It starts here

It has been an interesting 2020 so far. It seems that passions are running high. There seems to be quite a few political issues lately.

In the cockpit there are a few unwritten rules. You should never pass gas in the cockpit. Just don’t do it. It is considered rude and offensive. While it may seem funny, beware of retaliation. Enough said there. Also, there are certain topics of conversation that should never be approached. Religion, politics and one other that I can’t think of right now. In todays climate, it is difficult to not talk about politics. So even though we shouldn’t talk about it, I think that we need to. So here goes.

First, it seems that we do a lot of talking. A lot of talking and not much listening. In fact, I don’t think that people listen much anymore. People seem to just wait for their turn to talk. And people talk like there opinion and “facts” are the only ones that matters. We really need to understand a few facts that I would hope that we can all agree on. And those facts are that we really don’t know what the facts or truths are, really. I would hope that we could agree on the news sources are all biased. Who do you believe? Who should you believe? I don’t know. I think you can only believe your own truths. That is, those truths or facts that you have witnessed and actually been a part of or participated in. I do quite a bit of traveling and feel I have seen some truths or facts. I have to tell you, I get surprised or enlightened every day. Case in point, I was in California the other day. I was in a Lyft going to a hotel. I remarked to the driver that it was discouraging to see so many homeless along the road. The driver stated that I didn’t know what I was talking about. I was shocked. He went on to explain the homeless situation and how I shouldn’t think the way I did. I won’t get into the discussion here, but I did learn a thing or two. Do I believe it, I don’t know. So what is the point here……………it is just that, we all have our truths. It is just a matter of maybe there are more than two sides to a coin. And the “fact” is that there is an element of truth to it all. For the record, I still feel bad about the homeless……..if that is what they are.

The next point with regards to the climate of politics is that we are going to extremes and absolutes. For instance, I love seafood. Nobody in my immediate family feels like I do with regards to seafood. Does this mean that this is a deal breaker with regards to respecting them or eating with them or living with them or associating with them? Where as I may want to change their mind, they may have a perfectly good reason for not liking seafood. But we cannot let this interfere with at a minimum being civil with them. Let’s go a step further………..I am a Christian and a fellow pilot is an atheist. Does this mean that I am relieved from giving him the respect of at minimum a fellow professional or human being? Where do we draw the line? If my fellow crew member is yellow, white, black, brown or blue, does skin color absolve me from treating him with any amount of respect or consideration as a fellow occupant of this planet? The answer is ……..of course not. Now if I differ with you on politics and don’t vote that same way that you do………what does that make me? Why does there have to be a line in the sand that we can’t cross over? At the end of the day, we are all here together. Why can’t we understand that we all have fundamental rights and whereas you might not like the president as a person, and you might not like the president for his policies. I respect that, that is your fundamental right. But just because I don’t agree with you, I am the bad guy? So just because I like seafood and you don’t I should despise you?

I contend that many people are turning into what they despise.

I was going to tell you a story of hate. A personal story. I deleted it and won’t go there. Suffice it to say, that hate consumes…………..it consumes our soul I would say. How do you overcome hate…………..I don’t know. Music maybe. John Lennon probably said it best……..All you need is love. Easier said than done, but it does start with listening, not just waiting for your turn to talk. It also starts with being open minded and at a minimum not drawing a line in the sand. In the end, I believe there is a God. If you don’t, I respect that you believe what you believe. Does this mean that we can’t be friends? Common sense, logic and reasoning would say we can still be friends. If you want to hate me for being on one political side as opposed to the other, I can’t stop you. I can’t make you listen and I won’t try to change your mind……….why? You have as much say in the matter as anyone else……………..and I respect that. I respect the passion and I respect the person. I won’t however fight over this. At this point, we either need to agree to disagree and move on.

If that “line in the sand” still remains, it is because you put it there.

I will be here when you need or when you want. That is the right thing to do. As a human being, a husband, a father and a papa…………..