Do You Hear the People Sing? Sing a Song about Hate.

The other day, on my way to work, I was at a traffic light behind a work truck.  By work truck, I mean a truck that was wrapped to advertise the business that it dealt in.  I honestly can't remember what the business was, but I was busy contemplating the multiple bumper stickers that adorned its back end.  Most of them resembled something like this:

Regardless of my own political affiliation, this was my thought on this:

1) Why would you want to spend SO much energy hating something SO very much that you are willing to deface your own care about how much you hate a certain _______________? (fill in the blank with your own politician, sports team, etc.)  I don't understand this.  

Believe me, I know it's free speech, and by all means, if you want to put stuff all over your car, go for it.  I just wonder why people would want to choose to dwell on hate so much.  Wouldn't you rather spend your energy supporting the candidate of your choice? Just a question.

2) Why would you want to affix your political/religious/sports/favorite grocery chain/etc. labels on something that has to do with your business, your bread-and-butter, your livelihood?  I would only assume that based on the fact that people put hate stickers on their cars, that if they saw an opposing sticker on a service vehicle, they're not going to be doing a quick jot-down of that phone number for the next time they need a roto-rooter (it wasn't a root-rooter truck, I just like saying roto-rooter).  Are people willing to alienate potential business by showing these potential clients just how much they abhor the other people's beliefs?

I think that Depeche Mode said it correctly:

"People are people, so why should it be, you and I should get along so awfully?"

I think it's incredibly sad that we as a society are so freaking angry right now.  I have taught my students to "never discuss religion or politics at a party," because I've watched it explode in my classroom and get ugly.  I understand that people are passionate about what they believe in, but when does passion turn ugly and perpetuate hate?

And then, the light turned green.

Tap Your Troubles Away

Sydney and Dylan have been grounded for a week.  Last Saturday, we went to the Oktoberfest at a local church.  These things are EXPENSIVE, and each ride cost the kids 3-6 tickets. After three rides, and some good times with our friends, The Anderson Family, the faces looked like this:

 Mia and Dylan on a ride

The problem came when it was time to leave.  Apparently, dropping $80 on the two little Castigs wasn't enough for them, and the temper tantrum from both that ensued was first-world ridiculous. So off to bed they went.

The next day brought our weekly cleaning and chores.  As Thomas washed dogs in the front yard, and I was vacuuming downstairs, I hear the screams from above. I dash upstairs to find true fisticuffs, and I proceeded to fisticuff both of them on the rear end and chuck them in their rooms.

The first Castiglione grounding commenced.

One week.  No iPods. No TV. No computer. No fun.  Except for practices (that I already paid for), school, and dinner, there was NO leaving their rooms. 

Two things came from this:

This was Dylan letting us know that he was a tad on the angry/frustrated side. (It says: No one allowed but me.  In first grade language)

The other things that came from this experience was this:

Don't worry, it was for Thomas and me.  Although don't think that drugging them so they won't beat up on each other didn't pass through my mind.

Being grounded during the week really isn't a big deal.  We're such a busy family that by the time we're home, dinnered, and homeworked, it's time for bed anyway.  It's the weekends that are harder, although everyone in the house, except for me (husband, two kids, three dogs, and a cat) is sleeping and I am actually enjoying the peace and quiet.

Here's where the kids know how to play Mom.  Both kids auditioned for the school musical this week, and so they had to practice the song and dance they were taught to use in their callbacks.  So, naturally, a three hour coaching session occurred in the living room, thereby preventing them from having to be bored in their rooms. But come on, everyone needs to practice, right?

I guess I'm just a sucker. 

I now understand when my parents would say, "This hurts me more than it hurts you!" I'm ready for the grounding to be over!