The Difference Between Involved and Committed
By DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
United States
January 26, 2017 8:04pm CST
Have you heard the joke that the difference between being involved and being committed can be explained by a plate of bacon and eggs? When it came to providing that breakfast, the hen was involved, but the pig was committed.
Yes it's an old joke, but the idea behind it helped me win an argument with my very liberal female cousin on FB yesterday. I had posted a picture of female soldiers in full combat dress serving in Iraq, with the caption "Here are the real women who march and fight for your rights." Below that was a big "Thank You." My intention was not to belittle the women who marched, but to point out that in all the hoopla about the women's marches around the country and the world we shouldn't forget about the women who really have put their lives on the line for this country.
My cousin took exception to this post, and took me to task, informing me of why I was wrong to post the picture. I replied to her that the difference between the women who marched on Saturday and the women who wear our country's uniform and go in harm's way on our behalf could be summarized as being the difference between involvement and commitment.
To quote myself from my FB post:
"I understand about the March and support its goals. I also look at several sources of information. Still, I do not believe that recognizing the sacrifices of women in the military, which are far and above what most people in civilian life can even imagine, is a bad thing. It, to me, is the difference between involvement and commitment. The marchers last Saturday were involved in fighting injustice and inequality towards women in light of The Exalted Orange One taking office. The women in uniform have committed their lives to fighting, and dying if necessary, for liberty and justice for us all."
I knew she capitulated when she made no reply, because if she thought she still had a valid argument, she would have made it.
Do you have a family member or friend with whom you share mutual love and respect, and with whom you can civilly disagree and debate the issues?
12 people like this
9 responses
@Drosophila (16568)
• Ireland
27 Jan 17
I guess the exception your cousin took to is the word "REAL". What's unreal about the women that marched? I guess that's the real question. It's the innsinuation that perplexed her maybe.
In terms of involvement and commitment, would you prefer to see women rights group going back to its gorilla days to deem "committed"?
Respect for women who serves their country with their lives, and surely respect is also due for women who performs key functions in our society?
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
28 Jan 17
@Drosophila My intent was never to ask the group to decide which group was more important, or to pit one group against the other. My point was that I disagreed about whether or not the women who marched represented all women, and the fact that women who represent our country in uniform were not recognized by the marchers in any form or mention.
As for pitting women against women, the marchers did that themselves by choosing only to represent one point of view, the extreme left wing liberal point of view. Conservative women, whose beliefs did not align with the leaders of the marches were not welcome and not considered part of the worldwide sisterhood. To excoriate me for pointing this out and claim I am the one who is causing the conflict is disingenuous.
I am pro-life, but I don't believe government has any business legislating whether or not a women can choose to medically terminate the life of her unborn child. The marchers, however, were not tolerant of any women who did not share their pro-abortion views and shunned Pro-Life women and told them they were not welcome to join the march.
As for morality, humans make moral judgements all the time. If we didn't, there would be no laws against murder, theft, or any of the other activities society has decided to disallow under threat of fine or imprisonment.
2 people like this
@Drosophila (16568)
• Ireland
28 Jan 17
@DWDavis here is what I don't quite understand, why is people comparing a movement of civil rights with the protection of home and country? The two are separate things with equal importance no? It's not exactly a like for like comparison, as a scientist you would know this well. Why are you comparing Apples against Bananas and asking the group, which fruit is more important?
At the end of Lord of Rings, the team of heros who fought off the real wolves only to return to a changed and distorted shire! If we are not careful the same could happen in real life. If we all focused on "the real outside danger" and gave our lives fighting for it. Are we certain the shire we protect will be the same, as the one we left??
How sad would these brave women be if they came back to a country where "if women are harassed they shoulda just quit their jobs?" Or when they got assaulted in the military "it's cos you put men and women together?"
Wouldn't they blame the sisters at home for not doing a better job defending their rights, whilst they are out getting themselves killed?
Like I said at the beginning, I don't understand the purpose of your comparison? It feels like pitting women against each other, if I may be so honest.
Regarding the pro-life, anti-gay stuff, this is what I personally believe. I believe in freedom of people to do as they like IF they are not violating the law or infringing another human beings freedom.
So if you are pro-life, well good for you! As long as you don't force others to abide by your way of living. A pro-choice woman is not exactly forcing you to terminate your pregnancy, why are you forcing them to give birth? Seems a bit absurd, if we are all equal and have equal rights.
We are all equal, no one is morally superior in God's eyes, so only God can judge.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jan 17
I have a lot of friends on this site whom I disagree with politically, but I never let that interfere with my mutual respect and friendship with them.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jan 17
@DWDavis I like the accordion! haha
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
27 Jan 17
@moffittjc When I was growing up, my best friend's father played the accordion, and he was very good. One day I was over at his house and thought his dad was listening to accordion music on the stereo, but it was his dad playing. I've loved accordion music ever since.
2 people like this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
27 Jan 17
You are braver than me. I just laugh at their views in the comfort of my own room. My nephew and his mum and dad are very passionate about some things, but I have to let it slide over me as I don't like confrontation, especially when it's social media based.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
27 Jan 17
I don't mind a civil debate on the issues. What I find with most followers of The Exalted Orange One is that their blind faith in him and his infallibility defies all common sense and they are unable to debate civilly. They immediately resort to name calling and insults, just as TEOO did during the primaries and the general election campaign.
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
27 Jan 17
Like Wendy already explained, I also think that it was the "real" that was objectionable. Your explanation later on cleared the misunderstanding though!
2 people like this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
27 Jan 17
I love this post. I've heard the bacon and eggs joke and it fits perfectly with this. I have plenty of family members and friends who disagree with me on certain topics. I try to be careful when it comes to discussing things with them, though. I'm not the best with debating, but I still like to make sure it is only a friendly debate and doesn't turn into a full blown argument. If I feel like it's getting out of hand, I will end the conversation.
2 people like this
@missjessicadawn (3286)
• United States
27 Jan 17
@DWDavis Yeah, I know a lot of people who are like that, too. Sometimes, they don't really want to have a discussion so they can hear the other's point of view, they would much rather argue just for the sake of arguing. It's frustrating.
2 people like this
@TheInvisibleMan (17594)
•
27 Jan 17
I think one of the differentials is how "passionate" you are about the subject that has been discussed.
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