We live in an age that is constantly moving and shaking. Social media, 24-hour news, every talking head imaginable, even half-crazed bloggers slinging opinions faster than Waffle House hash browns.
That's a lot of noise. But how informative is it?
I'm guilty myself...a phenomenon that often leads me here, to hash something out for myself and maybe someone else.
Example: the latest prisoner exchange. The Taliban and the US have agreed to swap POWs. Obama is making a statement. You now have 6.34 seconds to form an opinion and voice it. And GO! What are the details? Who all is involved? What if th- TIME'S UP! Opinion, post it now!
No time for research, contemplation, or wisdom. No soul searching, no honesty, no deep thought processes. Just one knee jerk reaction after another.
Most of these reactions are based on party affiliation or some other form of group-think. I hate group-think.
So here's my challenge. You're free to challenge yourself as well. When an issue arises find the facts, take a deep breath, think it over, maybe reading it on real paper over two eggs with a side of bacon and a cup of coffee. Apply the morals, convictions and beliefs that you've developed gradually over the last few decades and arrive at an amendable conclusion - because details can change in a fast moving age. Be honest with yourself. You might even discuss it with a reasonable person of the opposite political stripe.
Most of all, take your time. It's not a race. You don't have to have an instant opinion. Everything from the latest national scandal to the next crisis at work can be negotiated wisely if we just avoid a knee jerk reaction.
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