WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE????

OK, I have to get this off my chest!!!

Perhaps I've been living in a cave, or something, but lately I have been AMAZED at the way people treat others and the things they will say about them. Granted, most of the things I'm talking about are in forums and message boards on the internet, BUT I have also seen some of the worst behavior by children... American children, in the past 3 years, while their parents just stood there and ignored them. No wonder this country... NO, this world, is going to Hell in a handbasket.

The first example I wanted to bring up is Melissa from the Bachelor. Oh, and for the record, I did not watch the show. I only know what I read online and what I saw on news/talk shows after the guy ditched her. But, back to my point. After she decided to appear on Dancing With The Stars, I saw a link about her having a new boyfriend and how her parents and new bf came to the show to support her. To me, this was a good thing, but I can't tell you how many ugly, nasty comments I read from people whom I can only assume don't know her, and probably NEVER WILL, who were bad mouthing her AND her parents, because they didn't want to be on the Bachelor episodes, yet now that she's on DWTS, they will be on TV. Those who were making the comments were making Melissa and her family sound like the worst people on Earth. I was shocked and appauled. I mean, come on, people. It's one thing to watch the show. Who doesn't need a dose of "reality" tv every once and a while to remind you that your life isn't that bad, BUT to take it so seriously that you have to demean others? That is ridiculous. I really don't get it.

Then there's American Idol. This is my first year to watch this show, other than the try-outs in past seasons for the humor factor. A few weeks ago I was reading some comments where people were saying Danny Gokey was trying to use his wife's death to get sympathy votes. Really? Give me a break. I wonder how many of those people have lost someone close to them, much less the person they vowed to spend the rest of their life with. It really makes me ill to see people passing such judgement on people they don't know. Granted, I don't know Danny, but he seems like a good enough guy, and AI is a SINGING CONTEST, and THE GUY CAN SAAAAAAAAANG!!!! Why not give him the benefit of the doubt??? Why not be NICE???

But, I just read the worst ones of all, although I'm sure there are much worse out there. The amazing Scott MacIntyre, who my father didn't know what blind and said, "That guy's alright, but he always walks around like he doesn't know what's going on," is being belittled and made fun of for what he should be reverred for. It turns out, not only did he struggle with blindness to become an awesome musician, but he was also on dialysis for two years before he got a kidney transplant. He doesn't even look like he's on steroids, which is something people who have transplants have to take for the rest of their lives. That, in itself, is an amazing thing to overcome. He's a super hero, and you have jerks out there making fun of him, the way he looks, etc. What are they gaining? It's just ridiculous to me.

OK, so I said my peace... a little. I really could go on and on and on and on and... but I won't. I thought about linking you all to the articles I was talking about, but I don't think they deserve any more attention than what I've already given them.

One final thought: If you don't really want to have children and/or don't like them, DON'T HAVE THEM!!! All you're doing is setting them and the rest of the world up for failure. If you don't want to parent your children, you shouldn't have them, either. I'm sorry to say it, but those are the kinds of kids, more often than not, that wind up in trouble. Teach your children manners, respect, responsibility, consequences, and the value of everything... especially education. Perhaps if parents went back to parenting the way our parents were raised, the world would be a little nicer place to live.

Shalom!!!