Obsession
By Owen Schwartz

The first time I heard that Barack Obama had called a reporter “sweetie” this morning on the news I thought to myself this was no big deal. Boy was I wrong. It just again leads me to the conclusion that as a society we only want the bad and that our focus on the bad has dumbed us all down.
I am from the South and every day I am called sweetie or honey or some other term of endearment by people I have never met before. It just happens and I do not get offended. I always have been taught to say yes sir and yes maam. Apparently, this now offends some people to because I am in my late twenties and it makes them feel old when I say sir or maam. Where have we gone so wrong?
These words used to be commonplace and no one thought anything of their everyday use in whatever setting. Now, because we are obsessed with word-watching every public figure, we have created a society where even the most simple act can be perceived as inappropriate.
I, however, will not fall a victim to this obsession. I will still say yes maam and yes sir. I will still hold the door open for people I do not know. I will wave at random people if they look at me and smile. Hey, it does not take a lot to make someone’s day. I will not get mad at a public figure because they act human. Hell, I would be very scared of one that was perfect and made no mistakes. That person should be checked for the numbers “666”.
The simple truth is this; the less we obsess about other people’s screw ups just because they are on TV or famous, the more we can concentrate on bettering ourselves and the people we immediately impact every day. I don’t know Miley Cyrus and could care less what picture she was in. However, I do know that lady from accounting and her husband is and asshole. Maybe my smile and nice gesture was the only thing that got her through the day.
So become obsessed, just with the right things. Be obsessed with your friends and family and their well-being. Do something for someone without being asked to do so. Hell, just smile every now and then. Besides, we are all in the same fish bowl and it is getting much hotter and expensive to live in this particular area. Sometimes I wonder if polar bears would appreciate it as I walked by I kicked open a new seal hole for them in the ice. But then I remember. There may not be much ice left.
Or, am I just obsessed with global warming?

Want to comment on this Blogs? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Blogs and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...