Relevance

This will be a short post.  I wasn't planning on doing any posts this holiday weekend, but I will do this one.

I was reflecting on the fandom sites reactions to Good Omens 3 and social media agenda to cancel culture things, today.  And I was realizing that it really doesn't matter what the "critics" ( well named) say about it.  In the end, it was a product of art, and the true fans will appreciate it. I know I did.

And, I was thinking how often, lately, that I have posted something or felt something and didn't have an immediate response by viewer stats that I had expected.  But, I knew that what I felt and said was a striking of a true cord, so.. I let it be.  And, in the days that followed the stats would bend to support my position.  However, that wan't the point of the pst and isn't ever the point. I don't post to be popular.  If I was, I would pick far less controversial things to say.

So, the ENTIRE point of this post which I will say and then leave is that you must always consider the relevance level of your critics.  In the end of days, you have yourself.  If you believe in yourself, that level does not include those that would never approve of who you happen to be.  So, you must consider the relevance of your objectors and whether they actually... matter.

I mean, seriously.. who takes the time to take issue with things of which they don't approve, as if their opinion has any bearing on those who they already disapprove.  But, I would simply say, consider the relevance of those that find fault with you.  Ultimately, if you approve of yourself, their criticism is more important to exclude them as a potential than it is for changing who you choose to be.  And , that is ultimately a case for always being transparent.

However, to being this back in line for Memorial Day, remember that people once loved you for who you are and fought for your right to be different.  Don't let them down, now.  Be yourself.  It is the fastest way to make sure who loves you for who you are and who liked you for what you can do.  

Happy Memorial Day.  This is my final post til after it is over. 

Freedom to be Happy

We just passed Memorial Day.  I did not post criticism or support, because even though I am a Veteran that joined and served for protecting freedom, much of the use of the military has been using soldiers to promote economic or political goals or to enrich political or weapons groups.  So, I don't have a position AGAINST soldiers, and especially soldiers that served in older wars I have great respect for the freedoms that they did defend.  HOWEVER, we don't always see that goal in the mindset of those that are in power ordering them in recent decades.

Indeed, freedom has taken a back seat to partisanship and media crusades in recent years, and this is true on both sides of the major party spectrum.  It's one reason that I don't align myself with either party.  It's not a battle for freedom versus control.  Both have groups they want to have freedom and groups that they want to control.  Me, being in the middle along with many independents, we get to expose the hypocrisy of both sides of the political spectrum.  

So, while people chant and sing patriotic hymns for a weekend twice a year, they turn on their heels within hours to identify what people SHOULD and SHOULD NOT be ALLOWED to do... more on the should not than should.  However, EITHER is one person making a decision about what another person may do, prompting the questions of where they got authority to decide that and more directly how freedom is maintained within it.

Take Trans people, for example.  Groups on both sides have recently came out to battle against them... or more precisely.. battle against their FREEDOM to wear what they want to wear and do what they want to do, suggesting that their freedom must be restricted if it is in the presence of someone that disagrees.  If that is the case, no one should be allowed to do anything, anywhere... since we will always have critics.

Then.. and to break the Google and social media ban on mentioning Ukraine's war (for obvious point in this article), if you speak about the Ukraine war, you are subject to being shadow banned or more for doing so.  If you suggest that while Russia was and is wrong for their part in the war they do have a point that the area they occupied was Russian favoring people that asked for Russia to come save them from daily rocket attacks... you are suddenly THE ENEMY for having a differing opinion.  There is a lot of that going on in the last decades.... condemnation of people for simply being different than the politically approved text or standard.  

Of course, being an INFJ like I am and an independent, I have offended countless people for speaking uncomfortable truths about the church, the GOP, the DNC, the media, the vaccines, the wars, and so much more.  If I haven't said enough code words to get this post banned, let me just add questions about Scripture, religion, hedonism, and wealth.  But, I do have the gift that many do not have... the peace to be able to say what I feel and do what I want to do... you know... freedom for which our soldiers died.  I hope for you all the same freedom to pursue your own happiness, however that happiness looks to you.