Miss Maudie's Menagerie
  • Home
  • Miss Maudie (Computer)
  • Miss Anne Miller (Teaching & Writing)
  • Miss Gertrude (Grammar)
  • Miss Louise (Manners)
  • Miss Mildred (Gardening)
  • Miss Ruthagnes (Rants & Raves)
  • Miss Peggy's Blog
  • Contact Us

Kindness or Pity

5/23/2015

0 Comments

 
When a person starts to age and has developed some handicaps that come with age, it is always nice for a young person to rush to open or hold a door for that older person. I have had this happen and have thought, “How wonderful that this child’s parents have raised such a thoughtful child.” But as I have continued to age, I have experienced many such circumstances that have left me feeling “funny.” I am now uncomfortable with some actions. I am asking myself, “When does kindness become pity?”

In recent months and even days, I have had younger people rush to open a door for me and I have appreciated this since I do walk with a cane and have limited ability in my right arm. These young people were entering the same establishment and moved up to open the door “early” for me. I feel this is kindness. I also had a young woman who was standing in line behind me put a dime down for change that I needed as I was getting my change out of my wallet. At the time, I thought this was nice and thanked her. But as the day progressed I wondered if I was giving off some sort of “vibe.”

The clincher came later in that same day when a woman slightly younger than I am, paid for my haircut at the beauty shop and made the beautician promise not to tell me how much my haircut cost. The accumulation of these “events” made me question the appearance I am giving off.

Do I appear needy? Is this outpouring of kindness really kindness or is it truly pity. My pride cannot let me accept pity from people, and I am sure that there are many older people in the world who feel the same way I do.

We did not get into our present situations easily and we do not wish to accept defeat just yet. We feel competent to take care of ourselves and do not always need a “helping hand” right now. It is important for others to realize this and not impugn our dignity. I have had to ask for help and have had to swallow my pride to do so, but it was my decision.

For those of you who are kind and want to help an older person, please consider my message before rushing in to help. Sometimes, we do not want that help. We might need it at the time, but we do not actually want it. And please know that those of us who are aging rapidly appreciate your kindness – just please do not step on our dignity when giving it.

0 Comments

Hatred

5/5/2015

0 Comments

 
If you read the Old Testament in the Bible, you will find “hate” in the first book, Genesis.  Cain hated Abel, his brother, and killed him. Since the dawn of time humans have killed other humans, i.e. hated them enough to kill them. Hate is in everyone’s heart but most try to push it down and make it less powerful. Others thrive on the blood coursing through their veins right before a hateful act and follow through.

In America’s history, hate has played a major part, even though our founding fathers tried to set forth hate-less rules for us to follow. The very first “immigrants” came over to escape religious persecution (hatred) in their home country of England. Later, settlers hated the Indians and killed as many of them as they could. The Indians, also, in turn, hated the white man and followed suit. Irish immigrants came to this country to escape famine and other horrors in their home country. They were hated with a vengeance. History has revealed that the African slave was “valued’ more than an Irish man in New Orleans. When someone was needed to go into the swamp and retrieve something, the white man sent the Irish man. The Irish man was expendable.

Then, there were the Chinese immigrants who escaped death and destruction in their own country. “Americans” hated them and treated them horribly. The Native Americans are hated and they hate us in turn for all their injustices. Immigrants from the Latin American countries are hated and not welcome here in the USA. Even children who WALK thousands of miles to get here are hated because they are not Americans and we do not want to them in “our” country.And there are still some who hate anyone German because of Hitler and the world wars.

Riots take place in cities where hatred lives.  Police kill young men; young men kill police.  Everyone who feels hated wants revenge. Even though this country is full of religious people, i.e. Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, etc., their teachings of peace and love are ignored. Our country (its population) hates.

Deep in my heart I have some hatred that I fight all the time to control and push down out of my life. You probably have a little, too. The new signs of our times say things like “Black Lives Matter” and “Blue Lives Matter;” as others are killed in hatred, there will be other signs picking out individual groups who matter.  I believe, however, that “all lives matter.”  Race, religion, sexual preference, economic standing, etc. should not be the measure of someone's worth. And, we as a country, need to work on eliminating that "hatred" that we have for others who are not exactly like "us."

 

0 Comments

    Author

    I am a retired teacher and IT trainer who has travelled a bit and learned many life lessons.

    Archives

    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.