It’s a word we’ve all heard. And perhaps most of us have used it at one time or another – even if we’re simply repeating someone. I would even propose that it’s been overused. I just used it the other day, and I thought to myself, “Do I really know what that means?” I wasn’t even sure I had used it in the proper context.

So I looked it up. It means “caustic” or “severe” as in criticism. Yep, I used it correctly. And I used it in this context:

The rhetoric that comes from those in the public eye is becoming increasingly filled with vitriol and hate. Case and point, there was a comedienne (I forgot her name) who “entertained” at the White House Press Corps dinner about two months ago. In her spiel, she said that she wished that Rush Limbaugh would die. Whether you love Rush or hate him, that is simply mean and evil. What’s equally amazing, however, is that there was very little “dust up” in the media from these vitriolic remarks. It’s as if we as a society have become numb to this type of uncouth behavior.

Now I suppose many of you are saying to yourselves, “Well, duh, Julie, our society has been going down the tubes for decades now!” And I suppose you’re right. But it just seems to me that we have reached a new low. How did we as a society become so incredibly caustic and mean? Has Freedom of Speech become Freedom to be Hateful? Are there no more mores? No more courtesies? No more politeness?

When and why did this happen? Well, I know the answer!

When a society throws God out the window, it no longer has its moorings. There is no anchor, no right and wrong, no reason to be polite or courteous, no good and no bad. This is where we stand today. We are headed down the path to anarchy. Now it’s going to take a while for us to get there – after all, there are still upstanding God-honoring folk in our society. But with all of our freedoms here in America, we have forgotten our history. Yes, we are a country that was built on freedom and liberty, but we are also a country that was built on faith in God. God’s moral laws is the basis for our laws today (“Thou shalt not kill” comes to mind…). If you check your history books, you will find that when a society turned its back on God’s moral law, the culture fell apart (Caligula comes to mind…).

God WILL remove the blessing that He bestowed upon this country for so many years. He will remove it because we as a nation have turned our backs to Him. I heard Anne Graham Lotz answer an interesting question a while back. Someone asked her why a loving God would turn His back on the people in New Orleans. Her response was something like, “Why shouldn’t He turn his back? We’ve turned ours from Him.” Interesting perspective.

Yes, God will remove the blessing. Come to think of it, maybe He already has.

I’ve got the tree up.  All the decorations are out.  I baked Christmas cookies last night.  I have a nice standing rib roast in the freezer.  I’ve sung “O Holy Night” for a Christmas party and will be singing it again on Christmas Eve.  I should be feeling more festive. 

One thing missing: I haven’t heard very much GOOD Christmas music.  Can’t standing listening to commercial radio.  All the classic tunes have be “popicized.”  The only classical station here (NPR station) barely acknowledges the “holiday.”  It’s really rather depressing.  I feel alienated from pop culture today.  Perhaps that is how my parents felt at my age.  I don’t know.

I’m not coming up with any solutions here — just quandries.

Our newly-elected future president actually asked Governor Jennifer Granholm (D-Michigan) to serve on his Economic Advisory Committee.  This is unfathomably stupid.  Does Mr. Obama not know that Michigan has the absolute WORST economy in our country?  We have the second-highest unemployment rate.  People are getting laid off left and right here.  There is no way my husband could start a remodeling business here if he wanted to.  Everyone is pinching pennies.  There are no new jobs coming into this state.  The roads are awful because the state can’t pay for proper upkeep.

Oddly enough, this brilliant state also just voted in a proposition which would require the state to fund stem cell research.  Whippee!  Another tax increase for us!!!

So my question is this: what was Mr. Obama THINKING???!!!  Gov. Granholm as an ECONOMIC ADVISER!  You’ve GOT to be kidding me.

Perhaps I’m just not bright enough (after all, I don’t have an Ivy League education), but it seems to me a new president would want economic advisers from states that are actually in a GOOD financial place. 

I’m just saying…

I have no idea what I’m doing with this, but I want to try to write something every day.

I suppose I can talk about music, since that is my career.  I love many different types of music, but I adore Italian Opera.  It never fails to move me.  The passion, the drama, the screaming high notes!! What’s not to love?

I’m also fond of post-Romantic German lieder.  Joseph Marx in particular.  The chromaticism is so expressive — one can’t help but be moved.

Well, it’s late already so I’m going to close.  But I’ll be back, and I promise to be more prepared.