The proverbial ball of yarn
By Lisa Slifko
2 Nov 2008
I'm sad to say this is the first election year I've paid attention to. It really mattered to me what was going on and how it would effect my family and I. How the candidates and issues would effect America as a whole.
There were issues of every flavour, for every taste. Issues that went largely unanswered, issues that were swept under the carpet, issues that stirred a deep passion and concern, issues that turned into pure, unadultrated silliness. It was akin to watching a circus.
In my conversations with my husband and a few select people in my daily wanderings, I discovered a lot about my Country and fellow man.
All agreed on one common denominator; fear. Bringing me to my conclusion that we, as the peoples of these United Stated, are fearful like never before.
Fearful of our futures, our childrens future for a variety of deep seeded reasons. The economy, the cost of living, health care costs, oil, war, retirement plans. All these and many more are the things we entrust to our President, our Government. We hand it over with hopeful hearts that all we be well. The very thought of that kind of control over my life, left a sick feeling within my gut. My attention span grew as I considered the issues and the Candidates. I could not get past one word. Patriotism.
In the beginning the ball of yarn started unravelling slowly....
Patriotism, What is it exactly?
That's a question I've been asking myself throughout this presidential election season. This is what I've come to.
In my 1939 Websters 20th Century unabridged dictionary the definition of Patriotism reads:
*Patriotism:
Love of ones Country. Passion, influencing one to serve Country. IE: In defending it from invasion or protecting it's rights, maintaining it's laws and institutions in vigor and purity. Directed to the public safety and welfare.
I did not read anything in the definition that would lend credence to patriotism as giving over to others what you have personally laboured for. Rather I read, to serve country with passion, bourne out of love for country, to defend, as in to fight. I went a half step further to see the definition of "Patriot"
*Patriot:
A noun deriving from Latin roots; one's native country, from pater, patris, (meaning) father.
A person who loves his country, and zealously supports and defends it and it's interests.
Personally, I found this to be deeply interesting in light of current political events. Keeping in mind the definitions above, I've not experienced the in site that others have. Interestingly, I further discovered another word.
*Patron:
Supports/protects a person or a work.
I found this to be very thought provoking with respect to words spoken by one of the Presidential Candidates. In turn bringing me to the thought of accountability. (I couldn't tell you how I got there, only that I did)
*Accountability:
The state of being liable to answer for ones conduct;
liability to give account, and to receive reward or punishments.
Honestly speaking, I'm worlds from a scholared political analysis. However, in my own defense, I've been paying as much attention as my busied mind would allow me. I've learned new things and re-learned lessons of old. One of them that I need to practice more diligently in my own life would involve the word character. It's meaning, application and outcome of. The sincerity of a man should be measured by his character. Not his words, deeds, successes, fame or money. I don't ever want to move from that foundational truth again. It's a dangerous place to be.
Leaving me with a very important question that I've yet to find the answer for. Where is the accountability within this election period? I've heard some pretty wacky things over the course of time, however, the things I'm hearing about now just blow my mind. I, for the life of me, cannot wrap my thought comfortably around the derision and destruction of our Government and The people of our nation, our United States. Brother against brother. Sister against sister....Character assassination and the ever so popular blame game ,becoming the favoured game of popularity as we know it.
I'm faced with my most important thought at that moment. Given an understanding of the above words in their proper context, I was left with one more word to define. As I read it in my 1939 Websters 20th Century Unabridged dictionary. For me this is not only the most important word, but also is profound in it's contextual understanding.
*Character:
A noun. In Latin Character; Greek charakter, from charassein, meaning engrave.
* The peculiar qualities impressed by nature or habit on a person, which distinguish him from others: hence, a character is not formed when the person has not acquired stable and distinctive
qualities.
* An account, description, or representation of anything, exhibiting its qualities and the circumstances attending it; as, to give a bad character to a town.
* A person; as, the assembly consisted of various characters;
The friendship of distinguished characters. (Roscoe.)
* By way of eminence, distinguished or good qualities, those which are esteemed and respected; as he is a man of character.
* Adventitious qualities impressed by office or station; the qualities that, in public estimation, belong to a person in a particular station; as, his character as a judge was high
* The peculiar qualities or properties by which one thing is distinguished from another.
* Distinctive quality or any kind strongly marked, particularly energy or force; as, a man is said to have no character, or a great deal of character.
* A written testimonial as to competency or behavior, usually given to a subordinate.
These descriptions are quoted as they were put into print, back in 1939.
Simply put, character is built upon many different ingredients, including but not limited to; core beliefs, personal values, convictions, associations, actions and accountability. Accountability for the consistency of which these are delt with throughout the course of a persons life. Not to be confused with the "perfect" life. I, for one, am all for the "white picket fence, apple pie and baseball" character in a person. Unlike what I perceived to be nothing more than dirty words coming from A. Comes of Hannity and Colmes on the Fox network. I derive a sense of Patriotism from that abused and perverted description of life. The character that "white picket fence, apple pie and baseball." can develop in a life, speaks louder than the negatory attitudes that has surrounded it for far too many years. I'm grateful for free will, to decide for myself. That same free will that lends measure to my personal opinions. It provides me my decisions on core beliefs, personal values, convictions, associations, actions and accountability. All of which no one is above.
As I was looking to Tuesday, November 2, 2008, I was reminding myself of all these things. Allowing my free will to work within, that I may learn. I've not yet voted, however, I am voting and know who I am voting for. My decision is based on all the above. It was wrapped up into a ball of yarn that has unravelled just a bit. In order that I may share with my neighboring man, thoughts from Lisa the housewife and mom.
Written by: Lisa M. Slifko
November 1, 2008
If only you could see that ball of yarn now!
5 responses
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Hannah DeYoung gave props (2 Nov 2008):
fantastic job. great unity in your arguement, and a good photo essay overall. voted!
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Christopher Boles gave props (2 Nov 2008):
I couldn't have said it any better!
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dominic serrao gave props (2 Nov 2008):
interesting...well said!
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Lois Martin gave props (2 Nov 2008):
Very good investigation and well written!
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Lisa Slifko said (13 Nov 2008):
Wow, 159 views and 4 props. I figure it's either a horrible essay that's poorley written. Or too controversial.
