Clubs

Over the past few years I've come to understand the origin and purpose of clubs.

There are official clubs, ones with names that make you ponder the thought process that determined the name.  These clubs have special and restrictive membership criteria; you must be approved by a supermajority of the membership to be admitted.  The club's stated purpose is to help those less fortunate, read those not fortunate enough to be admitted to membership.  Secrecy is their cloak and exclusivity their scepter. 

There are unofficial clubs that require singularity of thought.  If you think like me and believe whatever I say, you can be a member of my club.

Another unofficial club requires that you be like me to become a member of this exclusive club.  No wiggle room here.  If I've done something then you must do what I do to be a member of my club.  

These are the clubs Groucho Marx had in mind when he coined the phrase, "I have half a mind to join a club and beat you over the head with it."

Ignoring, or worse, marginalizing those who don't believe that clubs should define them, is wrong for a multitude of reasons.  Nobody has the franchise on right and nobody should be in a position to be less than supportive of others.  Sure, you may need to live a certain way or crave recognition as somebody special.  That wasn't meant to provide a means to raise ourselves to lofty heights while treading upon others to reach that self-aggrandizing goal.

I don't consider myself a member of any club except the Human Race Club, the Human Beings Club and the Endowed by Our Creator With Certain Unalienable Rights club.  Everyone, regardless of age, race, gender, gender identity, sexual preference, socioeconomic status, weight, height, education, professional position, marital status, geographic location, etc., are members of these three clubs.

In the immortal words of Groucho, adapted for this writing, "I refuse to join [any other] club that would have me as a member."

And adding icing to the message, WC Fields said, "It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to."

I don't partake in religious debate or political debate.  These debates utilize opinion as the sword and conviction the shield.  People are entitled to their opinion.  Trying to change a person's opinion is like trying to push a rope up hill.  If the irrefutable fact isn't available or doesn't exist, then allow a person's opinion to be their prized possession.  If you think your education, societal status, position on the board of some organization gives you license to club someone with your opinion, you should really take stock of who you are.  Try to find yourself in the mirror of life.  You're in there among the multitude, one of many and not as important as you think you are.

If we live and let live, the world will be a better place.  Are you a person whose goal is to better the world, or only better yourself....  Where's that mirror?

(c) 2017 Nikki DiCaro - All Rights Reserved