I'm Confused, People Actually Watch Duck Dynasty, Why??

So there's been a lot of controversy regarding the people on that horrid show Duck Dynasty.  My brothers, being the conservatives that they are, love the show. I, on the other hand, have more important things to do than watch a bunch of rednecks out in the bayou.

Here's the thing that I do want to express. Everyone has an opinion, living in this country we have the freedom to express that opinion. We can rant and rave and call people rednecks and not worry about getting shot in the street. I worked in the media, I write a blog and I teach American History and Government.  I wouldn't want someone to censor me and my comments. While I do not have the same views as the man from Duck Dynasty and as wrong as I feel his comments are, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. It's our first amendment right, although I don't think hurting someone or a group of people is OK.

My cousins and I were discussing his ignorant comments. He says that he's a Christian and was quoting from the bible, but doesn't being Christian mean to "love thy neighbor?"  I'm not the most religious person in the world, and I'm extremely judgmental, but I know how to treat others. What bothers me so much is that people go off and thump their bibles and yet they only interpret the parts that suit them.

If you've gotten a divorce, said an unkind thing about another person, treated someone like dirt or can't forgive or turn the other cheek or have lied, you better never thump your bible in my direction or talk to me about religion. If you're going to thump your bible, you better be prepared to follow it entirely, word for word, not just the selections you deem suitable for your lifestyle. But guess what, some of the things in the Old Testament are illegal here in the United States (Abraham was married to multiple women, not just Sarah).

This isn't meant to be a post about religion, it is a post about how we should treat others. I know I'm judgmental, sometimes too much so, but I try not to be so closed minded and ignorant.  I'm not posting any photos today. For my next blog I will.  I just needed to get this off my chest.  I get so frustrated when I see my own family and friends post ignorant, hateful things about others on Facebook.  My solution, I hide their posts, because it's up to me to read what I want to read.  It's up to us to teach future generations how to be loving, tolerant and respectful of all people, gay, straight, fat, thin, tall, short, black or white.

I am going to end with a quote from the Bible itself, from Matthew 7:1-29 "Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

The Devil and Miss Prym Review

It's been a very long time since my last blog, more than six months.  I've been neglecting it I know.  So many things have happened, a New Year has come and gone.  The title of my blog is severely outdated, I'm another year older and a few grays wiser.

In January I read a book called "The Devil and Miss Prym" by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. It's about the inhabitants of the village Viscos.  A stranger enters the town with 12 gold bars and a proposition to determine whether or not men and women are just innately evil. The proposition presented in the novel; kill one of the villagers before seven days are up to receive the good bars. It got me thinking can people truly be good or are we all evil? Interesting concept, but with what has happened lately in California, it makes me wonder.  In the last few months Orange County has been plagued with both Christopher Dorner and Ali Syed.

I don't think we are all born bad. On a bad day I've said I "have little faith in mankind." There are days that I do in fact believe my statement. However, if I was presented with this proposition, I could never do it, it's not even a temptation for me.  For the most part I'm good. As much as it pains me to say it, I'm not perfect, I make mistakes.  Being raised a Catholic and attending Catholic school for 12 years, I have to say Catholic guilt would get the better of me. The 12 gold bars wouldn't be worth the guilt I would feel later.

I wasn't completely thrilled by the ending of the "The Devil and Miss Prym".  The beginning and middle truly made me think of the importance of human life and that maybe there's hope for us yet.

Right now I'm reading The Host by Stephanie Meyer (I decided to try it even after Twilight, yuck!!).  Since most of America has already read the story, I won't give any plot information but once I am done I will review the novel.  It makes me what wonder would happen if our free will was taken away? For the record I'm not suggesting that it should, but would we be any better off?

WARNING:  "The Devil and Miss Pryn" is not for everyone! If you're not a thinker or you are a thinker but you just like to read happy novels as a form of escape, then don't read this.  This is a story about human nature.  But, because I like this type of novel, I will award it 4 out of 5 Pink Gerber Daisies. The ending was a little lackluster.

This time my quote will be a little different.  I am going to end this blog with a quote from the novel "The Devil and Miss Prym" by Paulo Coelho "The story of one person is the story of all of humanity" (Coelho 195).