Stories that Matter
No, You're Actually Not That Great
I don’t know how you’re feeling as we approach November, but I’m tired. Tired of the frustration, the anger, the vitriol, tired of everything that this nasty election has exploded into. More frustrating for me is that it’s not even my election. But it’s everywhere. You can’t turn on the television or the radio or even walk down the street without hearing the words Trump or Clinton. It’s exhausting.
I think what’s bothered me the most about this process is the downward spiral of society. If it wasn’t obvious at the beginning, it’s written in neon flashing lights now. There is very little that has not been said on both sides. Cutting words. Vicious attacks on people’s point of view. A bull-headed belief in being so right that all rationale has flown off to some place far, far away. Perhaps never to return.
Do we truly believe we are entitled to treat each other this way? To put one above the other with blatant disregard for common civility and basic human decency?
It would appear so. Spend five minutes on Facebook, Twitter or any social media outlet. It would appear so.
Troublesome thoughts have swirled around my mind for weeks now. For the most part, I stay quiet. But sometimes I do speak my mind, and I think it’s okay. But I think what’s bothering me the most about all of the ugly, is wondering how we got here.
Case in point. We flew home from Boston yesterday. It wasn’t a full flight, but there were several families with toddlers traveling together, friends or relatives, I’m not sure. In their 20’s or early 30’s perhaps. And they had the swag and the swagger and that over-confident attitude that oozed from them. You could hear it in their language, see it in the way they treated each other. You’ve read enough about the Entitled Millennials, right? These were the visual aids to go with all the articles.
And sure enough, when we landed, my opinion of at least one of these fine gentlemen was confirmed as he immediately stood up in his row and began a conversation with one of his buddies behind him, while we were still taxiing down the runway. Within a moment the announcement came asking all passengers to remain seated with their seat-belts on for their safety, until we reached the gate.
Dude continued to stand and chat. In English. Same language as the announcement. And he wasn’t using ASL so I don’t think he was deaf.
Seriously?
After the second announcement was made, he did eventually sit down. But I was left shaking my head. When did this whole “the rules don’t apply to me” attitude come into play? How did we end up here? This belief that “I can do what I want and get away with it!” – it’s being modeled by our leaders, accepted by our neighbors and clearly already a way of life for many of the younger generation.
Entitlement.
God help us.
When is somebody going to stand up and say “Sit your spoiled little butt down and shut up!”
I was pretty darn close on that plane yesterday. I’m pretty darn close every day when I see friends attacking each other over politics. But, really, why do we accept this behavior?
I’m not saying we all behave this way, but I think this election season is surely showing our ugly side. And the younger generation watching all this go down are probably not that surprised.
Surely we are better than this. More moral? Decent? Kind? I think we used to be. But if we continue to ignore and allow and excuse . . . what’s going to be left in years to come? What will we be handing down to our kids and grandchildren? I shudder to think.
So what’s the answer? What can we do now, today, to turn this train around?
Maybe it’s already too late. I hope not. I pray not.
Agree or disagree, but I think it’s a problem. And it needs fixing.
What do you think?
I agree, Catherine! It has gotten to the point where I feel that it can even be dangerous to express your opinion. I can remember when friends and even just acquaintances could have lively discussions with differing viewpoints and still part on good terms. When did it NOT become okay to disagree with someone else’s opinion? That to me is a dangerous precedent. I also feel that the entitlement issues stem from this. After all, if your opinion is the only right opinion and the only one that matters, why should you have any regard for rules not set up by you or for anyone else’s benefit? All we can do is pray for hearts to be changed and eyes to be opened.
Scary times. But I think we must stand up and speak what is on our heart. There are moments to be silent, and moments to speak truth in love. Especially when so much is at stake. I think we can still respect one another and that seems to be lacking lately.
I agree, Catherine! It has gotten to the point where I feel that it can even be dangerous to express your opinion. I can remember when friends and even just acquaintances could have lively discussions with differing viewpoints and still part on good terms. When did it NOT become okay to disagree with someone else’s opinion? That to me is a dangerous precedent. I also feel that the entitlement issues stem from this. After all, if your opinion is the only right opinion and the only one that matters, why should you have any regard for rules not set up by you or for anyone else’s benefit? All we can do is pray for hearts to be changed and eyes to be opened.
I wholeheartedly agree. Each of us needs to remember and practice the golden rule. Its said that noone likes negative, hurtful speech. I wish it were true, then we would listen to the heart of what someone is saying and they would listen as well. Let it begin with me.
Lets encourage one another and remember JOY that many of us learned as young people; Jesus, Others, You. We’ve let go of the stories we used to share with each other and the next generation, those that ended with the moral of the story. Honor is a word that seems to be lost; iwhen we can, lets model the way we need to in order to be a light; its needed now more than ever!
Thanks for sharing! Have a wonderful Sonshiny day!
🙂 Penny
Enjoy the journey everyone!
So true. We all need a little more joy. It got to the point for me where I had to make a conscious decision to disengage. I refuse to read and/or comment on anything where people are simply fighting back and forth because they can no longer discuss things in a civilized manner. That kind of thinking is far too easy to get sucked into, which is why it’s so sad and dangerous. We really have to pray against flesh and rely on God to give us the grace we need to walk through this season.
I wholeheartedly agree. Each of us needs to remember and practice the golden rule. Its said that noone likes negative, hurtful speech. I wish it were true, then we would listen to the heart of what someone is saying and they would listen as well. Let it begin with me.
Lets encourage one another and remember JOY that many of us learned as young people; Jesus, Others, You. We’ve let go of the stories we used to share with each other and the next generation, those that ended with the moral of the story. Honor is a word that seems to be lost; iwhen we can, lets model the way we need to in order to be a light; its needed now more than ever!
Thanks for sharing! Have a wonderful Sonshiny day!
🙂 Penny
Enjoy the journey everyone!
So true. We all need a little more joy. It got to the point for me where I had to make a conscious decision to disengage. I refuse to read and/or comment on anything where people are simply fighting back and forth because they can no longer discuss things in a civilized manner. That kind of thinking is far too easy to get sucked into, which is why it’s so sad and dangerous. We really have to pray against flesh and rely on God to give us the grace we need to walk through this season.
I’m grateful to you for saying what so many of us feel about the current world and how many people are suffering from this affliction of selfishness and a lack of self-control. It’s nearly epidemic, with parents teaching it their kids and entire subcultures feeling justified in seeking special treatment. And I’m certain the reasons are varied, but also that Jesus was right. We can’t change their minds without love and compassion.
Learning how to love in the moment is the best and the hardest thing we’ll ever learn. But God willing, we will!
I hope so. I hope there are enough parents left out there with younger kids who are not afraid to teach them right and wrong, not afraid to say no or let them fail. Sometimes it’s hard to keep quiet when there is so much disagreement going on. Sometimes we shouldn’t. But it’s all in how the message is presented, I guess. Learning to voice an opinion with grace and wisdom and accepting the opposing voices without an immediate knee-jerk reaction is a most difficult skill to acquire. Perhaps this is what we’re supposed to be learning in all this crazy.
Amen, Cathy! Well said. It’s sad that the people that are the worst offenders are the ones that get the most attention. In our neighborhood, I am surrounded by wonderful parents that are teaching their children well, teens and young adults who are great examples, and awesome children. I’m lucky, I know. Of course, not all of them are that way, but the vast majority are. Not all neighborhoods are like ours. Not all parents are caring or good examples. Unfortunately, the media normally doesn’t focus on the good examples. I, too, am so appalled at the examples of so-called adults, the selfishness, and entitlement attitudes. This behavior seems to be escalating rapidly, too. It’s hard to be optimistic about the future sometimes.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. They are so relevant to our situation today.
Hugs!
Thanks WInnie! I couldn’t believe this guy. I wondered if his wife was embarrassed or if she too figured he had every right to disregard the rules and do his thing. It’s a crazy world that is for sure. And yeah, I feel old when I say that. But seriously. We didn’t raise our kids that way, I wasn’t raised that way – where did it all go so wrong? 🙁
Amen, Cathy! Well said. It’s sad that the people that are the worst offenders are the ones that get the most attention. In our neighborhood, I am surrounded by wonderful parents that are teaching their children well, teens and young adults who are great examples, and awesome children. I’m lucky, I know. Of course, not all of them are that way, but the vast majority are. Not all neighborhoods are like ours. Not all parents are caring or good examples. Unfortunately, the media normally doesn’t focus on the good examples. I, too, am so appalled at the examples of so-called adults, the selfishness, and entitlement attitudes. This behavior seems to be escalating rapidly, too. It’s hard to be optimistic about the future sometimes.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. They are so relevant to our situation today.
Hugs!
I am in total agreement with you. When my tv comes on any more lately it is to watch Netflix.
Sent from my iPad
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I know what you mean, Linda! I’m doing a lot of reading in the evenings. 🙂
I am in total agreement with you. When my tv comes on any more lately it is to watch Netflix.
Sent from my iPad
>
I know what you mean, Linda! I’m doing a lot of reading in the evenings. 🙂
Working in higher education for the past 8 years, I sometimes see the “sense of entitlement” with young people today. To be honest, I often wonder how this attitude affects their career. Also, I see the same sense of entitlement with their parents. I am not saying “it’s the parents” but I am saying I believe parenting is a factor. It’s funny because not too long ago I experienced something very similar on an airplane. There was a group of young people (several rows seated together) and they were being very loud and obnoxious before take off. It wasn’t that they were refusing to take their seat but they were so swept up in their own conversations that they were completely disregarding the flight attendant announcements. Finally, the pilot had to make an announcement and demand that they take their seats. Obviously, it should have never came to that. To me, and I assume others around them, their behavior was appalling. Of all places, I feel like that type of behavior is especially uncalled for on an airplane where people are just trying to get to their destination in peace! It’s like some people live in their own bubble—not caring how their actions are affecting anyone else. It’s very sad.
Thanks for discussing it. I feel like entitlement is something that needs to be discussed more often.
Working in higher education for the past 8 years, I sometimes see the “sense of entitlement” with young people today. To be honest, I often wonder how this attitude affects their career. Also, I see the same sense of entitlement with their parents. I am not saying “it’s the parents” but I am saying I believe parenting is a factor. It’s funny because not too long ago I experienced something very similar on an airplane. There was a group of young people (several rows seated together) and they were being very loud and obnoxious before take off. It wasn’t that they were refusing to take their seat but they were so swept up in their own conversations that they were completely disregarding the flight attendant announcements. Finally, the pilot had to make an announcement and demand that they take their seats. Obviously, it should have never came to that. To me, and I assume others around them, their behavior was appalling. Of all places, I feel like that type of behavior is especially uncalled for on an airplane where people are just trying to get to their destination in peace! It’s like some people live in their own bubble—not caring how their actions are affecting anyone else. It’s very sad.
Thanks for discussing it. I feel like entitlement is something that needs to be discussed more often.