Year of Focus - Day 8

The terrorist attack in Paris has begun a movement.  Amazing what can happen in a day with the use of the internet.  The movement has to do with freedom of expression, particularly in regards to satire. The thing is, only occasionally the focus of satire is part of the discussion, but freedom of expression is always.  It's interesting how I am being affected by this - I agree and I am concerned.  I have always believed in freedom of things like religion, speech, expression, etc. but there is something here that is bothering me - and I realized today it has to do with how close satire is to bullying, how close it is to a hate-crime, how close it is to discrimination.  Some might be able to tell the difference, a lot will not ... and therefore, suddenly, these that don't think that they can do all sorts of heinous things because it is now 'satire'.  I believe in freedom of speech (which is one of the reasons it bothers me that Chapters will not sell Mein Kampt by Adolph Hitler) and I believe discrimination should be stopped.  And this dialogue throughout the world right now has brought me to really examine this in my own world.  Where is that line, for me?  Maybe I should draw a cartoon where the hate crime is being called satire.

Today's Gratitude Moments:
Today, I'm grateful for
- not taking everything as everyone else does, looking at things from all sides, regardless of how it makes me feel.
- KA, and dragging me away from all this stuff, to start our "Race for the Oscars" with going to see The Theory of Everything.
- great minds like Stephen Hawking, and all they have contributed to our existence.  I am also grateful that his love for Jane extended his life from two years to well over 50.  That is a miracle!
- the opportunity to walk ... 12,664 steps!  sweet!
- alternative medications to warfarin ... I will try another one and see how it works in my life, being able to eat what I want and not worry about so many things! (And more than a glass of wine for those special occasions is now possible!! yessssss!!!)