Toni Dockter: Filosophy with a Fuchsia Flair

Two weeks ago was the one-year anniversary of launching my blog site. I had wanted to post a HUMDINGER of a BLOG. I pondered the perfect topic for weeks, considering such topics as:

1. The value of health and why most people don’t get it.

 

2. Baby Boomer expectations growing up VS the reality today.

 

3. The aging woman’s perspective of life in general and her perceived role in society.

 

4. The state of America today and why WE NEED HELP in this department.

 

5. A personal account of a family in crisis – the sad story of a Dad, Mom, three young boys, and Mom’s little helper (booze).

 

Topic #1 seemed the most boring—and more appropriate for a Dr. Mercola convention.

Topics #2 required research, which I didn’t get around to.

Topic #3 would be my opinion only and maybe not that interesting.

Topic #4 would showcase my passion for wanting America to be better and do better. It’s a topic I write about often and why I call my website: America Commentary with a Kick!

Then I read Arianna Huffington had written a soon-to-be-published book about America and the whupping of the middle class and the American dream (one of my very best favorite themes). Although I could have been wrong, I thought Ms. Huffington might cover this topic a little more extensively than me. And perhaps have a few more readers as well!

That left Topic #5, which I thought would be the most gripping and most emotional. But I wasn’t sure how to write about this situation without being too specific (describing people and their behaviors) but still getting my point across.

In my real life when I first became aware of this situation, I wasn’t sure if I should say something to the parents (along the lines of nicely saying, “Clean up your act!”) or keep my trap shut. And if I did open my mouth, how much should I say?

Because there were children involved was my deciding factor to say something to the parents (separately). That effort went nowhere.

I also sent the parents a batch of books on the subject of alcoholism—the alcoholic in denial, the effects on children, adult children of alcoholics, etc. The books were met with anger and contempt.

I didn’t give a rip. Isn’t the welfare of children more important than the feelings of adults? Oh brother…

The situation today is even worse than before—as everyone knows that alcoholism doesn’t cure itself. The real tragedy is children who have to grow up around it. An alcoholic parent robs them of one of the most important things they need: a stable home life.

I pondered the ethics if the greater lesson of informing society that alcoholism is a poor parenting tool outweighed the privacy of individual people.

It’s not like this issue is a secret….or even that the boys involved aren’t aware of what’s going on…but again, because they are children, I don’t think I should blab online about what’s going on in their lives (in any more detail than I already have!).

I don’t think that makes me extra ethical. I think that’s common sense.

So, I dumped Topic #5, too. I ended up writing about my blog in general. Nothing spectacular. Oh well, there’s always Anniversary #2. Check back on August 31, 2011.