There’s been more than a little angst as ammunition tossed about recently. Nationally we hear it in the sequester talk, which at last look had morphed into assurances we will have children being forced out of their orphanage in the middle of a blizzard just in time to see sacks of puppies and kittens being thrown into the river if we don’t agree to continue spending money we don’t have on government employees we don’t need to carry out “services” we don’t want. Meanwhile, in social media land it’s battle plans and detailed counterplots galore as everybody is seemingly in a family feud with at least five other people and/or groups. Blood may be thicker than water (and a whole lot harder to clean up when spilled), but butthurt lords over all.

Meanwhile, I saw a note on Facebook today from a high school buddy that his older brother had died.

It’s interesting to note where priorities lie for people. I clearly recall after my brother passed away unexpectedly last year feeling not a little anger toward those too self-preoccupied to express condolences even after having been directly notified about what was happening. I also heard from more than a few conservative new media types that I needed to “get over it” and was grieving far too much whenever I mentioned this. Such individuals make this whole forgiveness thing quite the challenge, but it’s a work in progress.

Those who have tasted the unfortunate fellowship’s bitter communion wine lean heavily toward viewing the assorted raging on Twitter and elsewhere as so much pansy-ass piffle, rejecting all efforts to be drawn into same with a dismissive sidelong glance. What are people fighting about, why are they fighting and does it make one iota of difference for anyone or anything? We have a government, insanely out of control, seeking to direct us in all things down to the minutia of our lives, unsustainable debt, crushing taxes, openly encouraged class warfare… and people preparing for funerals even as others hurl f-bombs at each other because Johnny and Jimmy and Susie and Sally can’t be on the same social media playground without someone saying something to someone else, after which another someone else jumps in and then it’s free for all time.

Do we ever listen to ourselves? Do we hear the profanity and slander? Are we so absorbed in our self-righteousness and unmovable belief in our being utterly correct, convinced that all must yield to our whim and will lest they be considered a fool, that any deviation from our designed line to toe makes that person who dares to do so a deviant of the lowest order? Is every everything breathed against us such a savage blow that it requires rounding up our posse to mount a full-blooded (emphasis on blood) retaliatory strike? Are we that thin-skinned yet certain of our wishes and ways being sacrosanct? When did we decide to flush the Golden Rule like it was a dead goldfish?

Stop. Just stop. Get priorities in order: faith, family, friends.

Cures butthurt every time.

P.S. If we insist on having a free for all, at least let’s make it a rockin’ one…