A couple of days ago I was on the phone with my mother and she said something to me that I hadn't heard her say in a while. She said "there are three things you shouldn't do if you want to keep friends, talk about politics, talk about religion, and borrow money." I guess I do listen to her more than I'd like to believe, because I have really embraced that even before hearing her say that again. I don't take it literally of course, because obviously politics and religion tend to come up in conversations, but I do think those three things should apply to professional relationships. If you have a working relationship with people, whether its an office, a classroom, or a boardroom I think you'd be surprised when you find out where certain peoples political affliation stands. Most of the time its just better not to know, because it could end up hurting the business relationship. A few weeks ago at work a girl suggested that we send cards to the troops overseas to say thank you for all that they do. Personally as soon as she mentioned that I cringed, and the reason is I didn't think it had anything to do with the job we get paid to do. When the idea was accepted and became something that we were stone cold going to do, I obviously said I would do it, because it looks bad not particiating in something that all the other employees are doing. However looking back on it after having sat in the room and wrote several cards today, I feel I shouldn't have participated. I have nothing against the soldiers that choose to fight for there country, I do have a problem with people forcing there patriotism on everyone else. It's the same as if I mentioned in a meeting at work that I think we should all join together and say prayers in the morning. The idea would most likely be shot down instantly, because they would say its forcing relgion on people. Why is practicing something peaceful such as relgion wrong, but something that is nationalistic right? The answer to that question is so complexed and complicated I could write varying degrees of it for hours. These topics, all of them should be left outside of the workplace.

I feel that in America we place such a high importance on military and the job they are doing, and we overlook all of the atrocities that come from that same military. We have such a short term memory, when it comes to events. If the troops that were overseas fighting were drafted and forced to fight for something they don't believe in. They would have all of my sympathy and I would feel obligated then to support those same troops, but as it stands they choose to enter knowing the politics that the United States deals in, so I have no sympathy. You make your bed in the morning, you are going to lay in it in the evening.

Yesterday was the 8th anniversary of my blog. One that kind of makes me feel old, and two I had no idea I would still have a blog 8 years after starting it. I hope to keep writing however and as my writing continues to evolve I can look back on this all in a few years just to see the differences.