Learn Facts, Spread Truths

With the political climate as it is currently, I am constantly seeing posts about who should talk about what topics and who shouldn’t be allowed to speak at all.

The general consensus is that celebrities should not speak up on their political views because they are not “common men.” They do not struggle as we struggle; they do not understand the woes of this country.

Celebrities are people, too. It’s ridiculous that I have to say that out loud, but apparently it needs to be said. They are not monkeys that we keep in a cage and force to perform. They are people who have their own opinions about their life. You are sorely mistaken if you believe that elections don’t affect them; they do.

Many celebrities that we hear from on the daily are voters and US citizens, which gives them the right to vocalize their opinions. We know the true reason behind your anger about this though, don’t we?

Celebrities have power. They have a podium that waits for them to speak up and say influential things. We hate them because they can reach millions upon millions of people. We hate them because what they say overshadows any greatly intelligent thing that you have to say. Their tweet about going to the restroom has more likes than your discussion of charities that you’ve helped.

It’s annoying; I know.

The thing is, they have this privilege, and though they don’t have to use it, it’s better that they do.

You see, they are using their privilege to speak out on issues that they care about. The same way you do when you post a status/talk to people. When it is a cause that you care about and they are on your side, you feel lucky to have them.

Think about how much money celebrities have given and made for charities all over the world. We applaud them for this; some of us thank God for sending them so that our cause would receive help.

There are always two sides to any situation. They don’t have to be on your side; there is no written rule that states that your favorite actor/actress/musician/performer will always side with your views on what the world should do. (In my case, I got ashamed when my favorite actor threw a phone at someone’s head, but ya know.. it’s his life).

I will disagree with celebrities, but I will never ask for their voice to be taken away (and if I have in the past, I was wrong to). If you believe they are ignorant in their views, please post their views and give facts and evidence as to why they are wrong. Don’t use your opinion to fight against theirs, especially if theirs is backed by facts.

Maybe you won’t reach the amount of people that they do, but do so to inform those around you of the lies/ignorance they spread. Again, in order to do this, you must back up your argument with reputable facts, not opinions. If someone finds a false fact (or alternative facts), it can easily ruin any credibility of the argument.

But here’s the big kicker, it doesn’t matter about age or struggles. Some of the most intelligent, well-informed people I know are younger than I am. Some are privileged and some are poor. The important thing to focus on is simply the facts. Do your research: read books, newspapers, and scholarly sources. Read informational gathering documents instead of biasedly spun articles. Sure, they won’t be interesting, but they will be informative. Read history books.

The key is to never stop learning. There are many opinions that I had when I was younger that I see huge flaws in now (some even just a couple years ago). The point is, be open to changing your mind. Don’t worry about what political party you align yourself with; instead focus on learning the truths.

It’s okay to believe in something that doesn’t align with your party’s views. It’s okay to let go and not be aligned with a party. If you really want to make a difference, stop thinking there’s a certain line you must follow and branch out. If you really want to save this country, become well-informed and speak out with facts, not opinions. I know that the opposite is the cool thing to do right now, but don’t fall into that… don’t be oblivious… don’t be naïve. Learn facts and spread truths.

I rememba…

Though we all shake our fists up to the heavens about the lives we lost in 2016, in the morning hours of January 25, 2017, my grandmother, Carol Knight—or as we call her “Granny”—passed away.

Though there were no press releases issued or journalists rushing to write her story, to me, she is one of the most important ladies of my lifetime.

We are all lucky to have known someone who cared more about those who surrounded her than she ever cared for herself. A woman who would have given away every material possession she had if she thought it would bring them happiness.

Liane, Granny, and me

It’s funny the things you remember about a person when you really try. I remember being 5 years old, and Granny setting me up on the washing machine so she could get a direct view of my face to cut my bangs. I remember her scolding me about making fun of her NJ accent when she said “warsher.” I remember climbing up in bed in between her and grandpa on a Sunday morning while they drank coffee and talked about who knows what.

Little memories are grand, aren’t they?

So, who was she? Granny was proper—or at least she liked to pretend she was. She hated the outdoors and couldn’t stand dirt because “it had worms in it.” She was the type to sip a wine cooler and fall asleep snoring, but she would up her street cred by randomly dropping the F-bomb for shock effect. She would jokingly wiggle her pinky finger at you and say that you weren’t worth the whole bird.

She would whisper when she needed to use the restroom, but would loudly sing (to the tune of “Do My Ears Hang Low?”),  “Do my boobs hang low, do they swing to and fro…” She would giggle every time she called bras “Over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders from the maker, “Keeps-em-from-floppin’.”

Mom and Granny

She was always aware of everyone’s feelings and tried her mightiest to be polite… even if she would call my mother after they left to tell her how much she absolutely hated the new dress she had just gushed about for 30 minutes. Her dry sarcastic wit made us laugh until we cried. She was devoted to her family, and though she was not sentimental, she kept pictures of every child and grandchild she had on her walls.

But overall, she was the kind of Grandma that every child deserves to have. She tried to stuff you with snacks every time you visited, let you stay up watching TV later than your mother wanted you to. She would cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She would tell stories of when she watched Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra play, and she would always hug you before you left.

To me, she was someone that will never and could never be forgotten. We worked on crossword puzzles together; we worked on actual puzzles. We went shopping and met for lunch. She listened to me cry about my mother when I was upset, and she wouldn’t always sell me out when I said mean things about my mom. She took me on trips and could always make me laugh. My grandmother, in every way possible, was one of my best friends.

Her story is full of twists and turns, tears and laughter, and even though the entire world didn’t mourn her passing, any person that came into contact with her should know how lucky they were to have a woman like my grandmother in their lives. She is a celebrity in her own right and those in her world feel her loss extensively.

Rest in peace, Granny, and wherever you may be, let your shoes always be comfortable and your sweaters always fit. Let it not be too hot for a Yankee like you, and know that every time I fill out a crossword puzzle, I’ll be as brave as you and use a pen… wait. That’s a bit too crazy… maybe one of those eraseable ones? Or a pencil… it has the word “pen” in it, so that counts, right? Love you, Granny, and I’ll miss you always. There’s a little less laughter in the world without you.