Strong Legs and a Lesson

My original plan was to write a post on a book review but then I saw something that had me change my tactics. The source too many is hated and one of the worst news sources in the world, and that is Fox News. So, what could I find from there that would have me creating a blog post? I’m sure there are a lot of ideas running in people’s heads, but I’m sure they are in most guesses wrong. The title of this post may have given an idea, but what brought me to this post is simple. Her name is Janice Dean; she is a meteorologist for Fox News and most importantly has Multiple Sclerosis.

I’ve posted many blog posts about my struggles and issues with that disease but what I saw there had me change plans for this week. You see some viewer asked Janice Dean to stop letting Fox dress her as the skirts were not flattering on her. I got to say I have not watched Fox News in sometime, and to be honest I do not watch any major news outlet. I only saw this story due to the fact she does have MS, and I got to say she handled it gracefully. The key thing she let that body shamer know that she’s proud of who she is and those strong legs. In her response she pointed out that she was diagnosed with MS about 10 years ago, and of course told the viewer if you do not like them you can turn the channel.

This got me thinking about not just those out there that suffer with MS wishing they still had strong legs that would allow them to walk, but much more. I for one am thrilled that my relapsing MS is under control and my legs still allow me to move around. I personally know others who have lost their ability to walk and now either rarely go out, or use a wheel chair.

Now, I want to get more to the point of this posting and bring up one of the best lines from Janice Dean’s response. The line was, “you can always turn the channel”. What makes this so interesting to me? It points the most logical thing a person can do if they do not like something, and that is turn the channel. I mean she’s not breaking any laws here so if they do not like it the option is to turn the channel. The option isn’t to boycott the station, call for a national boycott or even threaten her more so she changes what she wears.

I know what I said in the last sentence seems like a leap, but that is the world we now find ourselves in. If someone does not agree with a perceived way of thinking groups will threaten, boycott, or worse cases cause harm. It doesn’t matter the political stance of a person, or group, it’s the fact they want that offending person to pay for not thinking like they do. It’s an epidemic and makes me think that there are simple options to the issue. If you don’t like it then “turn the channel”. I know not all cases are so cut and dry but really is it that necessary to create hate, and loathing.

I mean here we are as adults saying we need to stop bullying in the in children but what type of example are we adults setting. We sit behind keyboards, smart phones, social media and other devices to speak of hate. We want a business put out of business, thus destroying not just an owner that may be the issue but all that work for them. We will threaten people with death threats; put up internet pictures of death or violence. We will even cut off long term friendships for a disagreement because they do not think the right way.

So I realize I’ve come a long way from Multiple Sclerosis and have gotten a connection to bullying. It however is in away fitting that these things are connected. We live in a society that pledges that we accept the differences of others, that we should be free to think as we wish. However, we instead shout down those differing views if they do not fit a specific ideological opinion. We scream and yell at others before even taking a moment to try and understand them.

To be brutally honest, to me there is one simple cause for much of this. It’s that simple thing that helps us all connect at same time divides. It’s social media as we have forgotten how to truly talk to each other. A simple message about someone’s looks can create the need for Janice Dean to respond to shame. A simple message can bring hundreds, if not thousands, down on a person for daring to think differently. It is really easy to do so much of this HATE when you are not looking into someone’s eyes. You do not see how your actions can hurt and scar a person when you are not up close and personal.

I’m going to end this post here as I hope it gets people to think. I mean when was the last time you actually sat and talked with someone? Do you talk to friends, or family, more over a messaging device over face to face or a phone? Ask yourself what kind of examples are we adults setting for children when we take everything so personally? Just stop and think on those questions. I’m hoping this post does not create hate as it’s not the cause, but who can say. I’m asking people to stop and think and I’ll add now if I see hate coming in comments they will be deleted. I’m not one to continue the cycle but asking people to think. Even better for those things you find so upsetting instead of attacking and wishing death, try telling them you love them and hope they rethink their opinion. Let love show that it can conquer the hate by turning that hate to love over hate. If I’m lucky some will read this and realize what I am saying in this long winding post.

**Note the two links in the article will take you to an opinion piece by Janice Dean, the other an article from Forbes on the dangers of lack of human interactions.