I’ve always been a big fan of Oprah Winfrey. She seems to be so Pro. She’s pro-women and pro-African-American; however, I’ve never seen her be anti-man or anti any other race. Ellen is the same way. They offer positive entertainment and social commentary without being pulled into the slough of Anti.

Which reminded me this week that Pro is a much better place to be. Why can’t we all be more pro?

If I’m pro-woman, does that mean I must be anti-man? No. If I’m pro-cat, does that mean I must be anti-dog? No. If I’m pro-equal rights for homosexuals, does that mean I must be anti-heterosexual? Are you kidding? If I’m pro-Nashville Predator, does that mean I must be anti-Chicago Blackhawk? Okay, bad example because actually, yes. Yes, it does.

Still, you get my point.

I believe that our media has taken a cultural bias and turned it into a monster. It’s easy to point out the negative. It’s easy to point out what’s wrong and to be angry about it. It’s difficult to effect change. It’s difficult to offer up solutions. It’s difficult to build. Destruction is so much easier!

In fact, it’s the second law of thermodynamics: in energy exchanges, disorder increases. Even on our most basic chemical level, we are designed to destroy.

I look at the world around me sometimes and am overcome by a feeling of helplessness in the face of all of the hatred and bigotry. In this week’s news the increasing disorder is everywhere and it’s based on an issue that I’m not qualified to make any social commentary on. So, what can I do? With four cats I can barely keep up with the increasing disorder in my own home! In my little house in Tennessee, what can I do to make the world a better place?

I can watch my own mouth.

I can say and do things that are edifying for me and for those around me. I can refuse to fall into the blame cycle set by the media. I can keep myself out of the slough of Anti (where I’m sure they must have Rodents of Unusual Size, devouring those hapless enough to wander in). And I can encourage those around me to stay out of the slough, as well.

Is it a little like sticking flowers into gun barrels? Perhaps. But, at least the guns are silent.

And that’s a start.