I bowl in an all-women’s league on Tuesday nights in a small bowling alley in a not so small town in Missouri. This is my night out. I don’t bowl all that well (I have a 110 average). This is supposed to be a “no judgment” zone. I am told the team I bowl on would have been one person short if I had not signed up and after bowling with them most of the season I now know why. Please know that this opinion pertains to any social event you may attend. No one wants to go to Bingo, a Church Function, a luncheon, or an impromptu meeting and be lectured.
For those of you who think it is okay to talk politics during a social event you should first know your audience. Most people go on social outings to get away from everyday life and issues; to be entertained, to have a good time, and/or to commune with friends and neighbors. I am an “odd bird” when it comes to these outings. I love to hear about your grandchildren, your social life, the exciting thing happening to you at work, or something wonderful you and your honey did that was special to you! I like seeing the pictures from your recent trip or the craft you are currently working on. I will, however, no longer remain quiet when all you can do is criticize or speak ill of the people around you, constantly ask if there is something wrong with my back (because of my form when I bowl), or speak politics to the point that you are cursing out the current presidential administration!
Again, this is a social event! A time for fun! If you are attending such an occasion hoping that someone’s bad fortune will make your life seem better, please stay home! If you are hoping I will share some miserable story about my life so we can commiserate, please move on. If you are going to criticize my every move to the point that you make me miserable and continue to call to my attention the fact that just a few more points out of me and the team would have won that game (then in my opinion) you are too competitive and should not have advertised this as a friendly group or agreed to sign up someone with a poor average. If you’re going to continuously curse out The President of the United States (the epitome of “Trump Derangement Syndrome”[1], then please do not do it in my presence.
I am one of those people. I kept quiet all the years that I disagreed with the administrations that were in power. I NEVER “unfriended” a Facebook friend over politics and usually listened to their opinions with an open mind to see if there was something I could learn about their view point. I shy away from political conversations just because they are inflammatory in nature and most times I am not going to change the other person’s mind. They are as steadfast in their opinions as I am in mine. So then, why ruin a perfectly good friendship over a difference of opinion? Why not agree to disagree and find another common area of conversation? I will remain quiet no longer.
Just in case you were unaware: President Trump won the popular vote not just the Electoral College. That means that if you are speaking in public against him, his cabinet, his thoughts and beliefs, or any of the actions of the current administration you are probably in the minority. So here are some thoughts before you spew your unwanted opinions in my direction any more:
- I do not want my grand-daughter changing in a sports locker room with a biological male who “identifies” as a female nor do I want HIM playing on my grand-daughter’s sports team. I don’t think she should be subject to seeing male genitalia until she wants to and/or is ready to see them. If you believe the opposite, then fine, my husband actually fought in a theater of war so you could have your beliefs and he would do it again in a heartbeat to protect your freedoms. I would support him again in a New York second, but that doesn’t mean I agree with you or want to hear your opinion in a social setting.
- The thought that “DOGE is devaluing my job” and they are “coming after me” because an unelected Elon Musk is asking me what I did at my government paid job last week is ridiculous. FYI, I worked for the Louisiana Military Department once upon a time. It was a state job. Paid for by the Louisiana taxpayers. My boss, an unelected, appointed, hired, man would periodically ask me for an email listing what I had accomplished “last week”. I proudly outlined to him what I had accomplished, how long it took me, what resources I used to complete my tasks, and how happy he should be to have me working for the organization. Not to mention how happy I was to have the opportunity to serve the Louisiana National Guard in their mission. I never took it as an intrusion or that they were “out to get me”. They simply wanted to make sure they were receiving value for the salary they were paying me. I also looked at this as a chance to let them know if my workload was too much or if I was doing more than my job description so they could consider me for a bonus (which I got once – I can show you the letter – I was so proud). If you are outraged by this request, then maybe you have something to hide?
- In my 40 year work history I was outsourced from a job I loved, laid off due to budgetary constraints, and sometimes had to work 3 jobs that were not in my field of expertise to make ends meet. None of those things were something I planned for. Some of those things occurred due to the presidential administration in power and the harsh tax penalties they placed on the companies I worked for. If you worked for a restaurant during COVID there was a whole different set of variables to deal with. This is called life. Life happens to good people. Good people who are unfortunately impacted by life pull themselves together and figure out what the next step is in life. Is it stressful? Yes! Is it fair? Not always! However, this is a fact of life and life happens to us all. How we handle the outcome is more about the person than about the things that happen to them.
- Again, DOGE and Elon Musk, this unelected billionaire who was praised when he created Tesla for the green crowd, is looking into how our tax dollars are spent. Once the celebrated “pretty boy” of the Democratic Party, Elon Musk, who is the Senior Advisor to the President of the United States, who is not taking a salary for his work, who has a net worth of 379.9 billion USD[2], and who doesn’t mind paying his fair share is now the enemy. He would, however like to know (as should we) where his tax dollars are being spent. He doesn’t want your social security number and if he did, trust me, he could get it without the title. He doesn’t want your job. He doesn’t need it. He does want value for his money.
- The people who pressured others to change the names of everything from Military Installations to converted rice sure seem mad about The Gulf of America renaming. What is the problem with celebrating America? When did our country and its citizens go from being proud to be Americans to whatever the minority is now? You are the minority now you know?
- By the way, did you and I watch the same 2024 presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden? Who was running the country because it sure wasn’t the guy I watched make an absolute fool out of himself on national television. He could not string two coherent sentences together, but yet you want me to let him “rub my two nickels together”[3]?
Aren’t you tired of being trillions of dollars in debt as a country? Don’t you want to know where your tax dollars are being spent? According to the Tax Foundation[4], Americans will have to work the first 107 days of each year solely to pay for taxes. That’s right: it takes all of your wages for three months to cover your yearly taxes. Here’s another interesting statistic: Who pays 90% of the taxes in the US? Altogether, the top 50% of filers earned 90% of all income and were responsible for 98% of all income taxes paid in 2021. The other half of earners, those with incomes below $46,637, collectively paid 2.3% of all income taxes in 2021.[5] So, if the top 50% of filers earned 90% of the income, why shouldn’t Mr. Musk, who I venture to say is in the top 50% of filers, be looking out for his investment in our country? Is his contribution any less or more important than the rest of us? Our contributions are just as important! Why aren’t we concerned as well? I am! I am tired of hearing about how the wealthy should “pay their fair share”! If this statistic is true, and I have no reason to believe it is not, then they most certainly are and I can’t fault them (or me) one bit for looking out for their investment in the country. I would like my contribution to pay for programs in my country not for programs, services, and the indoctrination of other countries.
I was born into citizenship. I didn’t have to “take a test” to become a citizen. I barely paid attention in my civics classes (I sure wish I would have now). I took a class called, “American Political Process” and it was eye opening. I have travelled to foreign countries and seen how the other half lives. The countries I have visited each have their own unique qualities which make them home to their citizens. Culturally, I am biased of course. I wouldn’t change where I live. Elon Musk was born to a prominent family in Pretoria, South Africa. He immigrated to Canada in 1989 and acquired its citizenship though his mother. He moved to the U.S. and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania before moving to California to pursue business ventures. In 2002, Musk also became a U.S. citizen.[6] Perhaps Mr. Musk, because he became a US citizen by choice and amassed his fortune in the US, has a unique perspective on what the American Dream really is? Suppose instead of assisting and attempting to bring to light wasteful government spending of your hard earned tax dollars “Atlas Shrugged”[7]? Suppose the leaders of the world continued along the present path unchecked because, “That’s the way we’ve always done things”? To date, $54.63 Billion dollars[8] have been located being spent on obsolete or wasteful government programs with a goal of $2 Trillion to go. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my hard earned $69mm in tax dollars spent on the Eurasia Foundation to do “digital transformation activity” in Europe. Why don’t we spend that money in the USA for things our citizens need? How about disaster recovery right here at home? Not to companies, but to the citizens of the United States themselves who have experienced hardship and need their own funds back now to rebuild their lives?
If this article has offended anyone, too bad! You have offended me with your lectures and unwanted opinions instead of just treating a social event as such. You have infringed on an acquaintance’s personal space (because make no mistake, friends do not treat each other this way). If after looking at this diatribe you still believe your opinion and beliefs over-ride mine, then so be it. However, I am tired of being the silent person in the room who doesn’t want to offend anyone. You didn’t hesitate to cram your beliefs down my throat. I am no longer in the silent minority…just let that sink in for a moment.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_derangement_syndrome
[2] (2025) Forbes, Google Search, (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=how+much+is+elon+musk+worth)
[3] https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/don%27t+have+two+nickels+to+rub+together
[4] https://taxfoundation.org/
[5] https://taxfoundation.org/
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk
[7] Novel by Ayn Rand published in 1957
America Unspun 
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