Why You Gotta Be SO Mean?

You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons…

All you’re ever gonna be is mean

You, with your switching sides and your wildfire lies and your humiliation…

And all you're ever gonna be is mean

All you are is mean
And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

 -Taylor Swift --“ Mean”

Sorry about channeling Taylor Swift…I’m not usually a fan, but this song is stuck in my head and it seems appropriate.

Is it just me, or does it seem like an awful lot of folks are just plain MEAN?  SO MEAN?

It’s no longer acceptable to have an opposing view, to have some sort of civilized debate and discussion or even to agree to disagree.

In today’s world, heated words immediately follow any mention of opposition.  Things escalate and suddenly death threats are flying.  Or at least wishes for hurt to the “other side”.   

    

The anti’s hate all those in Agriculture and wish them ill.  http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/07/28/fbi-turns-up-heat-on-mike-adams-as-health-ranger-fiasco-widens-plus-adams-archive/

The Ag crowd jumps at shadows and gets mean and ugly. http://farmprogress.com/blogs-wading-muck-was-worth-8828  

Locally, the power company is under attack for proposing a survey for a possible pipeline. http://www.newsleader.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/08/14/dominion-proposal-seems-like-done-deal/14064537/    

I could go on and on.

The world is a mean, mean place these days.  And, I’m not even talking about all the wars and skirmishes around the world.

Even when someone dies…someone else needs to be mean about it.  No matter what your stance on suicide, Robin Williams’ family had to be hurting and it couldn’t have helped at all to see and hear headlines that were just plain mean (and utterly vile in some cases). ...and it certainly didn't help anyone else.

I’ll skip the rest of the news headlines that exemplify the MEAN in people. I’m sure you’ve seen them, too.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t have an opinion.  I would never say anyone shouldn’t openly speak their mind. And, I am not in the least opposed to occasional angry outbursts. I would be hypocritical to ever even  suggest anything like that…I’m an opinionated, Southern woman with red hair, an Irish temper…and well-developed vocabulary…believe me, I will tell you what I think! (Yes, I do see my entire family nodding their collective heads in total…and vehement…agreement)

But, could we all just take a step back, draw a deep breath and think before we jump into a conversation with harsh words and cutting commentary?  Oh…yeah…could everybody please make sure they have all the facts before jumping to conclusions?  Listening, actually listening…not just hearing words…seems to be a lost art.

Disagreement should be expected.  Debate and discussion should be encouraged.  (Sometimes, we haven’t seen the big picture and cannot fathom the far reaching effects) But, discourse should be civilized and it is not necessary to “convert” the opposition every single time.  Disagreement does NOT make the opposing point or position invalid.  Perhaps we should open our minds and our hearts just a little when listening to others. 

The loss of Robin Williams brought to light a number of great quotes from his various movie roles.  This being one of them.

So…

  I’d like to use my words/ideas to change it for the better.

                                   ...where ya (DON'T) "gotta be so mean".

Want to hear the song? Click here.