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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo then I ask, if you hate where you live, why don\u2019t you leave that area? Let\u2019s use an example. Joe is from Mt Juliet, TN. He has been born and raised there. Joe has risen to public prominence. He\u2019s locally famous. He then begins to disagree with the way Mt. Juliet is handling their city finances, their city laws, and their public policy. After attempting to address these concerns, he realizes he is in the extreme minority on these issues. That the vast majority of the city loves the way it is being managed. The local high school football team happens to be very good. They love their city as well. So they put the city seal on their football cleats. By now, you know where I\u2019m headed. Joe says that he is offended by the city seal of Mt. Juliet. The city that he was born in. The city that he was raised in. The city that afforded him to rise to the position of public prominence. And because he got upset at the city, he\u2019s decided that the city offends him to the point of protest. Any symbol of it offends him. After winning a prestigious award, the Mayor of Mt. Juliet invites him to city hall to help celebrate his award . He declines in protest. But he doesn\u2019t move. He continues to live there. That\u2019s the part that baffles me. I\u2019m thinking, find a city that does things the way you like and move there. Problem solved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If I hated my country so bad that anything that resembled my\ncountry; the anthem, the flag, was so offensive, I think I would find a country\nI do like and move there. But that would make too much sense. We have to\ncomplicate it. Joe just stays in Mt. Juliet. Realizes his public prominence has\nrun its course, so he stirs up controversy to keep himself in the spotlight. But\nthis may not be the worst part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The worst part is that this has become a trend. Instead of just fashion, dance, food, and slang words, we\u2019re now inserting a trend of despising where you live, but not leaving. Add to that, this trend of athletes deciding not to go to the White House after being invited for accomplishing something great. Three things strike me about that. 1- Since when did it become cool to be rude? I\u2019ll just have to not be cool. 2- I\u2019m guessing these athletes think so highly of themselves that they think anyone cares whether or not they go to the White House. Like it\u2019s some cool, public statement to disrespect the leader of the free world. Yay to you. We still don’t care. And 3- If the worst president of all time were to invite me to the White House, I would gladly accept. For a few reasons. Regardless of what I think about who is in presidency, the privilege I\u2019ve had to grow up in this country makes me love and appreciate the country itself. It would be an honor, regardless of who is in that office. But why the allegiance to my country, or any area?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When football was started in America, It was a combination of rugby and \u201cassociation football\u201d; later shortened to \u201cassoc\u201d, then shortened to \u201csoc\u201d, then referred to as soccer. People in America loved both sports but wanted their own game. A game that represented what happened in the Revolutionary war. Their territory was to be defended, as it was against England. There was a pride in their geographical area. Thus began the game of football and the rivals between geographical areas. There was a sense of belonging. A sense of pride in your area. When I hear someone say Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, Hermitage, Saints, Tigers, Titans, Gallatin, these are all words that represent an area to me. A territory I identify with. Unfortunately, those of you band wagon Patriots, Warriors, Yankees and Bama fans that aren’t from there and have never stepped foot in those areas before don’t have a clue as to what i’m talking about. But it’s real, there are actually people in this country that pull for the team that represents the area they are from, regardless if they’re any good. I know, weird. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the attacks on 9\/11\/01 took place, all of the sudden,\nwe were all Americans. When helping someone, no one stopped to make sure their\npolitics lined up. No one stopped to ask if they were Christian, gay,\nrepublican, democrat, pro-life\u2026nope! They just helped\u2026 because they were\nAmericans! Yet now, we find ourselves witnessing trends where it\u2019s not cool to\nbe proud of where you\u2019re from. It\u2019s looked down on if you are patriotic. Maybe\nwe should start some new trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHow about we try this trend. How about it becomes trendy to\nsecretly buy someone\u2019s gas when you stop to get yours. How about if it becomes\ntrendy to refuse to only listen to people who agree with you and pay close\nattention to those who have a conflicting opinion and explore the possibility that\nthere are some valid points in there. What if we make it a trend to have coffee\nregularly with someone you don\u2019t agree with. Maybe it can be a trend to search\nand find the GOOD in people, instead of the opposite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The only way these actions become trendy is if we do them. \u201cFaith by itself, if it does not have works (actions), is dead.\u201d James 2:17. Can we agree to meet and talk with people who see life differently than us? Can we attempt to see the humanity in those who believe a different way works? I\u2019m not saying we agree. I\u2019m only say we listen with the goal of trying to see their point of view. For me, I\u2019m trying to understand kids theses days. I don\u2019t want to be so stuck in being right or proper that I fail to see life from their perspective. I won\u2019t be doing the running man, or sporting a mullet, but I will see someone Hit The Woah and say \u201cBET!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stay Classy GP! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grainger <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When I was in high school, I never was deep in to current trends. But I remember them. Tight rolled jeans. MC Hammer pants. Carpenter jeans. White washed jeans. Sebagos. The running man dance. When I was even younger, it was neon fat-rat shoe laces. Michael Jackson jacket. Parachute pants. I\u2019ve seen a great deal … <\/p>\n