Word #3 is "equality." And this post may well be my first with the potential to tick people off. Should be fun. But if I do my job right any folks who may read this and take umbrage will just say, "Feh, let her rant. Makes no never mind to me," and click somewhere else. That is my sincerest hope.

Our Declaration of Independence contains a phrase that's a big favorite in discussions of equality: "...that all men are created equal..." Of course, female folks like me would prefer it to say "all people" or "all humans" or somesuch, but in this country these words are certainly not controversial, and they shouldn't be. I can get behind them.

But right now we're still in the middle of a technological revolution that's intersecting with that political revolution in some very weird ways. We have a gazillion web pages and another gazillion television and radio channels that all need content, and in the effort to get that content, microphones are being shoved in front of the most unlikely faces, and pens are poised to take down the most unlikely words, and everybody is being treated as an equal. Except we're not.

The third cousin of a Marine involved in the mess at Haditha says "they did the right thing." Well, okay, he may say that, but how does he know and why is he being treated like an expert? The neighbor at the far end of the street from a drive-by shooting says "the cops aren't doing nothing to protect us and it's a travesty." Once again, this is being presented to me as though this guy really knows what he's talking about.

People want to be heard. God knows I appreciate that; I'm a writer. I think people should be heard and I'm perfectly willing to listen. But when people who have--let's face it--opinions based on limited data or world views not shared by others are taken too seriously, they start to think that they should not only be listened to, but that they should have a say in how the world is run. And some people just don't know enough to make that a good idea.

Take me for example. I have no clue how to run this country. That's what elected officials are for, if they would only do their jobs. They supposedly have some experience at it, maybe some on-the-job training, maybe a bit of a wider viewpoint that rabble like me isn't aware of. I actually don't want my elected officials to spend tons of time sucking up to us rabble with promises to, for example, constitutionalize hatred and bigotry. That's not a good use of their time. They should know what the real pressing issues are and focus on them. That's why we elected them. If I knew how to run the country, that's what I'd be doing. And there are millions and millions more just like me. Don't listen to us. We don't know what we're talking about.

Here's where the real genius of my mother comes to mind. I was a rambunctious kid, full of questions and ideas and--let's face it--empty chatter. One of Mom's stock phrases was, "Yes, dear." She listened, but she wasn't stupid enough to actually do all the things I thought she should do. Another bit of wisdom: "Tend to your knitting." But that phrase would be directed at those who think they should have a say in how I pursue my happiness. Nope, nope, nope. They can go pursue their happiness however they want, but they have no business telling me how to pursue mine as long as I'm not hurting anybody else. Because that's what we were all created equal to do. The Declaration says so.

Just a few more points. There are other Mom-isms that are relevant in today's world. "Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean you have to, too." This is especially wise, in this day when the bleeding edge just marks the place where the next person cuts deeper. And the good old, "If you can't say anything nice, you shouldn't say anything at all." That's a bit too idealistic, though; sad to say that in this day and age of being heard, if some folks can't say anything nice, they're struck dumb. Anne Coulter comes to mind. But in those cases we just go back to Mom's words of gentle wisdom, "Yes, dear." We hear you. We just don't take you very seriously.

In other news, I've gone about 8 rounds with the story and it's not going down easily. I've got a cut over one eye that won't quit bleeding and I've taken a few body blows that are wearing me out, but the bell is about to ring on Round 9 and I'll give it another go. At least in *my* fights I get ring guys. Cute ones.