If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all

"You know, I miss the old days when Facebook was just a means of catching up with friends, and not another platform for promoting your political and ethical views..."

I posted that sentiment on my FB wall the other day, after reading post after post asserting that all Christians hate gays, and that if you don't think Obama is the best president our nation has seen, then you're ignorant.

While I fully support the right to free speech, I have grown tired of the 'all or nothing', 'my way or the highway', 'if I talk about it enough, and shove my views down your throat repeatedly, then you'll adopt them, too' undertone of the social networking world.

As long as your sentiments play to the politically correct audience, few people dare to disagree with you in a public forum, for fear of being mislabeled and chastised as closed-minded, discriminatory, or anti-(insert appropriate acronym here).

I am tired of worrying that if I speak my mind, people will "defriend" me.  If you cannot accept the differences between your opinions and mine, then we shouldn't be friends in the first place.  After all, while I may disagree with your views, I will always respect your right to hold these views! 

The most important thing missing from social networks is RESPECT.  Where has the respect gone?  Did it disappear with the ease of a keystroke and the click of a 'submit' button?  Did it disappear with the accountability that comes with owning your words and their impact as you speak to someone face-to-face?

Generalizations affect many special-interest social groups, and they are quick to spew defensive rhetoric without noticing that they are committing the exact offense to which they have taken such offense.  STOP.  Hold yourself accountable for what you say, and for what you type.  Don't assume that religiously conservative or moderate individuals are condemning you to hell.  Don't assume that an attempt at intelligent dialogue and discussion is an attack on your personal views.

While I may only be one person, with one insignificant blog, I have made the decision to hold myself accountable for the things I post online, and to consider the impact of my words.  Can you do the same?

A Twenty-ten Recap

Wow, time for a new post, shall we?! One that doesn't have suicide in the first sentence? Yes, that would be nice. (Let's overlook the fact that the second sentence of *this* post contains *that* word ;) )

SO MANY GREAT THINGS have happened to me, for me, with me since my last post. I'm all about itemized lists these days, so without further ado...

1) Chip proposed! Yay!


















2) We (er, I) planned our wedding...more on that later. Suffice to say, weddings are a LABOR of LOVE. There is a reason why I'll only get married once.
























3) Chip and I GOT MARRIED! Hallelujah! :)

















4) In the middle of the wedding blitz, we moved from Georgia back to North Carolina. The good Lord knew what he was doing when he made me a sweet southern girl from Carolina. And not south Georgia. Our time in GA gave new meaning to James Taylor's Carolina In My Mind, as we constantly yearned for home and everything truly southern. We were blessed to have met some genuinely awesome people who will be our life-long best friends. So, GA wasn't a complete bust.



5) Chip was a first-time "go" through Ranger School. My man IS a Ranger. Who would have thought so much pride and heart would be exerted for such a tiny black and yellow tab? No joke, guys, that achievement is NO JOKE.



6) I am working out. EVERY DAY. (no picture, yet)

...Pause for you to catch your breath from surprise, or from laughing yourself silly....

Yes, friends, becoming a married woman has brought along countless benefits, including being married to a once-certified personal trainer. The fact that he can run 6 miles at a sustained 6 min/mile pace scares me a little, but he's a great workout buddy. While I lift my lil' ol' 20 pound weights, he's huffing and puffing and throwing 75'ers over his head, but makes me feel like I'm the buffest chick around. Awwww :)



7) I am starting my own business. SHHH. I'm not ready to publicize the details, but I'm really excited about what's in store ;) Hopefully, within the next month, everything will be legit, and you'll have more than enough fodder to peruse.



Great things happen every day, but that's the 2010 recap!
Happy 2011, and here's to refusing to remain stagnant this year :)