A New Perspective, An Age-Old Divide
I try to stay away from political and even personal posts on this blog. This is, after all, supposed to be about fine jewelry and jewelry designers. But, today's climate....
The suffering in recent weeks in unbearable. Just this past week alone, my news feed was filled with stories about police officers being ambushed and killed; a group of teenagers who set a litter of puppies on fire and distributed video of the horrific abuse; a petition to free the 'world's saddest polar bear' from a shopping mall display in China; a bull being tortured and blinded by fire for sport; a collection of murder-suicides and yet another police officer killed in my hometown while responding to protect others.
The hatred, the negativity in our world today is stifling. I feel overwhelmingly sad. I feel compelled to speak out from a different point of view. The point of view of a responder, a wife, an animal lover and a global citizen.
You see, jewelry is an escape for me. It's my part time escape and one of my full time loves. I sometimes wish, and daydream, that I led a more creative life away from all this hatred, abuse and killing. Where it wasn't something I had to see first-hand on a daily basis. A life like any number of the designers or artisans whom I have profiled or who's work holds a place of honor in my jewelry box. But I don't.
In my *real world,* I don't work for a jeweler, an antique jewelry auction house or artisan. I work behind the scenes in a world that most have never heard of - Emergency Management. Hardly inspired, its name is exactly what it is. I manage (and, hopefully, prepare) for other peoples' emergencies. It is my job to make sure that my colleagues are educated, trained, prepared and capable of responding to any incident that may affect our little part of this world. I am (supposed to be) the voice of reason. The calm in their storm.
In the course of my work in this field for the past (almost) 20 years, I've also been a search and recovery canine owner/handler/trainer (you can read about a special piece of jewelry related to that work here.); a member of a National Incident Management Team; a dog fighting crime scene investigator; a critical incident stress counselor and I've even received training in responding to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). So...I think you can imagine why I need an escape from my *real world* on occasion and stunning fine jewelry becomes the perfect outlet.
But beyond all of that, I support our Nation's law enforcement officers as well as those individuals and professions throughout the world who put their lives on the line to protect, save or recover those who don't. Those of you who know me personally, know my connection to that "Thin Blue Line" and will understand why I don't refer to it directly in public forums (even one like my own blog).
But what I am seeing in our world today has me both scared, thankful and puzzled.
Scared for my friends and relatives who walk that line throughout the world. Scared that one day, they will respond to a call for assistance only to be ambushed, shot in the head, left for dead and turned into a martyr when what they really wanted to do was protect people, love their families and be able to sleep at night like the rest of us.
Thankful that some of my friends and family have left that line behind - although it will always be a part of them. I am thankful that they made it through their service years with only a few cuts, a bullet hole or two and a lower-level case of PTSD.
Puzzled because I don't understand. I don't understand why history continues to repeat itself - AND WE LET IT. Every race, religion, sexual orientation, gender and ethnic background has been discriminated against at some point in our combined human history - or still is (can anyone say unequal pay for women doing the same job as men?!). Does this make it right? Of course not! But isn't that exactly what we are doing right now? Discriminating and chanting "I wanna see dead cops!" simply because a group of individuals all have a single characteristic in common? They all wear a police uniform. How is this form of discrimination any different than any other form of discrimination based upon a single common characteristic?
Are there bad people in every profession; every walk of life? Absolutely! They are, unfortunately, what keeps people like me employed in the *real world* and necessitates the existence of my profession. Does dialogue need to occur between all the parties involved? Certainly. Without a doubt. Do more lives need to be lost unnecessarily? Never.
But when my news feed is filled with so much ugliness, hatred, condemnation and supposed injustice (real or unreal); I have to wonder - When did we all forget that the blood we shed is the same color regardless of skin color, uniform, species, etc.? When did we decided that the Golden Rule only applies to some and not all? Why must we let hate overpower empathy and civility? And when will it all stop? When will WE ALL MAKE IT STOP by holding ourselves personally accountable to a higher standard of behavior, ethics and morality?
The suffering in recent weeks in unbearable. Just this past week alone, my news feed was filled with stories about police officers being ambushed and killed; a group of teenagers who set a litter of puppies on fire and distributed video of the horrific abuse; a petition to free the 'world's saddest polar bear' from a shopping mall display in China; a bull being tortured and blinded by fire for sport; a collection of murder-suicides and yet another police officer killed in my hometown while responding to protect others.
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| An Inspired Antiquity exclusive, the proceeds of this Sterling Silver & Sapphire (or Ruby) Necklace go to support S.A.F.E. You can read more about the work that S.A.F.E. does to support the families of Law Enforcement Officers & Firefighters by visiting our "Giving Back" page, here. |
The hatred, the negativity in our world today is stifling. I feel overwhelmingly sad. I feel compelled to speak out from a different point of view. The point of view of a responder, a wife, an animal lover and a global citizen.
 |
| The stunning necklace by Retablo donates 13% of all proceeds to areas Animal Rescue Groups. |
You see, jewelry is an escape for me. It's my part time escape and one of my full time loves. I sometimes wish, and daydream, that I led a more creative life away from all this hatred, abuse and killing. Where it wasn't something I had to see first-hand on a daily basis. A life like any number of the designers or artisans whom I have profiled or who's work holds a place of honor in my jewelry box. But I don't.
In my *real world,* I don't work for a jeweler, an antique jewelry auction house or artisan. I work behind the scenes in a world that most have never heard of - Emergency Management. Hardly inspired, its name is exactly what it is. I manage (and, hopefully, prepare) for other peoples' emergencies. It is my job to make sure that my colleagues are educated, trained, prepared and capable of responding to any incident that may affect our little part of this world. I am (supposed to be) the voice of reason. The calm in their storm.
 |
| The purchase of this bracelet by Survival Straps will result in 25% of the purchase price being donated to OneOrlando.org. |
In the course of my work in this field for the past (almost) 20 years, I've also been a search and recovery canine owner/handler/trainer (you can read about a special piece of jewelry related to that work here.); a member of a National Incident Management Team; a dog fighting crime scene investigator; a critical incident stress counselor and I've even received training in responding to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). So...I think you can imagine why I need an escape from my *real world* on occasion and stunning fine jewelry becomes the perfect outlet.
But beyond all of that, I support our Nation's law enforcement officers as well as those individuals and professions throughout the world who put their lives on the line to protect, save or recover those who don't. Those of you who know me personally, know my connection to that "Thin Blue Line" and will understand why I don't refer to it directly in public forums (even one like my own blog).
 |
| When you purchase this "Be Brave" Necklace from Bravelets.com, $10 will be donated to Wives Behind the Badge - a non-profit that provides a number of resources to the families of Law Enforcement Officers. |
But what I am seeing in our world today has me both scared, thankful and puzzled.
Scared for my friends and relatives who walk that line throughout the world. Scared that one day, they will respond to a call for assistance only to be ambushed, shot in the head, left for dead and turned into a martyr when what they really wanted to do was protect people, love their families and be able to sleep at night like the rest of us.
Thankful that some of my friends and family have left that line behind - although it will always be a part of them. I am thankful that they made it through their service years with only a few cuts, a bullet hole or two and a lower-level case of PTSD.
 |
| Buying this little Sterling Silver Paw Print Necklace from RescueArtWorks will support Rocky Mount, VA-area animal rescue groups. |
Puzzled because I don't understand. I don't understand why history continues to repeat itself - AND WE LET IT. Every race, religion, sexual orientation, gender and ethnic background has been discriminated against at some point in our combined human history - or still is (can anyone say unequal pay for women doing the same job as men?!). Does this make it right? Of course not! But isn't that exactly what we are doing right now? Discriminating and chanting "I wanna see dead cops!" simply because a group of individuals all have a single characteristic in common? They all wear a police uniform. How is this form of discrimination any different than any other form of discrimination based upon a single common characteristic?
 |
| Every purchase of the Amelia Bracelet from Bravelets.com will result in a $10 donation to the National Alliance for Law Enforcement Support which provides resources & emotional support to Law Enforcement Officers & Firefighters as well as serving as a positive voice in the community. |
Are there bad people in every profession; every walk of life? Absolutely! They are, unfortunately, what keeps people like me employed in the *real world* and necessitates the existence of my profession. Does dialogue need to occur between all the parties involved? Certainly. Without a doubt. Do more lives need to be lost unnecessarily? Never.
But when my news feed is filled with so much ugliness, hatred, condemnation and supposed injustice (real or unreal); I have to wonder - When did we all forget that the blood we shed is the same color regardless of skin color, uniform, species, etc.? When did we decided that the Golden Rule only applies to some and not all? Why must we let hate overpower empathy and civility? And when will it all stop? When will WE ALL MAKE IT STOP by holding ourselves personally accountable to a higher standard of behavior, ethics and morality?
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