Grandma Fannie asks: "Your chores are done?"

​Grandma Fannie asks: “Your chores are done?”
 
It is not unusual for children to attempt to put the focus on siblings or their peers in school when they do not want the focus to be on the fact that they have not yet done their chores or homework.  If, however, one had a Grandma Fannie in their lives as did I and my siblings, this technique never worked.  While a sibling or peer’s chores or homework might or might not have been done, Grandma Fannie did not countenance “the pot calling the kettle black”. 
 
Grandma Fannie applied the same principle to partisan politics.  Although she, as is true for most of us, had that occasional slip when she would launch into a “Lord help us” regarding some behavior of the “other” party or her own party, for the most part, she believed that both political parties were far from perfect.
 
I can well imagine Grandma Fannie metaphorically taking those in the United States who focus on the “sins” of the leaders of other countries and/or who are frequently telling others how to behave that their time might be better spent focusing on cleaning up or attending to serious issues in this country.  She might even list some examples including:
 

• The importance of acknowledging our need for immigrant workers.
• The treatment of those fleeing violence, including domestic violence.
• The high cost of health care.
• Failing infrastructure.
• Environmental issues.
• Pollution/destruction caused by plastic.
• Lack of affordable housing.
• Lack of affordable and quality assisted living facilities for our aging population.
• Effect of trade wars on farmers and ranchers.
• Increase of ADD diagnosis.
• Gun violence
• Failing relationship with so called longtime allies.
• Need for decent paying jobs or some other ways to address fallout from automation.

 
There are many other issues on which she might recommend we focus our attention.
 
Grandma Fannie would not fail to acknowledge all the progress which has been made in many areas.  She would also be quick to point out that often when there is a natural disaster many people from many different cultures and nations work together.
 
Grandma Fannie did embrace a particular religion and religious tradition but I do not recall her being critical or judgmental of other traditions.  She would not hesitate to recite passages from the Bible she used or from other sources.   She might, for example, talk about taking the log out of one’s own eye before focusing on the speck in one’s brother’s eye or she might suggest that “He who is without sin throw the first stone.”  She might even remind one that “Pride cometh before the fall.”
 
I suspect that political leaders in this country could well benefit from the sage advice of Grandma Fannie. I am sure that other countries and culture have their own Grandma Fannie and their own wise elders who will gladly suggest that “the pot calling the kettle back” or “not noticing the mess on one’s own yard” is likely to lead to results which do not benefit anyone.
 
Written  July 24, 2018