Rude America

[SmileyRose]

I drove on the highway today..... Connector downtown Atlanta to be exact. Haven't done that in quite a number of weeks since I stopped working and I'm pretty sure everyone in the city was drunk today except me.

Boy if I had a nickel for every no signal lane change. Actually one poor sap must have dreamed all night about pinball because that guy was bouncing around lanes non stop and still managed to end up way behind me off he same exit ramp. Thank goodness he didn't have a stroke right there on the highway.

But this post isn't really about me or even aggressive driving. It's really about Michelle Obama and why I love her.

Back when Mrs. Obama first came to my attention I knew right away this was not a woman who suffered fools lightly. And now, whatever happened at that speech all I can think of is how grateful I am for THIS "First Mom".

The very nature of pushing for change toward equality requires a certain "in your face" rudeness to make people look at the injustice. I think Mrs. Obama understands this fine, which is why she was so democratic about it with "let the people here decide." But I also think she's about taken all the shit she wants to take.

Look, it's hard enough to get along with our neighbors who run the leaf blower at 6am on Sunday morning or drive through the school zone like Tony Stewart on bump and run duty. Some of our neighbors are still convinced God will surely make Sarah Palin the first woman President and that Obama is buying up ammo so the government can invade West Maple Street. Can we please not waste precious moments of life being rude to our own friends?

Ya'll go ahead and lay on the horn of your big giant SUV battering ram because someone 3 cars up tries to turn right from the middle lane and holds up traffic. Just remember, that person immediately in front of you is not your problem and may be the one who pulls your kids out from under the roof of the school the next time an act of God visits your neighborhood.

Likewise, when it comes to those in power. Please, be a billboard for your cause, talk to anyone who will listen and even those who don't want to. Push your friends in power to represent you better, push the folks in power who fight against you to change their minds. Relentlessly. But please don't waste precious moments of life being rude to your own friends.

[patrice]

1. People should stop assuming that being nice is weak. It takes real strength to be

authentically nice and kind.

Only the weak turn people against one another, so that they don't have to feel so vulnerable. It's sad to see that happen here at the DU.

[Sherman A1]

2. Well Said!

Mrs Sherman a1 works as a customer service telephone rep and she comes home completely drained each day after taking 50 to 80 calls of people just screaming at her. She has told me the level of rudeness has increased multi-fold over these last few years.

I attribute the rise in rudeness and general anger to people feeling helpless overall making them wanting to lash out at any real or perceived slight in their lives. Folks have been screwed for 30+ years and are fed up. They don't necessarily know why they are angry, but the most certainly are angry.

There is another thread on the suicide rate of baby boomers and I believe that too is indicative of what we are seeing in the rise of rudeness.

[Laelth]

5. +1 Well said. n/t

-Laelth

[MrScorpio]

3. Amen!

[B Calm]

4. I blame it on marijuana

not being legal. . .