Something On My Mind

This is one of my rare moments of commentary not related to food, but something that has been bothering me since I saw this last night.  I do my best to keep my politics out of my blog.  I have not set it up to be a political platform, nor do I want it to be.  I have my viewpoints, and I most definitely have strong opinions about why I feel and vote the way I do.  I am entitled to my opinions just as you and everyone else is entitled to yours and theirs, just as it should be.  I am going to be blunt and blurt it right out to all of you.  If you dislike me or un-follow me because of it then so be it.  Not my problem.  I am a conservative thinker.  I really could care less how other people think, feel or vote, and I try my best to respect others’ opinions and viewpoints, however, I at least hope for the same from others.  Last night I came across a post on Facebook that really bothered me.  It tied my personal and political viewpoints to what I should and should not eat and what I should and should not cook and decide to share and what I should and should not enjoy.  UMMMMMMMM!!!!!!  I really don’t think what I cook or eat or enjoy to eat is anyone else’s business, and I have NEVER in my life thought of my food choices as political.  But I guess in today’s world, EVERYTHING is political, apparently even our food choices.  I enjoy food.  I enjoy foods from all over the world and all ethncities  I always have, and always will.  I really don’t quite know how I am supposed to react to this.  I ignored it and just moved on, however, I thought about it all last night and all morning.  I am still bothered and upset about this.  Now that I have “outed” myself, if you dare to still follow me and speak to me, I am interested in your thoughts.

 

20170930_162615

Author: ajeanneinthekitchen

I have worked in the restaurant and catering industry for over 35 years. I attended 2 culinary schools in Southern California, and have a degree in culinary arts from the Southern California School of Culinary Arts, as well as a few other degrees in other areas. I love to cook and I love to feed people.

102 thoughts on “Something On My Mind”

      5. ‘If you’re not one of us you’re one of them’… when friendship relies on tenets like this it’s not real friendship at all. If we can’t have differing opinions and appreciate the difference then cut the crap and just put the soylent green on the shelves already.
        Friends like that aren’t friends, they’re collectors.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. I’m super curious to know the details. It’s difficult to fathom that food could be politicized. HOW?
    Funnily enough, I heard just the other day that someone I know from a different country announced that they would not shake the head of his “friends” if he found out that they were voting for certain people. Really?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  3. Amen Jeanne! People on the left have become totally unhinged regarding politics. It’s ridiculous. It’s not enough for them to say everything is racist, now they have to go after food too! It’s crazy. I love seeing all the different food you make! I say keep being you and make what you want! 🙂 God bless!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. Everything is a division tool these days. Everything! And it could easily come to a point of what toilet paper you use or how you wipe could be used against you.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you. Some actual friends of mine, who I have known for most of my life decided that because I am a conservative thinker, and disagree with open boarders and all the illegals crossing it freely that I should only eat, cook and appreciate things that are from America, and that I have no business writing about or cooking Mexican food or appreciating the Mexican culture.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. O, that is disappointing to hear. Mexican food and culture are beautiful. Part of the fascination of cooking is trying out unique favours and dishes, which vary so much globally. Creating with food is a very special talent and gift. Thanks for sharing. 🤗

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Ah. I was wondering about the specifics. You just got accused of “cultural appropriation”. That’s like saying you can’t eat French food because you aren’t French. People have traveled the world and tasted different cuisines. They come home and try their hand at it. Culture is a unique thing and not sharing it or welcoming visitors is a mild form of isolationism. Besides…we are all mutts, anyway and with DNA research…

        Perhaps your friends need to tend to their own business. Have they nothing better to do than complain on social media?

        Speaking of, I have a placeholder on FB so Messenger will work but, other than that, I am not on any other social media.

        Liked by 2 people

  10. I killed my Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts over the last few years because they became totally toxic (and I loathe the people running those companies). That’s why I started a blog, actually, to have a format to keep friends and family informed about what we are doing without all the other baggage and outrage du jour. I’m kind of loud and proud about politics on WP, but that’s because education policy and economics is such a big deal to me personally and I enjoy getting into the details. Long-form writing for the most part seems like it encourages more thoughtful interactions and more introspection in general. I’m kind of dumbfounded by the sheer amount of rage people are carrying around with them these days – and in my experience, most of it is coming from the left, who have started caricaturing and condemning folks over virtually any and every perceived misstep. I imagine most of them are muted by their other acquaintances, and so the only people they are really hurting are the people who are kind enough to still try and give them a chance.

    Chin up, you write great stuff here. Yours is one of my favorite blogs to follow, and I look forward to reading literally everything you post.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for the very encouraging words and praise. I am not on Twitter or Instagram, and I am seriously considering deleting my Facebook account. I could not agree with your more. The only reason why I am really still on Facebook is because I have so many followers and readers attached to Facebook. But I made just take the loss and maintain my sanity.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. It’s a legitimately tough decision to make. I live in Florida, and most of my family is in Colorado and California, where I grew up, and my older friends are in Texas, where I went to college. I almost never travel out west (maybe I should get onto that), so Facebook was this cool way of interacting with people I loved on a daily basis. But after everything became so vicious, most of them stopped posting anything anyway, and they were only reacting to what I was posting. Now that they have to text or email me to talk to me, I get to see a lot more of what’s going on their worlds because they feel safer talking off social media. It’s kind of ironic really.

        The first couple weeks off of FB were brutal because it had become such a physical habit. Our daughter would say something funny, and I would run to post it,etc. But I got over it. I didn’t realize how much all those uncalled for little jabs were unnecessarily ruining my day until they were gone. In FB groups, especially, it seemed like people were just looking for excuses to pick a fight. Even my gardening and astronomy groups were full of political trolls after a while. It’s bonkers.

        Liked by 2 people

  11. Side note, as not to confess: You and yours below is generalizing, not specific to you. 😊

    I am, and always will be a supporter of free speech. I, like you, believe everyone has the right to voice and discuss their opinions. And you know, if you do it reasonably, respectfully, and with an openness to hear and consider my point of view we can have a great discussion that might even have me considering your viewpoints.

    What I do not appreciate is you trying to shove your opinion down my throat. Give me your thoughts, I’ll research, consider, and either stand up with you next time or respectfully decline your point of view. Especially when it comes to my food. Let me repeat, especially when it comes to my food! I love vegan, vegetarian, Asian, Mexican, Italian, German, American, keto, low-carb, and fasting every now and again. In short, I do what I want. 😜

    I am not sure what you (now I mean you 😊) read, but I do have a lot of vegan friends that try to force their opinions on me and always ask me why I still eat meat when I refuse to raise cattle. I kindly explain that my not raising meat on the farm is not a political or food stance, it is because I become too darn attached. (Never name your food!) Now some of you like octopus and I’m going to say that makes me cringe. But, I respect your right to eat it. I also have mad respect for those who choose not to eat meat, I understand the need for a good ole burger every now and again, and I respect those ethnic choices I do not always understand!

    Well, Jeanne, you certainly got us talking! 😂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  12. Jeanne, It has come to my attention that you have posted this due to my post of an article “Attention Angry White People”. That you feel that the post was directed at you, and that I (and Carolyn I assume) were attacking you. I wanted you to know that NOTHING could have been farther from the truth, from my perspective. I actually read the article, it resonated with me, and I posted it. I DO NOT read your posts, NOR do I make posts to disparage you. I posted that for ALL people who feel that they appropriate other cultures while declaring that we have open borders and that brown people should go back to where they came from. This was not personal to you, and I find it disappointing that you took it so, and felt the need to label me as “feeling superior” and that you were targeted. It speaks to you more than my message. I have been a consistent supporter of equal rights for all. I did not post this with you in mind. Here is the article, if you care to read it. It’s clear to me that you haven’t.

    What I said on my Facebook post was:
    This gives you great perspective, you don’t like our diversity… then don’t be a hypocrite… stop eating food, listening to music, and enjoying products made by immigrants! You can’t say “go back to where you came from” and still enjoy all the benefits that immigrants have brought us! Including technology and patents!

    You can see that NOWHERE did I mention you. I don’t read your blogs, so I had no idea that you would personalize this. I now know where I stand with you. Thanks for the clarity. Disappointing.

    View at Medium.com

    Like

    Reply

    1. Very disappointing indeed. Whether or not you and Carolyn “meant” it to be directed towards me, it was certainly directed towards anyone who thinks differently than you, of which I am one. There has been a lot said, by all of us, that I wish we could undo, but we can’t. We can’t go back to a place and time of innocence and unknowing.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    2. Disappointing indeed. Your comment is just ignorant. “And still enjoy all the benefits that immigrants have brought us”. You know that cuisine, music, and other products are international not only due to immigration but also due to travel and more, right?

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  13. I do my best to avoid all politics. I’ll apologize to a blogger if he suddenly gets all political on me. I will not click the Like button either way. Like you, I have my reasons for how I vote, I use my own mind to make these decisions, I don’t need ranting bloggers to try to influence one way or the other.
    Stick with your own opinions and please no Republican hash or Democrat stew recipes – haha 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  14. People are becoming more heated, more fired up and outspoken in their opinions – social media makes them feel no fear.

    I understand people having genuine concerns but when they express themselves in an unreasonable and belligerent way it can be pretty scary.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. It’s partly why I deleted FB (along with the constant privacy breaches). I also encountered the lefty food police. But I saw nasty comments from people on the right as well re other topics.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Well, to heck with them!

    I’ll still have my steak rare and drink from plastic straws. If I was not using social media to market my books, I would have dropped my accounts long ago.

    And, I will not be a member of the “silent” majority. If we want to keep our country, we’re going to have to fight back. Sad … but true.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I agree. The radical extremists on BOTH sides are very dangerous indeed. What really gets me though, is that so many people believe just because I DO NOT support open borders, nor do I support ILLEGAL immigration, then I must not support any immigration at all. Not true. I am all for LEGAL immigration. My dad was an immigrant, but he came over here and did things legally. If not, he would have been deported back to Australia within 30 days of his being here, and this was back in 1947, right after WWII. I am also VERY opposed to all the free stuff that is being given to all these people who seem to think it is OK to come here, illegally and break the law; things we do not even provide for our own citizens, who by the way, have to pay for all these things we ourselves do not have access to.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      1. The only thing I would say about your last sentence is do you know this is happening every time? Here in the UK, the press reports how immigrants get a free house, free tv, 23k a year etc etc etc. When in fact this might happen once in a blue moon and in fact immigrants are not allowed here unless they can prove that they can support themselves. Refugees are given housing for x amount of time till their case is heard and are put up in emergency housing, which could be a very large house, but it will be a HMO with loads of other people, but that will be desorted in the press.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. But how do you know that? And how do they do it? Here you have to have a NI number to work or immigration status paperwork. You can’t get a house unless you have a job, you can’t get a job unless you have a house. Its just not as simple as wondering into the country, walking up to the local official office and demanding welfare, certainly in the UK it doesn’t work like that although the newspapers will pick up on the very rare case that is has happened, rather than the millions of illegal immigrants it doesn’t happen to

        Liked by 1 person

      5. But how do you know? Who is reporting this is happening? What government bodies are giving the figures?

        Let me put it another way, we had a massive scandal here where it was revealed a stack load of rich people were evading tax by putting it off shore, there was a ton of vitral thrown at these people, yet not one single paper ever does an article on how many rich people pay their tax in the right way and not hide it. Also the fact what these people were doing is perfectly legal, maybe some of the hate should of been thrown at the government who made the tax laws in the first place.

        if illegal immigrants are getting thousands of dollars of things, why are they? What law is allowing them to do that?

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Well, our Presidential candidates are preparing for their run at President, and the elections are coming up next year. ALL of the Democratic hopefuls are promising FREE medical care, housing and education FOR ALL ILLEGAL immigrants, at the expense of ALL American citizens. They are all promising this, and they have been providing it for years and years. It’s WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! Our own Veterans do not get treated as well as people crossing over the Southern Borders illegally.

        Liked by 3 people

      7. From a very quick google, they seem to be saying that they want affordable health care for everyone. But (and I am quoting here as I don’t fully understand it) “undocumented immigrants to purchase coverage through the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act, but only with their own money.”

        That doesn’t sound like they are giving illegal immigrants free medical care, infact it sounds very much like our NHS

        Liked by 1 person

      10. Our media sources ARE TOTALLY 100% biased towards the Left. It is hard to find unbiased news sources these days, which makes it very difficult to actually get to the truth, or to even hear a different side of the stories being told.

        Liked by 1 person

  21. WOW I think I got the jest of this conversation, and have to admit I Don’t understand how anyone got Butt hurt from any statement made. Its called freedom of speech . We all have beliefs, If its not directed at you don’t take it personal.
    We are all ready to fight for OUR beliefs and at the same time we say,” but you can think anyway you want, i will respect that.” Yet that doesn’t happen.
    Personally I think we have gotten to self center . We get All Butt hurt over the stupid stuff. We read far to much into things posted,don’t twist meaning into others words. Have a conversation with each other. After all aren’t you f
    Friends and NOT Running mates? When something upsets us we need to just step back and cool down , and TALK to the person. You may find out most of the time it wasn’t what you read at all.
    Some times we have to stop typing and actually talk. Conversations, face to face, teaches us a lot, opens up our minds ,broadens our thoughts. Who knows we may even learn something new! We are adults! We need to stop Drama and stop thinking its all directed towards us.
    Our President has the Cornered the market on Drama,and we can see how well that’s working! <<<< My Political Statement :-} you want to discuss it? Call Me!
    Still love You Jeanne!
    Your Friend from IOWA

    Like

    Reply

    1. Rose, the fact that this has even exploded like it has is BECAUSE people don’t talk face-to-face anymore. Believe me, I want nothing more than to be able to have a good conversation with someone about a bunch of various issues, but what things have come to is that “I can say whatever I want, and if you disagree with me, then you are the enemy””. I NEVER even mentioned where I read this, and YES, I read the article that was mentioned, and yet I was attacked. I felt the article was very condescending and untrue, and just like so many other things, if you are looking for something, you are going to find it. Even you are patronizing me by telling me not to be affected by something that does actually really bother me. Because I am a conservative, people think it’s OK to call me every bad name in the book, and that I am somehow evil, and that it is justified, and all because I think differently and DON’t buy into the Liberal ideas. So, in as much as I agree with a lot of what you are saying, BOTH sides and ALL people need to stop the drama. Part of the reason for all this “drama” as you call it is because people have been forced to suppress their thoughts and ideas for to long and we no longer are able to have discussions anymore. I also agree that if we could go back to the days of actually having conversations and debates that we as a society would NOT be in this position, but sadly, I think those days are long gone.

      Whether this article and post were directed to me specifically or not is not the point. My point is that someone felt that it was OK to label me and all my fellow conservative thinkers in this light, and to equate ILLEGAL immigration as the same as LEGAL immigration, and to not understand that makes us all evil and horrible people. Just because I support the laws that we have in place regarding legal and illegal immigration does not make me a bad person who is against all immigration. NO country in the world can survive with open borders, let alone open borders AND giving away all the “free benefits” to people just because they want them. Sorry. It just doesn’t work that way.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    2. Rose, Thank you! This was in no way directed at Jeanne and I don’t understand how my supporting an article has created all this hoopla. Just because I said that does not mean I’m attacking anyone. Clearly Jeanne has more issues with my overall perspective than this one article, but I don’t have any qualms with her personally. She has her perspective and I have mine. We are both entitled to our opinions but that doesn’t take away from us as people. I don’t feel personally attached when she posts differing opinions. I wish things were different.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  23. Pingback: And This is the Catalyst that Started it All – A Jeanne in the Kitchen

  27. Some people have nothing else to do during the day. One’s political leanings is indicative of food preferences? OK. Sure. Yeah. Right. Don’t let these lonely folks get under your skin. Keep cooking, writing, and sharing your wonderful stories with the rest of us. I for one, am so pleased and thorough enjoy your blog.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  28. I love every single thing about this post! I admire people who can take a stance and share their opinions with others. This is especially cool since having conservative views isn’t mainstream. Thank you for risking your follower count! You just gained a new one 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you. I definitely opened myself up and made myself vulnerable, but overall, I got a lot of positive feedback too. I am sick and tired of the Liberal Left just saying whatever they feel and completely disregarding the effects these things have on others who just happen to disagree with their points of view. I even got a temporary ban from Facebook because of it too, which was the catalyst for me using it as little as possible. I found I still have to be connected to Facebook for my blog, but other than my blog, I have not posted anything on Facebook since. It is very scary to me how all of our freedoms are being taken away just because people can’t handle differences of opinion and be civil or better yet, just walk away.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment