Eating pie and treading water.

As I look at the world, I get dizzy from the innate need to shake my head. I do this so frequently now that I’ve smartly decided to invest in Ibuprofen stock. Fortunately, I’m beyond blessed that my head can rest when looking to my own wife and kids.

I’m not bragging — okay, maybe just a little — but, when I worry about my kids in this world, I can see that they are adhering to many of the basic tenets that were passed on from my own parents. Simple things, such as tolerance, freedom, common sense, work ethic, family, faith, devotion, and the traditional list goes on.

There seems to be a backlash against all things traditional, as of late. Though people call for tolerance and understanding, they are talking about everyone being tolerant and understanding of their situation, with no regard for the position of those in who they are pointing at.

They call for equality, at the cost of hard work. This call for equality is more so a demand to have what others have. Believing that they deserve a share of the proverbial pie, simply because someone made a ‘pie’ and they feel entitled to a slice. And if you deny them a slice, you are called out as any number of things, things that have nothing to actually do with the person that has the pie, but things that will make the ‘pie owner’ cave in to finally give them a slice to fill their mouths and make the noise stop.

This “tolerance” has become very one-sided. I’m afraid that it’s creating a weaker generation. In so many words, the inmates seem to be running the asylum (I’m sure I offended someone with that).

How do I ebb the tide of this one-sided tolerance that is crashing against the shores? I build a retaining wall around my home. The wall is made up of the previously mentioned tenets. I can go out and watch the waves crash against the wall, and once and a while some spray will push over the top, but the better part of the damaging waves are checked; the house is safe.

I’m not against the water, just against the violent waves. Occasionally I will go for a swim, but I am always aware of where the undertow exists, and I know my limitations of how long I can swim and tread water. I don’t fear the water, but I do have respect for the water. I respect what it can do. I respect that we need water. I respect that we can have a peaceful existence. But I also will not let the water flood my house.

This post may have gotten away from me — drowned a little, if you will — and taken on a life of its own. Regardless, I hope that you are enjoying your pie, and never stop treading water!

Originally published at Man Ramblings.