STABLE MAN? WHAT HE IS, OR WHERE HE LIVES?

A stable man is good to know, whether it’s in the neighborhood or the horse barn.

If you see a man mucking out a stall, that’s a stable man.

The same also name applies to the guy who keeps his yard up, his car clean, and decorates his porch with flowers instead of old refrigerators.

From the outside looking in, that’s a man with proper priorities.

Problems start with some jackalope selling their own brand of stability.

Who among us needs to hear anyone telling us how stable they are?

Most likely we can decide based on our own experiences.

Things take a turn when someone insists we believe them, and browbeats us until we either believe, or don ‘t care. Whatever it takes to turn the noise off.

When it’s an angry man making statements, intimidation is the goal.

Take Montana’s governor for example:

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today issued the following statement on the United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

“Today marks a historic win for life, families, and science,” Gov. Gianforte said. “With this monumental decision, the Supreme Court has restored power to the American people and their elected representatives. I’m in discussions with legislative leaders on next steps as we work to protect life in Montana.”

Could someone inform Governor Greg that women are American people, too?

Stable Man Response

When older men, angry older men, get asked the wrong question out west, things happen.

“On the eve of a May 25 special election for the House in Montana, Gianforte was about to do a television interview when Jacobs asked a question about congressional Republicans’ health care plan when — as captured in an audio recording — Gianforte physically attacked him. Jacobs is heard on the recording saying the candidate had body-slammed him and broken his glasses.

“A spokesman for Gianforte issued a statement saying Jacobs, brandishing a cellphone, interrupted an interview and badgered the candidate with questions, and that Gianforte reacted by attempting ‘to grab the phone that was pushed in his face.’ …

“[However,] as we reported, three Fox News reporters who were in the room preparing for the interview with Gianforte confirmed that the candidate ‘grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground … then began punching the reporter.’ “

Let’s step back a moment for context.

When is the last time you choked someone and began punching them after slamming them to the ground?

You were either at war, in the octagon, or in third grade where we learn to keep our hands off other people’s necks.

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Confession: I choked someone. At least they said I was choking them.

It happened in my second ever high school wrestling match.

I was winning, took my opponent down, and tightened him up to pin him in a head and arm.

“You’re choking me,” he said.

“Tough shit,” I said.

The referee stopped the match, disqualified me, then followed me to the grandstands and kicked me out of the gym.

I left, wondering where else the ref was kicking me out of.

The lesson I learned? In wrestling, if someone says you’re choking them, they’re not choking for breath so don’t say anything.

Did Montana kick their wild man to the curb? No, he was elected governor.

Angry Men Scare People

The point of twisting up your face and screaming your message is to show how much you care?

If that’s the case, you need lessons on how to care about others, because that ain’t it.

When an angry man yells at you their aim is to intimidate, to cow you down.

They want to frighten you into doing what they say, to suspend your sense of right and wrong.

Too often, the yelling and anger work.

If you’ve never seen it, or heard it in person, you’ve seen it on television.

The odd thing is seeing people who pass as normal dip into the anger pool.

Their faces scrunch up like they might cry, then burst out with angry words.

It’s no accident when they practice in front of mirrors, in front of media advisors, and in front of people they’re trying to fire up.

Their anger is contagious, and you never know what might happen when it spreads.

Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words can never hurt? 

When those angry man words land inside the brains of people deprived of oxygen, they might pick up those sticks and stones.

Last Word Of The Day

Show you’re a stable man, or woman, by your actions.

Remind yourself that there are other people in the world who think as highly of themselves as you do.

Keep in mind that their opinion of themselves isn’t a judgement on you. You are not less because some stranger things they are better than you.

If you wonder about it, they might be better than you, but what’s it matter?

It doesn’t matter until you buy into some jackalope telling you it matters.

That’s their personal mythology, not yours.

Treat others the way you’d like to be treated. Does that sound familiar?

Yesterday I met some folks who had lived in Texas. I was thrilled to hear them talk about it.

“For all you hear about Texas, we really liked it. We weren’t sure at first, but the people were so nice. Down there they understand how to get along.

“We weren’t similar to our neighbors in our political points of view, but it wasn’t the barrier it is other places.”

That was music to this blogger’s ear.