Try being positive for a change

Posted Friday, September 21, 2007, at 3:29 PM

A Letter to the Editor in the Sept. 22 issue of the Greene County Daily World pretty much sums up today's society.

Robert Weyer of Linton writes:

"Is it a 'sign of the times' or what?

"It seems that every facet of our lives is confronted with a negative force. Being our religious life or our secular endeavors, everything we try is met with stubborn negativism. Neither Christianity nor Americanism is a negative concept.

"Have we forgotten what we were taught or has the teaching been subverted somewhere along the line? Progress is the fruit of positive thinking and positive action. Negative thinking seems to be the prevalent practice.

"Much of our political rhetoric is rehashing past mistakes instead of concentrating on positive solutions.

"Try being positive about something and see how quickly you meet with negative resistance. Shouldn't we accentuate the positive and expect a positive result? How many of you know what I'm talking about?"

Weyer makes a great point.

If a school teacher, principal or coach tries to do something positive, someone is always right there to shoot them down.

If an elected official tries to "think outside the box" to help their community, someone is always willing to offer a negative comment.

Our society has become the negative force that Weyer writes about.

The next time you gather with a group of friends, or even one person, make an effort to time how long it takes before someone makes a negative comment about a person, school or something in the community.

Just think what we could accomplish if everyone used that negative energy in a positive way!

Comments
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"You've got to (accentuate the positive)

Eliminate the negative

Latch on to the affirmative

Don't mess with Mister In-Between."

An old Johnny Mercer song, done by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and our own Phil Harris.

From a movie called Kelly's Heroes (starring Clint Eastwood and an all star cast). Donald Sutherland (as Oddball) says "Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?"

Just a movie line, but so well said.

-- Posted by simmons on Fri, Sep 21, 2007, at 7:06 PM

Amen!

-- Posted by bethwernz on Sat, Sep 22, 2007, at 5:15 AM

Thanks Chris,

Honestly, cynicism is often well-earned so don't be so quick to judge those that are. We all have attitudes and opinions that are grown from our life experiences. If we pontificate in a negative light it might just be because we've had a rather bad lot cast our way by some member of our society. I'll try to be positive.. can't say I always will be though... because that would turn Linton into Stepford.

-- Posted by Ethermuse on Tue, Sep 25, 2007, at 7:54 AM

I agree and try to be positive, but I really appreciate the opportunity that this paper allows with the posting. It allows us to voice our frustration and vent a little (or alot). The most positive person I noticed posting on this site is Anon, no idea who she is, but she has got to be about the nicest person in Greene County.

-- Posted by CranialMan on Tue, Sep 25, 2007, at 5:29 PM

Looks like Anon knocked Me off the Throne.

Linton may not be Stepford, but I never saw a sign that said You'll Like Stepford, although I really liked the first one with Kathryn Ross.

-- Posted by simmons on Tue, Sep 25, 2007, at 7:06 PM

I think it is more like a stutter. :>)

-- Posted by simmons on Wed, Sep 26, 2007, at 4:23 PM