What does it mean?

Ever notice how two people can read the same book or see the same movie and come away with different perspectives? What does this mean? Are we snowflakes, each unique, and thus our perspectives unique. Or are we all the same with the ability to see things differently? Police say eye witness accounts are not reliable because each witness often provides a different description of the perspective. I reckon we are all shaped by our life experiences and this is what brings forth different perspectives. Some people prefer strawberry jam and others only like grape. Both jams are tasty and serve their complimentary purpose with peanut butter; yet a fan of strawberry jam seldom will give good ole' grape a try. As we are shaped from our experiences, do we then experience the same events differently? My sisters often say I only remember the good stuff. Isn't that the point? Why would I bother to remember the bad stuff? Remembering the bad stuff will not change the bad stuff - I imagine it will only create a bad perspective for me as I view all that I live today. So my rose colored glasses serve a useful purpose. Perhaps, the differences in perspective is no more evident when it comes to politics and the religion. Those who hold a political or religious ideology are not easy to persuade differently. Should never talk politics or religion with those who you wish to remain friends. Countrymen have been fighting thousands of years over political and religious differences - funny, how the US government gets involved in these situations - why would we believe we could change what has been set in place and lived by for thousands of years. If a person is willing to strap bombs to their body, knowing a successful outcome brings about their own death - well, I don't believe this person is likely to say; "Oh, the US has it all figured out for me." In reviewing the world's perspective on the US foreign policy one often hears it is the American arrogance which is most resented. As US citizens we believe we live in the best country in the world. Nothing wrong with that - however, believing that everyone else should live by our code, this is arrogance. It is the diversity of the US population which gives it is strength. It is written in our constitution. Kind of ironic, a country founded on religious freedom and political diversity could have developed into this mono theological ego driven capitalist country. We are not better than anyone. Heck it took us thousands of years to get this far and we have a long way to go. The gap between the haves and the have nots grows wider every day. The middle class is practically invisible. Those who work and work and work, just for a home and a few dollars to send their children to college, see this simple dream evaporate with the greed of others, each day, taking yet another piece of the puzzle. At Wimbledon there was a match which lasted some 11 hours - two days later one of the players was just so exhausted he could not find the strength to play his next match with any intensity. In his post match interview he said he wanted to get away from all things tennis. Tennis is his job. He worked one 11 hour day and now he needs a break. Tell that to the mom who works two jobs for 16 hours a day 6 days a week - I reckon she would like a break from all things; she only makes minimum wage, and still can't pay all the bills. This spoiled athlete wants to go fishing because he worked one 11 hour day. This is the arrogance that annoys me. The nerve of this spoiled man - And Michael Vick's 30th birthday party ended with a shooting. One of his dog fighting buddies was shot - Vick was not there at the time. News reports haven't really let us know if he was at the birthday party at all - He should not have been as his probation forbids contact with any of his dog fighting buddies. If Vick was there, and I hope he wasn't - what a fool - this is the arrogance which brings forth the disdain of others. We give way too much power to athletes and actors or other celebrities. We allow them to influence what we eat, buy, wear, where we vacation - how silly is that? What do these people have? Do they posses some insight the rest of us are not capable of finding - NO! They no nothing of the business of real life as we do - by we I mean the 9 - 5'ers, living paycheck to paycheck - $20,000 in credit card debt and not end in sight. Go ahead and get what you can every person has that right. If you are talented and can use that talent to make a living then you are fortunate - your acting talent does not give you political genius, or religious superiority - act, read your lines, play your role - but keep it real. Some famous people use their fame for good. Most of this the time we don't hear about their good work because they don't want us to. That is cool. Giving should not happen with microphones and television cameras all around. I understand the publicity machine. I understand the need for getting good press. It will help book sales, or box office receipts, but seriously - keep it real people. I don't walk a mile in anyone Else's shoes, so I really try to keep my judgement of others to a minimum, sometimes though a spoiled athlete or actor, they bother me. It bothers me when an athlete, in a post win interview, gives all praise and thanks to God. Good for them for their faith, and whatever peace and strength that faith brings them - however, look around you brother - I think God is busy with things greater than the field goal you kicked to win the Super Bowl. We need to open our hearts and minds to one another. We should look for opportunities which bring us closer; Fear separates. All the fear mongering put out by the government and perpetuated by the news media - it is meant to keep us separate and keep us weak. What would happen if we the people rejected this fear mongering? What power we could yield if we said; "The color of skin, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, political ideology, will not divide us." The we the people would hold all the cards and our government would have to work for us. As it is now we work for them - there is something wrong with that. I think it is supposed to be the other way around.
Differences in perspective, in beliefs, in ideologies - these are our strengths - What does it mean? Heck, I don't know. We are imperfect beings living in an imperfect world, but we can do better. We can make things better! We could help one another. Children should not be starving or dying from malaria, not anywhere in this world. The elderly should not die alone, forgotten. If someone chooses to drop off the grid that is their right. Why don't we take care of our veterans. Why do they have to fight for every tiny benefit? Where is our respect for their service? And why does toothpaste cost so much? Milk? Bread? A box of cereal costs $5.00. That is crazy! In college I lived on Mac and cheese, it was 4 boxes for a dollar. Now it is over a dollar a box. What do college kids eat?