Interesting week... pretty eye opening too... if I didn't actually know what side of the political spectrum (or belief system) I'd lean last week... I'd certainly know now. Social experiment...
I sell Jam, Breads, Sauces & Goodies, mainly. Hence the name Mainely JamZ... however, I was given the opportunity to make some extra cash in these hard times, so I accepted the challenge. And what a challenge it was...
I began selling Trump 2024 flags on Wednesday, at the flea market, where I also set up to sell jams & stuff. I knew that there'd be some unhappy people and I'd probably lose a few regular customers. Honestly, I am okay with that... and not for the reason most would assume.
I am NOT a republican, nor am I democrat. I am NOT a liberal, nor am I a conservative. I am a Christian and my one desire is to be like JESUS The CHRIST. HE was liberal on some issues and conservative on other issues. I do my best to emulate that as I attempt to follow HIM.
I've seen, and heard, some extremely nasty, ignorant, vile and rude comments & gestures this last 5 days... and it breaks my heart!
My 1st day began with a few horn toots and thumbs up... then a few middle finger gestures... then I heard "F#@! Trump", "F#@! You" and was told where I could put the Trump flags... among much more.
Let's make this clear... when I drive down the street and see something that I do not agree with or something that I strongly dislike I never get the urge to scream, yell, flip anyone off, cuss at people or do any damage to anyone else's property. I'm just not interested in getting that worked up over what someone else thinks, feels or believes. It doesn't make sense to me.
One of my regular Jam customers felt the need to stop only to tell me she wasn't stopping to buy my Jam ever again. I kindly let her know that she didn't NEED to stop and tell me that, she could've just kept on driving and not stopped. Sad day when your thoughts and feelings cause you to walk in ignorance and emotional turmoil.
One woman exhausted herself just trying to manually roll her window down and she was so red in the face that I felt sorry for her as she yelled to suggest a dark place I could shove those flags.
One man gave me a thumbs down and then the middle finger. He then stopped at the post office so I went and asked him why he felt the need to flip me off. He told me it was because of the Trump flags. I explained to him that I also sell NFL Leaf Bags but people who hate football don't cuss me, and how those who think sugar is evil don't flip me off for making & selling jam. He actually apologized for his gesture but not his feelings for Trump. That was fine, he is entitled to think or feel however he wants, but he doesn't have the right to force someone else into his beliefs.
One woman stopped to yell at me and couldn't even say the name Trump, but had no issue calling him a "pig" along with some other colorful obscene words. When I asked her if she could say the name of JESUS The CHRIST she almost had a conniption and jumped in her car to speed off. Go figure.
I was even cussed at by actual conservatives that just don't like Trump. They yelled, "F#@! You, F#@! TRUMP! DESANTIS ALL THE WAY BABY!!" Seriously folks? Even those on the same side of the political spectrum as Trump want to be emotionally driven enough to act out in such an ignorant manner?!!?!??
We, as human beings, must do better. I do not care what you think or feel about politics, religion or marshmallow fluff! What I care about is that you treat me with the same respect and dignity that I treat you with. I have friends that do not agree with me on MANY issues & topics, but they don’t cuss me out, argue with me or want to attack me. We respectfully agree to disagree.
But I also had some adverse reactions to those who were actually buying Trump flags. It seemed a lot of them were only buying the flags to “piss someone off” or to “upset the neighbors.” And while that is their right, it just seemed kinda sad to me that very few just said they wanted to support their candidate but instead just wanted to “poke the bear”. Not really as different as the "other" responses I received if you think about it.
That being said, I did meet some amazing human beings this week, and had some amazing conversations. I was able to bring my own personal life knowledge & experience on many areas into the mix as a result of these wonderful chats. It was so nice to embrace others as they embraced me, respectfully and with integrity.
One couple stopped to buy jam and bread, they even had a Biden/Harris bumper sticker on their vehicle and never once looked at or commented on the Trump flags. One woman told me she leans democrat but is going to buy her boyfriend a Trump flag because he is a Trump fan... THAT really was amazing because she actually asked me about my own views and was surprised to hear that I was NOT a “Trumper” (as they say) but that I just weigh the dangers and wickedness of each candidate running and do my very best to vote for the lesser of the two evils. Because they are ALL corrupt! None are Righteous but The LORD, GOD Almighty. Amen!!
So... I was fascinated when I was able to have some meaningful conversations, but also heartbroken when people failed to be kind, considerate or respectful of others’ viewpoints. I once lived in the darkness of addiction and crime as well as transgenderism, and I can relate to ALL SIDES of the political spectrum, but I can no longer agree with all sides because I now follow the One, True Living GOD instead of the one (god) I created in my head that told me “anything goes” or that I can do what I want, how I want, with who I want without repercussion.
I do my best to be like The CHRIST in Word, Deed and Action... to everyone! I Love people... ALL people. I am not a “Bible thumper” nor do I ever push anyone to believe something just because I do. I represent HIM as best I can and allow HIS Holy Spirit to do what HE do! HE doesn’t need my help in touching hearts and/or minds. I walk it out as best I can, and when I fail, I am reminded of my own redemption through HIM. I try to leave politics and religion at the door, regardless of my own beliefs.
Let's respect our fellow human beings. If we claim to be accepting or "inclusive" then let us include those who do not agree with us as well. If we know what grief and oppression look like from our own past experiences, then let us not give in to our thoughts & feelings that would cause us to oppress anyone else's thoughts or feelings that they're entitled to. We all have rights... but we also have obligations to respect and care for our fellow human beings.
Ignorance is not bliss, it is bondage. Walmart sells Trump flags too, are you all going to stop shopping there? Let's get over ourselves and do better.
I sell Jam, Breads, Sauces & Goodies, mainly. Hence the name Mainely JamZ... however, I was given the opportunity to make some extra cash in these hard times, so I accepted the challenge. And what a challenge it was...
I began selling Trump 2024 flags on Wednesday, at the flea market, where I also set up to sell jams & stuff. I knew that there'd be some unhappy people and I'd probably lose a few regular customers. Honestly, I am okay with that... and not for the reason most would assume.
I am NOT a republican, nor am I democrat. I am NOT a liberal, nor am I a conservative. I am a Christian and my one desire is to be like JESUS The CHRIST. HE was liberal on some issues and conservative on other issues. I do my best to emulate that as I attempt to follow HIM.
I've seen, and heard, some extremely nasty, ignorant, vile and rude comments & gestures this last 5 days... and it breaks my heart!
My 1st day began with a few horn toots and thumbs up... then a few middle finger gestures... then I heard "F#@! Trump", "F#@! You" and was told where I could put the Trump flags... among much more.
Let's make this clear... when I drive down the street and see something that I do not agree with or something that I strongly dislike I never get the urge to scream, yell, flip anyone off, cuss at people or do any damage to anyone else's property. I'm just not interested in getting that worked up over what someone else thinks, feels or believes. It doesn't make sense to me.
One of my regular Jam customers felt the need to stop only to tell me she wasn't stopping to buy my Jam ever again. I kindly let her know that she didn't NEED to stop and tell me that, she could've just kept on driving and not stopped. Sad day when your thoughts and feelings cause you to walk in ignorance and emotional turmoil.
One woman exhausted herself just trying to manually roll her window down and she was so red in the face that I felt sorry for her as she yelled to suggest a dark place I could shove those flags.
One man gave me a thumbs down and then the middle finger. He then stopped at the post office so I went and asked him why he felt the need to flip me off. He told me it was because of the Trump flags. I explained to him that I also sell NFL Leaf Bags but people who hate football don't cuss me, and how those who think sugar is evil don't flip me off for making & selling jam. He actually apologized for his gesture but not his feelings for Trump. That was fine, he is entitled to think or feel however he wants, but he doesn't have the right to force someone else into his beliefs.
One woman stopped to yell at me and couldn't even say the name Trump, but had no issue calling him a "pig" along with some other colorful obscene words. When I asked her if she could say the name of JESUS The CHRIST she almost had a conniption and jumped in her car to speed off. Go figure.
I was even cussed at by actual conservatives that just don't like Trump. They yelled, "F#@! You, F#@! TRUMP! DESANTIS ALL THE WAY BABY!!" Seriously folks? Even those on the same side of the political spectrum as Trump want to be emotionally driven enough to act out in such an ignorant manner?!!?!??
We, as human beings, must do better. I do not care what you think or feel about politics, religion or marshmallow fluff! What I care about is that you treat me with the same respect and dignity that I treat you with. I have friends that do not agree with me on MANY issues & topics, but they don’t cuss me out, argue with me or want to attack me. We respectfully agree to disagree.
But I also had some adverse reactions to those who were actually buying Trump flags. It seemed a lot of them were only buying the flags to “piss someone off” or to “upset the neighbors.” And while that is their right, it just seemed kinda sad to me that very few just said they wanted to support their candidate but instead just wanted to “poke the bear”. Not really as different as the "other" responses I received if you think about it.
That being said, I did meet some amazing human beings this week, and had some amazing conversations. I was able to bring my own personal life knowledge & experience on many areas into the mix as a result of these wonderful chats. It was so nice to embrace others as they embraced me, respectfully and with integrity.
One couple stopped to buy jam and bread, they even had a Biden/Harris bumper sticker on their vehicle and never once looked at or commented on the Trump flags. One woman told me she leans democrat but is going to buy her boyfriend a Trump flag because he is a Trump fan... THAT really was amazing because she actually asked me about my own views and was surprised to hear that I was NOT a “Trumper” (as they say) but that I just weigh the dangers and wickedness of each candidate running and do my very best to vote for the lesser of the two evils. Because they are ALL corrupt! None are Righteous but The LORD, GOD Almighty. Amen!!
So... I was fascinated when I was able to have some meaningful conversations, but also heartbroken when people failed to be kind, considerate or respectful of others’ viewpoints. I once lived in the darkness of addiction and crime as well as transgenderism, and I can relate to ALL SIDES of the political spectrum, but I can no longer agree with all sides because I now follow the One, True Living GOD instead of the one (god) I created in my head that told me “anything goes” or that I can do what I want, how I want, with who I want without repercussion.
I do my best to be like The CHRIST in Word, Deed and Action... to everyone! I Love people... ALL people. I am not a “Bible thumper” nor do I ever push anyone to believe something just because I do. I represent HIM as best I can and allow HIS Holy Spirit to do what HE do! HE doesn’t need my help in touching hearts and/or minds. I walk it out as best I can, and when I fail, I am reminded of my own redemption through HIM. I try to leave politics and religion at the door, regardless of my own beliefs.
Let's respect our fellow human beings. If we claim to be accepting or "inclusive" then let us include those who do not agree with us as well. If we know what grief and oppression look like from our own past experiences, then let us not give in to our thoughts & feelings that would cause us to oppress anyone else's thoughts or feelings that they're entitled to. We all have rights... but we also have obligations to respect and care for our fellow human beings.
Ignorance is not bliss, it is bondage. Walmart sells Trump flags too, are you all going to stop shopping there? Let's get over ourselves and do better.
