Mrsjoe made to other people(not to you) in a way that was almost bullying. Please stop. Why not try to have a friendly conversation with Mrsjoe if you are sincere you might find she might be able to clear up what ever it is that bothers you about her. You are an intelligent woman why not try to use that approach rather than the one you used here. Who knows you might end up making a new friend.

All of this was said with love Panth. I hope you take it that way.


jiminycricket1 73M
13732 posts
8/1/2018 4:56 pm

My philosophy is that nobody gets away with anything..

Those I would hate.. I do not really. It's more about feeling sorry and grateful.. than hating...

I figure their pain, their need for revenge, their willingness to hurt others, their justifications... are momentary blindness that will soon come into light.

Combine that with...

The inability to love, The desire not to help anyone, not being able to learn, the ultimate judgement of the judgmental.... how can you fault someone who does these thing....I am not their enemy...
they're their own worst enemy..

If God forgives them........ "for they know not what they do"...Then who am I.... NOT TO?

Besides these path are not barred from me.. I could be on them too... Some of us may have already been there, some may be lucky to never to have been...
But I can feel grateful I'm not on it, and feel sorry for those that have to go through it.


bondjam33 70M
840 posts
8/2/2018 3:35 am

Bright - I can understand your plea for people to 'get on better' and I can also well understand your plea for empathy, as a teacher for 41 years it was a fundamental skill to be able to know 'where the kids were coming from' and to proceed from there after all.

I would simply like to put to you an analogy.

Would you empathise with pupils who believe that heavy objects fall faster in a gravity field,even in a vacuum, than lighter objects? Of course you would, they know no better and they have been bombarded with evidence that this is so. They are even half right as the effect of drag (air resistance) would suggest this is so.
Would you continue to empathise with these pupils after it has been demonstrated beyond question that this is completely untrue and that objects accelerate equally quickly but they still refuse to accept your evidence as it does not fit their preconceived prejudices? You might feel sorry for them as they refuse to accept reality but you would be frustrated at their wilful ignorance and this would be exacerbated if they revelled in this ignorance and kept taunting you with it.


brightsmile003B 84F

8/2/2018 6:30 am

    Quoting jiminycricket1:
    My philosophy is that nobody gets away with anything..

    Those I would hate.. I do not really. It's more about feeling sorry and grateful.. than hating...

    I figure their pain, their need for revenge, their willingness to hurt others, their justifications... are momentary blindness that will soon come into light.

    Combine that with...

    The inability to love, The desire not to help anyone, not being able to learn, the ultimate judgement of the judgmental.... how can you fault someone who does these thing....I am not their enemy...
    they're their own worst enemy..

    If God forgives them........ "for they know not what they do"...Then who am I.... NOT TO?

    Besides these path are not barred from me.. I could be on them too... Some of us may have already been there, some may be lucky to never to have been...
    But I can feel grateful I'm not on it, and feel sorry for those that have to go through it.
Hello Jiminy and thank you so much for your contribution to this blog. I agree with you we all pay in one way or another for our actions, good or bad.


brightsmile003B 84F

8/2/2018 6:47 am

    Quoting bondjam33:
    Bright - I can understand your plea for people to 'get on better' and I can also well understand your plea for empathy, as a teacher for 41 years it was a fundamental skill to be able to know 'where the kids were coming from' and to proceed from there after all.

    I would simply like to put to you an analogy.

    Would you empathise with pupils who believe that heavy objects fall faster in a gravity field,even in a vacuum, than lighter objects? Of course you would, they know no better and they have been bombarded with evidence that this is so. They are even half right as the effect of drag (air resistance) would suggest this is so.
    Would you continue to empathise with these pupils after it has been demonstrated beyond question that this is completely untrue and that objects accelerate equally quickly but they still refuse to accept your evidence as it does not fit their preconceived prejudices? You might feel sorry for them as they refuse to accept reality but you would be frustrated at their wilful ignorance and this would be exacerbated if they revelled in this ignorance and kept taunting you with it.
Hello Bond thank you so much for your response. I always like to hear your take on things.

My response to your analogy is...If I were teaching students and had some that I had gone over material and thoroughly explained it to them and knew that they understood but preferred their own version or truth. I would then go into my "being as one with what is" mode. There is none so blind as those who refuse to see.

I also think I would try to see it from their point of view and perhaps find out why they want to stick to their truth.


Lonelygramp0 75M

8/3/2018 5:09 pm

You ar3 truly a women wo deeply feels the passion of life


brightsmile003B 84F

8/4/2018 5:19 am

    Quoting Lonelygramp0:
    You ar3 truly a women wo deeply feels the passion of life
Hello Lonelygramp0.........Thanks for your response and yes I do but unfortunately I cannot express that when writing as well as I can when painting. I hope that you will share your thoughts with us through a blog sometime.