If nothing else, call it an interesting alignment of events\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, dedicated to the equality of all people, the service of others, and caring for their physical and spiritual needs. It\u2019s \u201ca day on, not a day off.\u201d As his widow, Coretta Scott King once said, \u201cThe greatest birthday gift my husband could receive is if people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds celebrated the holiday by performing individual acts of kindness through service to others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monday is also Inauguration Day, where President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in for his second term as President of the United States. The Swearing-In Ceremony is set to start at noon, with a church service beforehand, luncheon following, and multiple balls to fill out the evening. For the first time in 40 years, the ceremony will be moved inside, due to the freezing cold weather. Note, too, that Presidents Biden, Obama, Bush and Clinton will each be in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monday, too, is the College Football Playoff National Championship, the eleventh annual CFP crowning, but first under the 12 team format. It\u2019s Ohio State\u2019s Buckeyes vs. the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. OSU last won the college football championship in 2014; the Irish haven\u2019t won since 1988. Let me add a brief tangent. When former coach Brian Kelly left Notre Dame 3 years ago, leaving for the likes of LSU, he said, “I want to be in an environment where I have the resources to win a national championship.\u201d Guess our perspectives aren\u2019t always accurate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(And one more FYI, so that we omit hopefully no one, January 20th also serves as National DJ Day, National Cheese Lovers Day, and Penguin Awareness Day\u2026 go penguins, go.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Each of the above is a \u201cbig deal,\u201d so-to speak. What strikes me in their simultaneous occurrence is that we don\u2019t all react the same way to them. In fact, suffice it to say, there is a whole plethora of varied reaction to MLK Day, Inauguration Day, and the CFP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not even one of those scenarios in which pretty much 80% of us all feel the same way. Not everyone is an admirer of Dr. King; some are still grieving the election of Donald Trump; and much of the country would prefer teams other than the fortunate midwestern two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So what do we do when such a wide discrepancy of reaction exists?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s today\u2019s zillion dollar question. And it just may be one of the biggest pockets of judgment even the intelligent allow. Let me explain\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many times a person reacts differently than we. It is thus absolutely, completely valid to say in such a moment, \u201cI don\u2019t understand.\u201d A prudent, growth-mentality response would then seek to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When dismissing the prudence, we pave the way for judgment. Instead of acknowledging a lack of understanding, we leap to judgment. For example\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s no way an educated person could believe that\u2026 there\u2019s no way a humble person could cheer for them\u2026 absolutely not should she be singing at the inauguration\u2026 if she really loved her country\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Friends, it is completely ok to not understand and to not share the opinion of another. The judgment comes when we assume we know the only right response. Perhaps we don\u2019t articulate it as such, but we often add a value assessment \u2014 as in \u201cthey aren\u2019t bright, moral, objective, kind, compassionate, Christian, patriotic, you-name it.\u201d We also imply that we are all that and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sorry, but that\u2019s naive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Often judgment embeds itself within an unknown na\u00efvet\u00e9. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s be sensitive to what we know and what we don\u2019t\u2026 what reactions we share and those we don\u2019t. Some of the January 20th events are easy for some \u2014 difficult for others. Some will pay lots of attention; some will pay none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note, too, only one day after, January 21st, it\u2019s National Squirrel Appreciation Day. Can\u2019t say I share the reactions of those who are exuberant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Guess I have more to seek to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If nothing else, call it an interesting alignment of events\u2026 Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, dedicated to the equality of all people, the service of others, and caring for their physical and spiritual needs. It\u2019s \u201ca day on, not a day off.\u201d As his widow, Coretta Scott King once said, \u201cThe greatest birthday … <\/p>\n