Taking "Mind Your Own D*mn Business" Personally
Taking "Mind Your Own D*mn Business" Personally
It seems so simple, until I apply it to myself.
Last night, soon-to-be President Kamala Harris introduced her VP pick and current Minnesota Governor Tim Walz who then gave a fantastic speech. Below is a quote that *really* stood out to me but if you want to read his whole speech go here (emphasis mine):
“Some of us in here are old enough to remember – I see you down there, I see those old white guys — some of us are old enough to remember when it was Republicans who were talking about freedom. It turns out now, what they meant was the government should be free to invade your doctor’s office. In Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and the personal choices that they make. Even if we wouldn’t make the same choice for ourselves, there is a golden rule: mind your own damn business.”
The bluntness is refreshing. I feel the same about people who think it is their responsibility to force their stigmatized religious views on LGBTQ+ people; they should mind their own business. Stay out of my marriage, family, life, and bedroom.
However, this line of thinking (mind your own damn business) has stuck with me all day today. How do I apply that to myself concerning other people’s business? What is the appropriate time to assert oneself into a conversation or issue? …when to oppose the stigmatizing beliefs of others? That kind of stuff.
It’s easy to make a long bullet-point list of what others should do to stay out of my business, but what about opportunities where I should mind my own business and stay out of theirs? I am old enough to know the answer to that in various circumstances and relationships. Yet it is still so easy to make a case for why I should interfere, but … should I?
Every time I start to write about this, it seems the concept is so simple, but it is not.
The pondering shall continue…
More about Randy…
WHY: A Memoir
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