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Things I don't have to think about today....

I found this piece on one of my favourite author's blogs - I would like to share it with you (he has given permission for it to be re-posted in full).

Quote:

Today I don’t have to think about those who hear “terrorist” when I speak my faith.

Today I don’t have to think about men who don’t believe no means no.

Today I don’t have to think about how the world is made for people who move differently than I do.

Today I don’t have to think about whether I’m married, depending on what country I’m in.

Today I don’t have to think about how I’m going to hail a cab past midnight.

Today I don’t have to think about whether store security is tailing me.

Today I don’t have to think about the look on the face of the person about to sit next to me on a plane.

Today I don’t have to think about eyes going to my chest first.

Today I don’t have to think about what people might think if they knew the medicines I took.

Today I don’t have to think about getting kicked out of a mall when I kiss my beloved hello.

Today I don’t have to think about if it’s safe to hold my beloved’s hand.

Today I don’t have to think about whether I’m being pulled over for anything other than speeding.

Today I don’t have to think about being classified as one of “those people.”

Today I don’t have to think about making less than someone else for the same job at the same place.

Today I don’t have to think about the people who stare, or the people who pretend I don’t exist.

Today I don’t have to think about managing pain that never goes away.

Today I don’t have to think about whether a stranger’s opinion of me would change if I showed them a picture of who I love.

Today I don’t have to think about the chance a store salesmen will ignore me to help someone else.

Today I don’t have to think about the people who’d consider torching my house of prayer a patriotic act.

Today I don’t have to think about a pharmacist telling me his conscience keeps him from filling my prescription.

Today I don’t have to think about being asked if I’m bleeding when I’m just having a bad day.

Today I don’t have to think about whether the one drug that lets me live my life will be taken off the market.

Today I don’t have to think about the odds of getting jumped at the bar I like to go to.

Today I don’t have to think about turning on the news to see people planning to burn my holy book.

Today I don’t have to think about others demanding I apologize for hateful people who have nothing to do with me.

Today I don’t have to think about my child being seen as a detriment to my career.

Today I don’t have to think about the irony of people thinking I’m lucky because I can park close to the door.

Today I don’t have to think about memories of being bullied in high school.

Today I don’t have to think about being told to relax, it was just a joke.

Today I don’t have to think about whether someone thinks I’m in this country illegally.

Today I don’t have to think about those who believe that freedom of religion ends with mine.

Today I don’t have to think about how a half-starved 23-year-old being a cultural ideal affects my life.

Today I don’t have to think about how much my life is circumscribed by my body.

Today I don’t have to think about people wanting me cured of loving who I love.

Today I don’t have to think about those who view me an unfit parent because of who I love.

Today I don’t have to think about being told my kind don’t assimilate.

Today I don’t have to think about people blind to the intolerance of their belief lecturing me about my own.

Today I don’t have to think about my body as a political football.

Today I don’t have to think about how much my own needs wear on those I love.

Today I don’t have to think about explaining to others “what happened to me.”

Today I don’t have to think about politicians saying bigoted things about me to win votes.

Today I don’t have to think about those worried that one day people like me will be the majority.

Today I don’t have to think about someone using the name of my religion as a slur.

Today I don’t have to think about so many of the words for me controlling my own life being negatives.

Today I don’t have to think about still not being equal.

Today I don’t have to think about what it takes to keep going.

Today I don’t have to think about how much I still have to hide.

Today I don’t have to think about how much prejudice keeps hold.

Today I don’t have to think about how I’m meant to be grateful that people tolerate my kind.

Today I don’t have to think about all the things I don’t have to think about.

But today I will.

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Is there such a thing as thinking too much?

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuftus (Post 35111038)

Is there such a thing as thinking too much?

You're overthinking it :D

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuftus (Post 35111038)

Is there such a thing as thinking too much?

Maybe, but it's far less common than those who think too little unfortunately.

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien (Post 35111046)

Maybe, but it's far less common than those who think too little unfortunately.

That was actually my point, i think.

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 35111013)

... I would like to share it with you (he has given permission for it to be re-posted in full).

Thaks Hugh, for making me think about those things. What is the expression? If you could walk a mile in another person's shoes...

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Does he think it belongs in Current Affairs and not Lifestyle?

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L (Post 35111128)

Does he think it belongs in Current Affairs and not Lifestyle?

Being Mr Mod today?

Seems to be in the right place because it is about people who are frequently targets in Current Affairs..;)

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNorm (Post 35111117)

Thaks Hugh, for making me think about those things. What is the expression? If you could walk a mile in another person's shoes...

you'd be a mile away from them, and have their shoes? ;)

Very good post Hugh :tu:

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J (Post 35111130)

Seems to be in the right place because it is about people who are frequently targets in Current Affairs..;)

Oh, ok.

Today I don't have to think about it, then :)

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L (Post 35111128)

Does he think it belongs in Current Affairs and not Lifestyle?

I don't believe it belongs in "Current Affairs", as the things mentioned are very rarely "lifestyle choices".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L (Post 35111136)

Oh, ok.

Today I don't have to think about it, then :)

Quod Erat Demonstrandum......:(

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 35111139)

I don't believe it belongs in "Current Affairs", as the things mentioned are very rarely "lifestyle choices".

Ok?

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 35111144)

Why the ?

Because you were agreeing with me?

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

And yet again we disappear down the rabbit hole..:rolleyes:

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Is the author a wheelchair bound, HIV+ black lesbian muslim woman?

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35111159)

Is the author a wheelchair bound, HIV+ black lesbian muslim woman?

More like an everyman/woman but not all at once type of empathic poem..;)

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

An everywoman? It sounds more like a nowoman to me. ;)

I appreciate what the author is trying to do but I think he/she has laid it on far too thick. I'm rarely in the mood to give people a hearing when their motive appears to be the 'I'm going to make you feel guilty for being a white heterosexual western man' thing.

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35111159)

Is the author a wheelchair bound, HIV+ black lesbian muslim woman?

Does it matter?
she may be unemployed with 7 kids living in a 5 bedroom council house, while her husband who is down as living on top of the shop he runs, too :)

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

I think it does matter, for the reasons I posted just above you.

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35111159)

Is the author a wheelchair bound, HIV+ black lesbian muslim woman?

A white heterosexual, able-bodied, married with child, middle-aged, middle-class, middle America, reasonably prosperous, author, pointing out the things he doesn't have to think (or worry) about day to day (but that perhaps he should, because others have to....)

---------- Post added at 09:38 ---------- Previous post was at 09:35 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35111166)

I understand what you are saying, but he was not trying to do that (as he states in the feedback comments in his blog (linked to in the OP)) - he was just trying, in his own way, to point out that sometimes we take what we have for granted (and sometimes think less of others who do not have those things, be they health, wealth, skin colour, religion, etc), and that just because people are different, does not mean they are less (but that some people treat them as such without thinking).

That was my interpretation, anyway.....

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

In that case he worries too much. Nobody can walk around with all the world's problems on his shoulders. The moment you set yourself up for that you're asking to get knocked down by those who will gleefully point out those aspects of your own life that don't measure up to your ideals.

The best thing to do is acknowledge the world has gone to hell in a handcart and then do what you can about the bits that are within your own sphere of influence.

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35111168)

I think it does matter, for the reasons I posted just above you.

His name's John Scalzi.

Taunting the Tauntable since 1998
John Scalzi, Proprietor

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35111171)

As he acknowledges in his next day's blog

Quote:

This is my roundabout way of saying that one of the reasons I wrote that last entry is to remind myself to try to be that person, the one who is aware what he gets unearned. In day-to-day life I work on it. Some days I do a better job than others. Iâ€™m sure all yâ€™all will let me know when Iâ€™m having a bad day of it. Iâ€™ll try not to be too petulant when you do.

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35111171)

Pretty much the way I looked at it. I think I got down to about the 10th line and thought enough was enough, this guy needs to chill out a bit. It's a bit too heavy and excessive for me. And ultimately totally pointless (imo).

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

As the saying goes, YMMV - each person can get out of what they wish; it's his thoughts for him to try and live to, not anyone else.

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (Post 35111171)

Doesn't hurt to occasionally point out to those who never empathise at all with anyone else at all.But then it probably goes over their heads anyway..;)

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 35111181)

As the saying goes, YMMV - each person can get out of what they wish; it's his thoughts for him to try and live to, not anyone else.

But are they his own personal thoughts. or is he just making a mountain out of a mole hill?
I don't intend to look deep into his mind, but most of the things he doesn't want to think about and criticises, are just human nature. and an everyday occurrence.

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L (Post 35111185)

That statement says more about you than him, imho - it's not that he doesn't want to think about these things, it's that he doesn't, because they don't affect him (but he thinks perhaps he should, because they affect others).

a) he doesn't criticise anything - he is pointing out things that happen to others every day
b) "human nature. and an everyday occurrence" -
- 1) it was human nature to keep slaves, steal cattle, and take from those weaker than ourselves; we have managed to (mostly) grow out of that part of our human nature.
- 2) "everyday occurrence" - that, my dear boy, is the problem - treating people differently/as less because they are different, shouldn't be an "everyday occurrence", and accepting it as such makes us lesser human beings.

Re: Things I don't have to think about today....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 35111187)

That statement says more about you than him,

Ok.