Things I've Noticed

Quick Quote on Birthdays

It's my birthday.  I'm running out of time to get older.

+ Atul

On Being Offended, Who Has A Right to Be and A Right Not To Be

Humans will always have prejudices and biases against others who are not like themselves.  It’s in our nature from infancy.  We can try to eliminate it for adults, and the situation is getting better, but it doesn’t look like it will ever go away completely.  Many recent events in the world continue to bring our differences to the forefront.  We have had unjustified shootings of blacks by police, the Rebel flag coming down at government buildings as a result of shootings at a black church, ISIS and anti-Muslim sentiment, anti-immigration feelings against Hispanics.  The internet is full of hatred and vitriol from all sides and it’s getting out of hand.  We all have opinions and the internet  and social media give each of us a worldwide soapbox.  What gets me is how people are offended for themselves, offended for others and how others think the people being talked about have no right to be offended.  I’m writing this blog post to say that taking offense is the right of the object of the conversation, not anybody else and definitely not the originator of the potentially offensive thought.