We've all heard it, and probably said it - The book - Bright-sided:

PhillieG

DennisR said:

Lighten up yourself, Phil,
Lighten up yourself, Phil, it ain't personal
I don't believe I posted that you had personally attacked Christianity, however Ms Ehrenreich has a long Biography of doing so and nearly all of her writings and Associations most definitely do.
Incidentally, the US doesn't have a monopoly on citizens that feel a sense of entitlement, in fact most of Europe has a population with a far greater sense of Priviledges and freebie entitlements than Americans have ever had. Take a look at Germany, France, or Italy, just to name a few notable Countries whose citizens demand more Socialistic benefits than the Countries can financially sustain and which has caused them to import workers to pay for it all that are in turn denied the benefits they're working to provide.

Of course, we all like to have our Bad days, unfortunately we aren't wise enough, or unable to avoid other people when we're enjoying them.

I have a customer I see every few months, a Poet Lauteate from Alaska, actually. Every time he comes in, I always say, "Good Morning", He always answers, "No Thanks, I've got other plans for my day", (with a wry grin and a chuckle).

DennisR

No Problem Dennis
"That's hardly the same as your picture of EVERYONE feeling that they deserve everything just because they have a face.
You really need to find a better class of friends, try talking to real working people sometime, perhaps even try reading something that hasn't been written by someone who's associated with nearly every organization that has an "ist" or "ism" attached to it's name and can't even be sarcastic, (the lowest form of wit), without punctuating it with some negative reference to Christianity as Atheists are wont to do."

I won't take it personally at all :-)
-phil

~ It seems it's more about Ms Ehrenreich than about me.

just4Brooks

PhillieG said:

Dennis, I wasn't clear or you missed the point
I've tried to be as clear as I can with this post but it really seems to have been misunderstood or something.
I did not say that it is bad to be positive or that it isn't good to hear people tell you that you should try to be positive. Most everyone I know and associate with are as you say, they work very hard to stay positive, raise their families, provide food and shelter, keep their marriages together, pay their bills, and generally enjoy the time they have on Earth as best they can. There is a sense of entitlement in America but not EVERYONE feels that way. I wrote that, I apologize, there is never a scenario where EVERYONE does anything except that we all were born and will die (and most of us will pay taxes - I hope).

My point is that if someone wants to feel like crap, it's OK if THEY do. THEY don't need people telling them the HAVE TO BE POSITIVE, it's their choice.

This was a book written by someone else, not by me. I really feel you totally missed the message of my post, I even wrote partway though this post that it was being misunderstood. I guess you didn't read that. I also don't think I attacked Christianity either.

There seems to be some major sarchasm between us.
Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

Lighten up Dennis (but only if YOU want to)
This post wasn't as serious as it was taken.
--phil

I agree with Pill
Some days I have them down days. I truly think it's the bad days that make you stronger person. It everyday was a positive one how wourd we learn to get through the tough days? Live is for learning,

Brooks

Hatshepsut

Being Bright vs. Being Bright-Sided
Hello Phil:

I was reading an article in the magazine "In These Times" today with an interview with Barbara Ehrenreich about the "Bright -Sided" book you mention in your post. I found it interesting that the interview focused on the political and economic use of "bright-siding" to discount people's misfortunes by just telling them (us) to "buck up" because the problems they (we) face are rooted in our own failure to perform up to par. (Performing up to par includes having a positive attitude in this context.)

Like you and Dennis, I hang around regular working people. Heck, I am (or was until my husband was diagnosed and needed me as a caregiver) a regular working person (a high school teacher) who was raised in a decidedly lower-middle-class household. I remember that my family lived in constant fear that my father (an oil worker) would lose his job. And, there was a self-inflicted stigma to being a family with no job and no means of support. This brings back bad memories.

As far as colon cancer and "bright-siding" goes, I think positive thinking helps one to cope with the awful realities of having cancer and facing the unknown. I certainly appreciate the intentions of the people who have stepped forward an tried to give us comfort during difficult times. I know that I feel better physically and emotionally when I approach the health challenges my husband has been given with a positive attitude. On the other hand, mindless positivity is a no win game. More than once on this board I have stated my belief that knowledge is power in fighting cancer. Having information about this disease gives me the strength to face it down and the knowledge to ask for the best treatments for my husband.

In the interview I referenced above, Enrenreich is quoted as saying (in reference to societal problems): "What could be more irresponsible than to say, 'If we just think it's going to be alright, it's going to be alright.'" Similarly, I think it is irresponsible (or at least very foolish) to approach this incredible challenge colon cancer has thrown into our lives with anything less than a total commitment to understand our enemy and fight to win every step of the way.

My husband and I intend to be bright but we don't intend to be "bright-sided."


Hatshepsut