Ironic Waiting
Isn't it ironic how we'd rather move backwards than sit and wait?
As an example, if we have to sit in our cars waiting for a long train, we often decide to turn around and try another way. No matter that the tracks cross our paths SOMEwhere or that we're going backwards and sideways and taking a long route. It probably would take us more time to get where we're going by trying to find an alternate route without a train than it would to just sit and wait for the train to pass.
I think this applies to life as well. If we feel we have to wait for something before moving forward, why do we think it would be better to take "two steps back" or look for an alternate route instead of patiently waiting for what we know we really want? It's like we'd rather spin our wheels than move slowly forward.
Ironic Rules
Isn't it ironic how what rules are what makes us civilized as humans, but we still throw them away whenever it doesn't interest us?
There are a variety of reasons why humans are higher or more advanced than other species, but one major one is that we have rules. Rules are what make us a society. Most of these rules control how we relate to each other, they're interpersonal rules. We have rules, laws, mores, that govern what is good manners and how to treat other people. Even most of our laws are based on how we are supposed to treat others. Ironically, we often set aside these rules when they go against our personal interests. If we don't think we'll get caught (or if we don't think about it), we do whatever we feel like and to hell with the rest of the world. "I'll steal if there's no cameras or people watching. I'll speed on highways and in the city, even swerve in front of other cars (that's how I think of them, not people) to try to get where I'm going just a minute sooner. I'll lie or act like someone else if it means the girl in the bar will come home with me. And when I'm in a crowd, it's all about me and where I want to get to, not about manners or being kind to the people around me."
It's ironic that we think of ourselves as civilized, but throw out the rules whenever it suits us.
Ironic School Leadership
Isn't it ironic how public school administrators are "all about the children" until something happens that might make them look bad, when they do their best to cover things up?
Last month, a 16-year-old, developmentally disabled girl at Mifflin High School right here in Columbus, OH, was sexually and physically abused. What did the administration do? Urge the father not to call 911. Stay sequestered in stupid meetings about bell schedules while the front-line people tried to do damage control. Nobody even called a nurse for the poor girl! And once her father finally did call the police, they arrived at the school to find that all of the school administrators had gone home!
And then they had the nerve to complain about being suspended because of this incident, calling their suspensions "unwarranted." At least the principal is in the process of getting canned! How much do you want to bet that this happens in other public school districts, too? These are the leaders in our public schools,
caring for our children!
Ironic Doctrine
Isn't it ironic how so many Catholics want the new pope to be more inclusive?
I know some Catholics who honestly believe there are many ways to God. Which makes me wonder why they're still part of the Catholic Church. What ever happened to
Extra Ecclesia Nulla Salus? Are these people honestly expecting the staunch and conservative defender of Catholic doctrine, who just this week spoke out against relativism, to contradict it and be accepting of other religions as permissible ways to God? I expect just the opposite. Possibly even an
ex cathedra proclamation this first year that reaffirms the doctrine that there is no salvation outside the Church. After all, dialogue with other religions is not the same as embracing other religions. If people don't believe this traditional and ancient doctrine, they don't belong in the Church and, dare I say, are not truly a part of it! They'd be better off becoming Buddhists.
Ironic Pain
Isn't it ironic that we do tend to hurt those we love?
Seems like we either get too familiar or just callous. After all, we've already won the girl, so now we can focus on ourselves again. Or with your immediate family, you're kind of stuck with them, and you don't have to work to keep them, so you hurt them by focusing only on what you care about. Same's true for fruits and flowers. It's not until you crush it that it really starts to smell sweet. And even that's in our own interests, not really those of the plant involved.
Maybe it's because we all tend to be insensitive when we think there's nothing to lose. We're oblivious of the pain we cause, just like Lennie in Steinbeck's
Of Mice and Men. He thought the mice he found in the field we soft and cuddly so he'd squeeze them and kill them. Innocent, but he caused pain
because of his love. Something to think about.
You always hurt the one you love
The one you shouldn't hurt at all.
You always take the sweetest rose
And crush it till the petals fall.
You always break the kindest heart
With a hasty word you can't recall.
So if I broke your heart last night
It's because I love you most of all.
- Michael Buble
Ironic Church
Isn't it ironic that Cardinal Bernard Law, so recently removed from his role as archbishop of Boston for protecting priests that sexually abused children is now one of the primary cardinals in Rome and will be performing one of the nine funeral masses for Pope John Paul II?
He's not fit to lead the church in Boston, but let's move him to Rome, give him a promotion and, by inference, condone what he allowed to happen in Boston! Not only is he a cardinal for one of the four major basilicas in Rome, but he's also going to be part of the upcoming conclave, with a voice as to who becomes the next pope! It shows that what happened in the United States has hardly affected the Church of Rome. For all that they're concerned about numbers and church attendance, they sure aren't paying much attention to the people. Insead, they're playing the typical insider's game, where those with power consolidate their power. And the common people have to just deal with it.
Ironic Individualism
Isn't it ironic that people try so hard to be different and want so badly to belong, all at the same time?
People generally want to be recognized as different or special and yet they want to be part of a group at the same time. Some feel lonely, unappreciated, or overlooked, and want to feel a sense of belonging. Let's all try to be "different" in the same way. Where does that get us? Where is the line between unique and part of a rising subculture? Once everyone is tattooed and pierced and "modified," then we're all the same again. It's pretty hard to be unique and assimilated at the same time. Unless you're a part of
Mensa, whose only criterion for membership is that your intelligence is in the top 2% of society, in which case you do belong and stand out at the same time.
Ironic Eyes
Isn't it ironic how so many people in the world are lonely, often violently so, and yet when you pass them on the street, they won't even look you in the eye? It is said that the eyes are the gateway to the soul. You can tell a lot about a person by looking in their eyes. Or observing how hard they avoid it.
If people are so desperate for companionship, wouldn't you think they would at least TRY to make a connection to others by LOOKING at them? It doesn't take much effort to move your eyeballs, does it? But people are so insecure that they will often go to great lengths just to be able to NOT look at you as you walk past. And I bet those people are the ones hurting the most, the loneliest.
