Occasionally, I’ll see news blurb about something, or I’ll hear someone talking about this or that, and I’ll think, “Nah, that’s not a thing.” Here are some examples of this, which I hope will better explain the idea I’m trying to communicate.
King of the United States
King of the United States is not a thing. No matter what the Putin-loving, criminal scumbag currently and shamefully residing in the White House thinks. And no matter what a corrupt Supreme Court thinks, either.
I understand why Liberals, or Progressives, or whatever label is being used these days, are up in arms about the behavior of the Criminal-in-Chief. I do not understand why so-called “conservative” Republicans are not up in arms over his behavior.
Here’s just one example. There were a few times when Barack Obama issued an Executive Order, because Congress wouldn’t act on one thing or another. And Republicans had their undies in a twist about it. Unconstitutional, they said. An abuse of power, they said. Grounds for impeachment, they said. Of course, if Obama sneezed, Republicans got their undies in a twist.
Now look what’s going on. It is government by Executive Order. Is Congress actually doing anything? I guess Executive Orders are a-okay as long as your guy is doing it. Come on, Republicans, either it’s right or wrong. Doesn’t wearing all that hypocrisy get itchy after a while?
Aren’t Republicans supposed to be, like, for protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States? The rule of law? Reducing the national debt? Fighting Communism? Family values? Against dictators and for freedom around the world? My, how things have changed.
Let’s face it, Republicans, the insurrectionist you voted for does not give a rat’s ass about any of those questions. Real Barry Goldwater-John McCain Republican conservatives who love America, would never support an addlebrained president who has added trillions to the national debt, and has disparaged veterans who gave their lives for this country. And, real conservatives would never support a convicted felon who could not care less about the Constitution, and thinks of himself as King of America.
Lucky Socks
Lucky socks are not a thing. And there are no lucky shirts or any other pieces of clothing. If your favorite sports team is on a winning streak, it has nothing to do with the fact you haven’t changed your team-branded underwear for the two weeks the streak has lasted.
Whether one’s luck is good or bad is not affected by articles of clothing, or certain rituals, or mantras, or wishing upon a falling star, or four leaf clovers, or a rabbit’s foot, or any other magical talisman. Nor are there such things as curses or hexes or jinxes.
Being struck and killed by a piece of space junk would certainly be unlucky, however it would have nothing to do with any lucky charms the unfortunate victim did not carry that day. And it would not have mattered to which god the victim prayed, or even if the victim prayed at all. Shit happens, as the saying goes. Bad things happen to good people all the time. Lucky socks aren’t going to do anything.
Wealth as an Indicator of Goodness
Wealth as an indicator of goodness is not a thing. How many examples are needed? Just look at all the money hogs who are part of the current administration. Not much in the way of goodness in that bunch. They are all about becoming more wealthy and powerful. I guess not all administration members are billionaires, but they seem to be a group who values wealth, and the power wealth brings. For themselves, of course. The rest of us can go to hell.
Fame as an Indicator of Intelligence
Fame as an indicator of intelligence is not a thing. How many examples are needed? Just look at all the fame hogs who are part of the current administration. Not much in the way of intelligence in that bunch. They are all about becoming more famous and powerful. I guess not all administration members are famous, but they seem to be a group who values celebrity, and the power celebrity brings. For themselves, of course. The rest of us can go to hell.
Sports Stars Were Better in the Old Days
The theory that sports stars were better in the old days is not a thing. This attitude seems most prevalent among old-timers when discussing baseball and boxing. They believe athletes of way back when remain unmatched by today’s stars. Babe Ruth and Joe Louis were certainly great in their day, however, in any sport where performance can be objectively measured, today’s athletes are vastly superior to any who came before them.
Look no further than track and field. Today’s track stars run faster and jump higher than ever before. This is indisputable. The clock and the tape measure do not lie. Today’s athletes are bigger, faster, and stronger than their counterparts of yesteryear. It is simply a fact.
However, that is not to say all-time greats like Jesse Owens, Babe Ruth, and Joe Louis would not be great today. With the benefit of modern advanced training methods and the vast improvements in nutrition and taking care of one’s body, it is my firm belief that star athletes of long ago would be star athletes today. Jesse Owens would be a blur on the track, Babe Ruth would be smashing home runs, and Joe Louis would be knocking guys out.
Comparing athletes from different eras is pointless.
Considering Oneself Righteous After Voting For a Criminal
Considering oneself righteous after voting for a criminal is not a thing. What kind of thought process goes into casting a vote for a felon?
Let me be clear, though. I voted for the correct candidate in the last election, but that fact alone does not automatically make me above reproach. I have various character flaws and personality quirks that make it painfully obvious I am far from perfect.
However, in the Presidential election scenario, I was on the side of what is right. No matter how it was rationalized, a vote for the Orange Turd was a vote in favor of: sexual assault, illegally falsifying business records to hide an affair with a porn star, dodging the draft with five deferments to get out of going to Vietnam, believing military cemeteries are filled with suckers and losers, and lying like other people breathe. People who cast their votes for such a narcissistic sex offender had their reasons, I guess. Those voters are not entitled to think of themselves as being on the side of the righteous, though.
Unconditional Love
Unconditional love is not a thing. Well, okay, maybe it is a thing in romance novels or movies. But not in real life. For example, if I were mentally and physically abusive toward my wife, should I expect to continue receiving her unconditional love? Not hardly.
And, if I were to find out that my wife has been putting rat poison in my tea and planning to run off with the studly neighbor down the street, I would not be saying, “No matter what you do, Dear, I will always love you.”
Love is wonderful, but it comes with conditions attached. It has to. Most folks value qualities like respect, kindness, generosity, equality, fidelity, and joy, among others. The conditions are unique to the individuals involved.
Love is conditional on the commitment to work on it, to help it thrive and grow. And, we have to learn how to adapt to inevitable changes. Love is not going to last otherwise.
An Untrainable Dog
An untrainable dog is not a thing. I started to think about this again when Kristi Noem crawled out from under whatever rock she was living, to become the Secretary of Homeland Security in the Convicted Felon’s Cabinet. For those who had forgotten her, good for you. For the rest of us, we remember her very clearly for boasting about executing a puppy for doing puppy things. She couldn’t be bothered to either train the dog herself or have a professional do it for her. She claimed the dog was untrainable. So, she killed it. Then she was stupid enough to brag about it in a book.
People who have worked with dogs have said there is no such thing as an untrainable dog. Some take more effort than others, but eventually they’ll learn what pleases us. Which is all they want to do.
As for Kristi Noem, I wish she would crawl back under her rock and leave us the hell alone.
That I Have It All Figured Out
That I have it all figured out is not a thing. Not even close to being a thing. In fact, a case could be made that this thing I’ve written is the opposite of being a thing. My only advice is, figure out what is a thing and what is not a thing for yourself.
And, be wary of things you read online.
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I hear you LOUD & CLEAR. It's hard to 'stand up' when you'd rather hide sometimes. My bad habit is go to the pub a couple of times a week, where life appears normal, and have a couple libations. It's temporary, but even that helps. Sports help, if my team is winning, or at least I am watching a good contest. Going outdoors helps, but sometimes that's when I think too much and thinking too much is reality and that stinks. Stay in your best bubble. Try to not get too involved in news or between your own ears. That is only 6", as my mom always said and it only lives in our head if we let it. Keep the demons out. Stay close to your loved ones....I highly recommend your animals. Get a horse and spend lots of time in the stable grooming it...or take lots of rides. Take care of your own health. Don't let them get under your skin. I keep telling myself, they aren't worth it. Don't give them control of who you are or want to be. Stay within yourself.
Hi Norm,
I really enjoyed this post. It's funny how we as humans think we can influence the outcome of things by doing certain rituals. I think this is part of our primitive brain that makes us human. The rituals of humans goes back to the beginning of time. I think we have to feel we have control of our circumstances, so we invent rituals we think can influence the fate. Now that you've pointed out the obvious, it's nonsensical but it is a very human thing to do.
As for people voting for a felon and believing his is the second coming of Jesus, well....that's a whole other ballgame. There are some connections between being religious and being sheep. In religion, they tell you you have to do a "leap of faith". In other words, don't question it, just accept it to be true. Trump tells his followers the same thing- Don't believe the Press, they are all lying to you. Don't believe the court system, these charges against me are rigged, and so on. People want to believe what they want to believe, regardless of the cold hard facts staring them in the face.
For example, look at how many MAGAs lost 1000s of dollars when Trump crashed the Stock Market, yet they are still fully behind Trump's insanity and are saying it's a good thing. And that's exactly what all of this is, insanity.
And Kristi Neom, yeah, I can't stand that Cosplay Barbie. There's a special place in hell for her for killing that puppy. I hope when all of this turns around they ship her to that El Salvadorian prison. That way she won't have to Cosplay wearing a prison uniform. It will be the real deal.