“We need to give serious consideration to the fragility of democracy and less to our annoyances (like gas prices and masks).”
~Pam, on Facebook~
I don’t know who Pam is, but she put into words what I have been feeling long before Russia invaded Ukraine.
As citizens who live in democracies with many freedoms and opportunities, we sure do whine a lot about our inconveniences.
About masks and vaccines; rising gas prices; the cost of living; the lack of customer service because businesses can’t keep and hire employees; the grocery store item that’s been unavailable due to supply chain issues; the neighbor that doesn’t cut their grass to our standard; the home appliance that died; the boss that insists we do our work; the hangnail that requires a band-aid because it huuuurts. Wah.
I do not intend to diminish the pain of people around the world that are struggling with their finances, keeping a roof over their heads and struggling to feed their family, or are grieving because they have lost too many friends and family members to Covid, disease, violence, etc. Their pain is real.
What irritates me most are the abused terms of “freedom” and “rights” when none of the struggles I mentioned above have an impact on an individual’s life; when people sit in their fancy trucks or nice homes and don’t struggle to live, but complain about having to do something that would benefit their friends, family, and the rest of humanity because of their own inconvenience or resistance.
I feel especially grouchy considering what is happening in Ukraine, when families are being split apart and democracy is being threatened for no reason other than the egotistical and power-driven madness of Putin, who most likely wants the financial profits this country will give him. The people of Ukraine are truly suffering at this point. They would like nothing more than to be in their homes, paying $4.00 (U.S. dollars) per gallon of gas, which is about 120 hryvnia in Ukraine. As everyday citizens put down their regular lives and take up arms and Molotov cocktails, the people of Ukraine would certainly be willing to vaccinate and wear masks if it meant peace and a return to the kind of life that many of us lead. They would be willing to do anything and not whine about it.
The people of Ukraine are proud, determined and resilient. They make me hopeful that the tide will turn and democracy will prevail. They are a shining example of courage and what democracy should mean to all of us.
Ukraine has only felt democracy for 30 years. It is new to them and they don’t take it for granted. Let us not take our democracy for granted as well. As most of the world stands with Ukraine, let us stand in our own communities and countries for democracy and the common good of all, no matter the personal annoyance.
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Mary J Melange 
Thanks for this thought provoking post, Mary. I agree with you . The thing that drives me crazy is when people compare minor inconveniences to the Holocaust and other true acts of horror that no one who wasn’t there can even imagine. Wearing a mask while on a plane to your vacation equates to that?
Thanks for your courage in speaking up.
You’re welcome, Dan. I know I have been guilty about whining over the inconveniences of life, but I could never compare them to the current situation in Ukraine or the Holocaust. That would constitute a serious lack of empathy and respect for others. And that is my point, that getting a vaccine isn’t even close to being as horrible as war.
Few in our generation have experienced the struggles our parents and our grandparents fought to overcome. We have had it too good for too long. We have lost the ability to empathize. Common sense we used to have? I think it died. Excellent post!
Yes, Pam, common sense has appeared to left the planet in many cases. As I was watching a western on TV last week with a friend, I commented about how rough our early pioneers had it compared to the ease and luxuries of our life, which too many take for granted. I wonder how the protesting truckers would feel about medicine if they had to live in the late 1800’s when there were no antibiotics and surgery was still crude. I love the fighting spirit of the Ukranians and hope that somehow they can repel the Russians and keep their freedom.
Yes indeed there is enough real evil and trauma in the world . But masks and vacines do matter to me. I hold my tongue because there are so many wars and so much suffering all over the world. Most of the better off seem to winge about stupid things. I pray I never see an enemy tank drive past my window. 💜💜
Exactly, Willow…there is suffering in the world greater than anything you and I have experienced. Wars, disease, poverty, etc. With the Ukraine situation, I hope it inspires people to put down the whining and be grateful for what they have and a war they don’t have to face.
It’s so galling isn’t Mary. People moan about such banal things then smilingly call them First world problems.
I dare not say too much ….💜
I’m getting close to saying too much of what’s on my mind these days…out of anger and disappointment. But I try to sit on my hands for awhile and then speak respectfully. It’s been difficult.
Yes it has, I have been posting about the Ukraine as I feel so I sensed about what Putin has done. I have also railed against all the other wars happening past and present. So many people stick their fingers in their ears and hum !
Thank you for articulating what I, too, have been thinking for a long time. Democracy has always had the potential of being a fragile element in life on this planet. We see how swiftly it can be usurped with the power of the war machine. All the minor inconveniences are just that. I have experienced the same things my neighbors have, but I am not fleeing with my grandchildren in my arms trying to keep them safe or saying goodbye to family I will most likely never see again. I am so thankful for all that I still have the good fortune to receive. And I grieve for those in the midst of a country across the globe who would give anything for my minor inconveniences rather than war in their streets. Thank you, Mary.
Maggie, your words are honest and sincere and I thank you for reiterating my message. I have very little sympathy for those who whine about nothing and I think of the times when my life was a mess and that still does not compare to what Ukranians face or many other people around the world face in their daily lives. I hope democracy prevails and perhaps this is our “wake-up call” to ensure that it does.
I share your hope, Mary.
Brilliant post! I agree with you whole heartedly!
Thank you…Democracy and gratitude in numbers!
Well said!
Sent from my iPhone
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Thank you!
An excellent post. I hope you don’t mind that I reblogged it.
Not at all. Thank you for sharing!
I am annoyed, maybe leaning more toward ticked off with people who are nothing but whiners. There are inconveniences in life and there are real problems. Wearing a mask, inconvenience. Sovereign nation being attacked by despot, problem.
And yet, the pillow guy is still whining on TV about how hard his life is because too many of us don’t like him when he’s still trying to tell a lie about an election. The commercials are an inconvenience (I have to mute them), but his words are not what people say in a democracy.
Way to express your thoughts, Mary. I hope you felt better being able to share what is on your mind. This pandemic has caused me to pause many times and look to others in empathy. IMHO the underlying reason we all feel as though we do (whatever side we chose to believe in) is due to the information being fed to us non-stop on social media or in the news. I have listened openly to more than that and have found what we see in the MSM isn’t always what is happening. Where did we get such confidence in the media? Where did that go awry? What remains for us to evaluate with discernment, regardless of what we each individually believe in, is that our first amendment right is there for us so we can share our thoughts in our personal blogs or with others for purposes of learning from each other. My heart is in prayer for all of us to make it through this digital warfare.
Stay warm – spring is on the way and I hope your bike is ready to hit the road!! xoxo
Biking is coming soon, Shelley, as soon as the trails are clear and I get the bike in for a tune-up.
I pray every day for Ukraine and discernment in our own country. Media has become such a huge beast, but I keep hoping the people are able to sift through it all and understand what is truth and common sense.
🚵🏻♀️🚲😍
Yay for prayers and discernment! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Very well said, Mary. The citizens of Ukraine have taken up arms to defend democracy. Yet, those in other countries who bleat loudest that this is why they need guns seem to more often take them up to destroy democracy.
That is so true. Guns seem to be more important to people these days than life, especially in the U.S. I will never understand that thought process.