Bullying......

The story below was written by a young lady who is very important to me.....it happened on Friday.

"Yesterday, near the end of my lunch break, I was walking back to work from a little Chinese restaurant down the street.  I wasn't paying much attention to my surroundings. I almost didn't see the huge truck coming up the hill with an equally huge blue flag sticking out off the back, proudly waving around "TRUMP: make America great again." I was just standing there, minding my own business, waiting for the light to change so I could cross the street.

Through the rumble of all the cars, I caught most of "Hey! I'd like grab ya by the pussy " and then he sped off.  I felt disgusted with myself. And so it begins... or rather, so it continues. So it worsens.

And I know I'm not the only one, and I definitely don't have the worst of it. So many people are reaping the consequences that they did not sow of having a president-elect normalize filthy behaviors. I am not an object to be yelled at, to be grabbed, or to be treated as anything other than a human being. I am disgusted by the people that do this. I am disgusted by the people who think this is okay. I am disgusted by the people who laughed when I told them about this incident. This is not okay. This not funny."

I must admit that when the election was over I wondered if bullying would hapen, would this 'fringe" part of our country feel empowered. Is this going to be the "new normal" because the president elect behaves this way, is it now "okay?"

I am sickened that this young lady was subjected to this behavior by an alleged adult.  I am sickened

the people believe they can treat another human being in this matter.  Even more troubling, a man verbally abusing a young lady. 

The most disturbing "piece of this" to me......is that she felt disgusted about herself.  Did you catch that when you read her story?  I did.  It jumped out at me.  A woman feeling that "she is something wrong."

I don't like bully's. Particularly a man abusing a women.  I have worked, in my business at empowering women for 20 years....but that's another story.

I don't care what you think.....as long as you don't insist I think that way.  You may be devoted to a religion....and I admire that.  But I don't have your religion.  I have my own.  I appreciate your strong feelings.....but please don't try to govern me with your "religious beliefs."  I don't share them.

When you point to the Bible as a reason for your feelings about lesbians, gays, queers, trans or bisexual folks I say to myself....I don't read that in the Bible.  I don't see that on the page.  I don't find that "judgement."  But, if you do....that's great, just don't try to govern me with your views.

And when you do judge me I immediately think, in that same Bible, is their not a commandment that says "judge not lest you be judged.

I noted a large evangelical population voted Republican.  I note that Mr. Trump is the farthest thing from Jesus you can possibly get.  Jesus was not a bully.  He was a Liberal pacifist.  

I note a lot of white woman voted for Mr. Trump.....and I have a lot to say about that....again....that's the next post - 

Until then, be kind to each other, grab the misfits, the dis-abled, the elderly, the ethnic and all the "strange ones" around you.....and give them a great big hug.  Bekind to each other.

And I will be doing the same - until next time - Cynthia @ MoonMaid Botanicals

Identity Theft.....

I think this "term" puts a little fear in all of us.  It is horrible. All of the trouble to replace everything, montoring your credit to make sure it does not happen again....just a big hassle.

I recently became the victim of another sort of "identity theft" in the manner of a telephone scam Targeting my elderly mother, she received a phone call from her alleged "grandson who stated he had been arrested for drunk driving.  She was visibly upset so I got on the phone.   I became upset, my sister got involved, the mother of the kid was having a very challenging day but ultimately became involved, then my brother was called and began was making plane reservations to help the kid.   And in the end, it was a scam.  It is remarkable how these folks "suck you in" and the ball is rolling before you really stop...and think.

I see now all the questions "I did not ask."  That would have nipped this thing in the bud sooner.  At the end of the hour or so it took to figure it all out......I went through a variety of very strong emotions.  This is such a good kid, how did this happen and on and on..............it was exhausting.
My mother in the end, would not have been able to wire money.....these thieves were left out in the cold.  And yet still.....it was very very upsetting.

The really beautiful picture that emerged, on the other side, is what a great family I have.  In a crisis we all bonded together.  We were making plans, sticking to our phones, changing travels so we could be together, to support each other.  It was a quite lovely.  We know we have a crazy story to share on Thanksgiving around the table.

And one bit of advice I can give from this........when an unexpected, upsetting phone call comes in, ask a lot of questions.  Make sure it is really a crisis before you jump into crisis mode.  Just a thought for your peace of mind....and my own as well.

Until next time - Cynthia @ MoonMaid Botanicals

www.moonmaidbotanicals.com