Thoughts

"Nonjudgmentalism?" Is that even a real word? (It reminds me of Warren Harding's "Return to Normalcy." "Normalcy" wasn't a dictionary word up until the '20 campaign. "Normal," "norm," "normality," "normalness," etc. were, but not "normalcy.")

What is "nonjudgmentalism?" Isn't being so actually making a judgment? Isn't not taking a stand on an issue, be it gay rights, abortion, drug use, etc., actually taking a stand?

If one, for instance, in the extreme, is a pornographer and another says, "I don't want to be judgmental" about the pornography/er, isn't the other, clearly, standing up for pornography? It seems to be to be the case. (BTW, who got rid of the "e" in "judgment," as opposed to "judgement?" I believe the English still include it and, after all, isn't it their language?)

And, what about "drawing the line?" Why are we afraid to "draw the line?" Is that another instance of being "judgmental?" I read a column yesterday from a columnist I respect, but had to shake my head at his thesis, "the politics of fear." It seemed he was concerned about people being "judgmental," at "drawing the line." Maybe I misread his intentions, but that's what I picked up from his piece.

Using the extreme example above, why are we unwilling to draw the line at censoring pornographers? Are we willing to let our kids watch/read pornography? Is it that we think pornography is only for "mature" people/adults? What is "mature" about, say, watching women do pole dances or lap dances? (Is that any more "mature" than putting paper/cardboard in people's shoes at the door when they remove them? Insiders will know....)

Why are we so unwilling to stand up for what we believe? Or, don't we believe in anything any more? In schools, passing students who clearly don't deserve to pass (from "social promotions" to whatever reasons), giving out grades that students don't clearly deserve, etc. is being "judgmental." Think about that one.

Back to the article I read yesterday or Thur or whenever. "The politics of fear...." Hmmm. Do we have cause to be afraid, frightened? Maybe concerned is another word I could use, but that's just playing with semantics. And, maybe, just maybe, we should be playing "the politics of fear." How else to get Americans out of their doldrums? Does anyone really think we are headed in the right direction--economically, morally, etc.? Maybe some do; I don't know. My guess is most are not concerned, except for what's on American Idol or who wins the ballgame. The "I, Me, Mine" generations have taken roost and seem unwilling to move from their perches. It's not me I am concerned about--it's my kids and, esp, grandkids. What are we leaving them? The goal of past generations was to leave a nation in which their kids and grandkids could enjoy better lives than those generations had. And, it worked! They took two or more jobs. They sacrificed with one parent (mom?) staying home instead of earning a second income. They didn't take cruises and extended vacations, buy every toy out there, or spend, spend, spend. They did things for their kids' futures, not immediate gratification such as buying all the latest stuff. Yes, I do "fear" for the future. But, it's not for my sake. It's what we are doing to the future.