JMO

I participate in several message boards in my state. Some are just regional and others are topical. I have begun noticing on a couple of them that every time someone makes a statement they seem to feel that they have to end that statement with " JMO" or just my opinion. Well hell of course it's their opinion and they are entitled to it. It's become some form of protection from those that would disagree with them. And since when is it not okay for someone to come right out and say what's on their mind during a discussion? And why does "JMO" make it better? Is it some form of word or thought bandaid?
I also know some of the nicest people that hide behind the anonymous nature of the internet and use these forums to bash people . Anything to argue about, topic doesn't seem to matter. They will oppose any statement just to cause conflict or attack another person. I wonder if these bugger's are so miserable in their real lives that they use the internet to work out some of their disappointment and anger. Or is it entertainment? They do it and then sit back and watch what happens.
Sometimes it seems that we can release our real personalities with the use of our keyboards. These seemingly nice people have been taught since childhood how to behave in society. Then put them in a dark corner of their home with access to the internet and by the glow of their monitors they transform into monsters, bashing and trashing everything in sight.
But back to "JMO". If I say something hurtful to another person does it hurt less if I add "JMO" at the end of my statement? If I say something stupid does it make me appear smarter? And if it's not "JMO" than who's is it and where did it come from? Shouldn't I reveal a source and state that I am in agreement?
There are a few things missing from our internet interactions. The first being politeness. You can offer up "JMO" all you want but with a little thought you can make it less threatening and hurtful by choosing your words carefully. The second is consideration. Being considerate of another should be second nature to people. Treat people how you want to be treated, on the 'net and off. So if you want someone to accept that you have a "JMO" then accept their "JMO" and don't argue about it. Giving someone something to think about is a much better way to make your position understood. We are never going to agree with everyone so why argue about it?
And thirdly, respect. Why is it so hard to respect someone that has a different view? We see the world from separate eyes and our life experiencing change our perspective as we move through our lives. Respect is earned by giving it. It's real simple. You don't have to agree with someone to show respect.
I don't know about you but I don't want to live in a cookie cutter world. I want to know what the people in my life think and believe. I may not agree with them but I do respect their right to be as they are and to think and feel however they do. I don't want anyone to feel that they have to hid behind "JMO" to have a discussion with me nor do I want to be attacked for my view.
More later!

Whiner's Don't Count

Well, this is the last entry I plan on making regarding Rita and her victims so please bear with me and we will move on to other subjects later.
I opened my blog and a blog buddy of mine created another site specifically for the people of East Texas to post their first hand accounts of the storm and their FEMA horror stories. I have had several "hits" but no responses and the other site has a grand total of 10 comments, 2 by the creator. But the whining in the area continues. No one is willing to step up and put their words in a format that will get their stories out. I don't get it....Why complain to each other....They are experiencing the same thing or have already heard your story...Tell it to people that don't know what the truth of the situation was. People out in the world do care and they want to hear what is going on here!
Has anyone considered that this may very well happen again and if you don't speak up it'll be the same thing for you or your neighbors? Why is New Orleans getting all the press? Could it be because they are speaking up and getting heard by the whole nation? Could it be that Katrina's victim's are demanding to be heard? And they aren't going to stop shouting until someone does something. Could it be that we had rather whine to each other and keep it among ourselves. Guess what people ...whiners don't count in this world....We have to take action and speak up for ourselves. So when it happens again a few of us will be a lot wiser , prepared for the worst and praying for the best. A few of us will speak up for ourselves and will keep on trying to make changes for the betterment of all. But the whiners of the world will keep on whining away and wondering why no one will listen to them.
So I'm leaving this up for a little while longer and then I will reclaim my "space" where the only bitching will be my own and the whining will be for theatrical purposes only!
Enjoy your day and remember "whiner's don't count, doer's get the job done!"

The Forgotten Storm

Today CNN did a segment with a famous artist. This artist has created a beautiful new picture to be sold to benefit hurricane victims in the Gulf Coast States. Key words "hurricane victims" and "Gulf Coast States". Isn't Texas on the Gulf Coast? Ahhhhh yeah. Didn't Texas get hit by a hurricane not too long ago? Ahhhh yeah. Weren't there hurricane victims in TEXAS? Ahhh yeah . WAS TEXAS INCLUED in this man's tribute? NO IT WAS NOT!!
Do you hear any more about Rita or the recovery going on in TEXAS? NO you don't. Does it appear that TEXAS doesn't matter? Yeah it does. WHY? I'll leave that for you to figure out 'cause I'm still working on it myself.
I wonder ...if the Houston/Galveston area had been affected as severely as their eastern and northern neighbors would the news coverage have lasted longer and been more thorough? From the Houston media maybe? Or is it because the cities and towns that were affected were smaller and more rural areas and communities were hit that the story is DEAD?
What about the people still suffering in Texas? You know , like the ones that lost their homes, their livelihoods, their loved ones. It's everyday life for them and it is certianly not old news if you are living it.
All we are hearing is how Katrina victims are rebuilding their lives and moving on. Great! I am proud for them but I am concerned for my neighbors in East Texas that can not get help and don't know where to turn. Their lives are destroyed or at least heavily damaged too. I am wondering WHY what they are going through is of any less concern to the public and WHY good American's in Texas are being forgotten in their time of need. And I wonder WHY no one is thinking about the next time ( and there will be a next time....another storm another mass evacuation ) ? What needs to be done differently? How can everything be improved from the mass exodus in the beginning through to the response time and services provided for the areas effected?
Yes... FEMA and the Red Cross are present...for all the good that seems to be doing. There seems to be no ryhme or reason to the decisions being made by these organizaions. WHY are people being refused help when their homes are too severely damaged to be lived in ? WHY are people being given checks that had no damage, didn't have a job to be displaced from, etc. ? I personally know someone that recieved the full $2000 by claiming his fathers' empty rent house as his residence. Guess what? The fool lives in an apartment in a town at least 20 miles away and does NOT live in the house he made the claim on. Besides there was NO DAMAGE TO the house in the first place. To make it even worse this same man's girlfriend got another check of the same amount because they chose to evacuate due to no power. (All they were out was gas since they went to Dallas/Fort Worth area to stay with family and guess what? They've been partying heavy since cashing in). Heaven forbid a young heathy person spend one second without A/C! (I know I am not the only one that did not have A/C growing up.. AND after Rita I lived without power for 3 days myself and survived just fine thank you for asking).

On the other hand what about the retired couple living on a very limited income whose home was completely destroyed and they have yet to hear from FEMA. Fortunately for them someone took them in until they can get on their feet. Two thousand dollars would do that for them but so far all they seem to be getting is a good work out due to the run around tactics they have been put through.

Okay so FEMA is suppose to be invistigating the claims....after they have dispursed the checks? Come on and say it with me "duh"? The money will be long gone by then and how is FEMA planning to get the money back if it's a bad claim? So what are they going to do about these false claims? Put the bastards in jail? How, when the jails are full already ? And if they do put them in jail the tax paying public gets to spend more money on these jokers? You say "Make them pay it back? " Yeah right!

Has it occurred to anyone else that these organizations are not bottomless pits of free money? The money has to come from somewhere and when they run out they'll get more from somewhere else. Three guesses as to where the money will come from and the first two don't count! What vital government programs are going to be cut to keep it all going? Is it a program that is part of your life? And who the hell does their shopping? Paying retail instead of wholesale? Excuse me .... but isn't it a point of pride to pay wholesale for every red blooded Amerian shopper?! I can't believe that one. Oh and what about the supplies that are still in storage on the East Coast? Then there's...okay...okay...

....I know I have to stop somewhere but don't you see how it goes on and on and on?

If your reading this and you are from a county that suffered from RITA and you have a personal account to share please feel free to post it here or on the FEMA blog listed above. Just make sure that it is your story . We want to be able to stand by our words if we are to make a difference. I'll reclaim my blog from time to time for my other nonsense but right now this is more important .

If your just passing through please link here or to the above site. Please help us be heard.

EAST TEXAS has been forgotten and before it happens again we need to be heard. Changes need to be made . The only way that' will happen is to do it ourselves. To do that we have to start telling anyone and eveyone that will listen our stories. This is a great format to MAKE SOME NOISE in. Get busy people and make your voices heard.

I hate to make my first tirade here so serious but to be timely I must. Everyone knows about Katrina and Rita. We see New Orleans coming back to life nightly on the news networks. What we aren't seeing and hearing about is East Texas. No it wasn't on the massive scale as Katrina. BUT there were major problems and still are.
To begin with the massive and I do mean massive evacuation of the TX GULF COAST was not the success that the powers that be want us to belive it was. People died for God's sake. Why should someone die when they evacuated to save themselves? Talk about irony.
I make the 3 hour drive to East Texas weekly. I was lucky because when I was kicked out of my county by the mandatory evcuation order it took me 7 hours. My sons followed me four hours later and it took them 17 hours. And we were the lucky ones because we left on Weds. On Thurs night the small communities along the major routes were invaded with weary, angry and frustrated people. There was NO GAS, NO FOOD, NO WATER. Knowing that the evacutuion was going to be called for WHY WEREN"T tanker trucks and supplies waiting at intervals along those routes? If a community was not the designated area for stopping for refueling or supplies BLOCK it off from the public. After the hord of travlers left the local people in the community had NO where to go for food, hurricane supplies of any kind and worst of all GAS was out all over.
Now back to the mandatory evacuaiton order.....on Weds. afternoon the schools in my county dismissed for the storm. The children brought home a letter from the county officals stating that we would be under a mandatory evacuation order and that if you stayed in the county with a child you would be arrested, charged with child endangerment and your child would be placed in CPS custody. Well I have lived here all my years and this is a new one. When I was a child and a storm was blowing up and someone left town they were sort of looked down upon. I don't have a problem leaving being a single mom , was going to anyway, but being forced to leave is another issue. What about the folks that did not have the money to go? And in my case I left, got head on into the storm, didn't have gas or supplies, and couldn't get home where the storm did not even drop any rain! What about the the people that died leaving and the storm missed their homes? I could go on and on on this subject and probably will for a while yet. But one East Texas community is starting a blog to tell their own personal stories. I think that they are the ones that you need to hear from. As soon as they have their comments going I will link to it. Please read what they have to say and pass it on.