FYI read this too

Recently one of my blog readers felt put off by something I wrote in a post and told me unless I changed it they would “unfollow” my blog.  I guess that person didn’t read the last paragraph of the “FYI read this” page.  So I decided to write this “FYI read this too” page.

There is the story of a man going to the doctor.  He tells the doctor; “My arm hurts when I move it like this.”  The doctor says; “Then don’t move your arm like that.”  So if what I say on my blog offends you or does not agree with you simply don’t read my blog.  I have opinions the same as anyone else and since this is my blog those opinions are going to show up in my posts.  I do try my best to stay neutral in things political, religious, or controversial but sometimes it just slips out.  I’m human.  Your personal opinion comments are welcome as long as they are courteous and not inflammatory.

If you are vegan and offended by posts about eating meat, don’t read.  If you are rich and offended by posts about the haves and have not, don’t read.  If you are young and offended by posts about being old, don’t read.  My opinions are just that… MY opinions.  You don’t have to agree or disagree with me.  You are free to read or not read.  Follow or not follow.  But, I do have the right to have thoughts.  People, especially women,  living in other countries don’t have that kind of freedom.  In some places just the mere rumor of a woman expressing a personal opinion can get her killed.  Like, for example, Malala Yousafzai, the young Muslim girl who was shot for stating her opinion that girls should be educated.

My blog is about me.  A little old lady trying to survive living in poverty in a land of plenty.  If you believe I visit food banks because I like standing in long lines to accept food charity you’d be wrong.  If you think I walk around my house in four layers of clothes in the winter afraid to turn on the furnace because I like being cold you’d be wrong.  If you believe I walk in the rain with 15 year old tennis shoes because I like wet feet you’d be wrong.  If you think I walk almost seven blocks to a bus stop because I don’t like owning a car you’d be wrong.  If you believe I wanted to spend my meager savings on a heated mattress pad instead of buying something frivolous for my grandkids you’d be wrong.  If you believe I like knowing I’ll have to work for the rest of my life without ever being retired you’d be wrong.  If you think I get any public financial assistance like rent subsidies or food stamps or medicaid you’d be wrong.  Eighty years after FD Roosevelt started the WPA (work project) and fifty years after LB Johnson started the war on poverty there are still people living in poverty.  I’m pretty sure there are lots more people living in poverty writing blogs or tweets or whatever the heck is popular these days than me.

What I believe is that without up; there can be no down.  Without poverty; there can be no wealthy.  Without ugly; there can be no beauty.  Without fat; there can be no thin.  Without right; there can be no left.  Without wars; there can be no peace.  Without losers; there can be no winners.  Without night; there can be no day.  Without diversity; there can be no unity.  Without opinions; there can be no discussion.  If everyone thought the same, looked the same, talked the same, had the same finances, and shared the same view how would we tell each other apart?  We wouldn’t be individuals anymore we’d be part of a collective like the star trek borg.  Well anyway, that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.  If you read and enjoy the stories I write of my struggles to survive I thank you.  If you don’t like what I write….. don’t read.