Hilltowns Senior News for Friday, February 19, 2016
I’ve been thinking (I know, I know, here we go again…). We’re always being told to be “open minded,” but do we really mean it, and by the way, just exactly what does it mean?
It’s been one of my favorite mottoes, but I think I may be a little bit of a hypocrite when it comes right down to it. I think of myself as open-minded, but what that really means is that I’m willing to consider a new idea if it doesn’t disagree with something else that I’ve already decided.
A truly open mind would be open to any new idea, without prejudice, but I’m not very open to Nazis, or Satanists, or ax murdering for fun and profit. Of course I want you to be open-minded, but what that means is I want you to be open to my already-decided opinions. And I have a lot of them.
If we were truly open-minded, I’m not sure that it would be the best philosophy. If you open all the doors and windows, then anything can come in, including bugs, old advertising flyers, and rabid coyotes. So maybe we should at least put up screens, and look before we open the door. If you don’t, you could get hurt, but how open-minded is that?
We all see through filters — of our personal experiences, and what we’ve learned and been taught. But our personalities and interpretations filter what we learn.
I’ve known people who had appalling childhoods, with drug-addicted moms, and violent fathers, and other stuff I’d rather not think about, and yet they describe their parents as “having done the best they could.” Others have had wonderful, loving families, but are always sure that someone is attacking them, and strike back without provocation to “protect” themselves.
So what’s the truth, and who is right? I don’t know; I just have opinions, which brings me right back to the beginning.
From all I’ve read, it’s not that difficult to brainwash someone, or hypnotize them into doing something that’s not in their best interests. All you have to do is make the new idea sound logical, or for the greater good.
Sometimes those new concepts are right, and sometimes they are dead wrong. It’s all about emotions and interpretation. We all imagine that we’re smarter than we are, and that’s our greatest weakness.
It’s a lot like computer security; it’s not about secure versus not secure. It’s about where you decide to stop along the line in between those two points. You certainly don’t want anybody to steal your identity, but you don’t want it to take 20 minutes for the emergency room doc to find out that you’re allergic to penicillin.
I guess “open minded” really comes out as “I’ll listen to you and, if what you say doesn’t threaten me beyond my ability to accept, I’ll consider modifying my opinions.” Not very flattering, but it’s really the best that most of us can do.
If I’m aware of my filters and opinions, I can at least try to evaluate a new idea on its own merits. Of course, statements by politicians are not included.
Menu
And my opinion is that the food at our lunches just keeps getting better! We are now doing more of the cooking on-site, so veggies, pasta, etc. are all fresh, hot, and delicious.
The lunchtime menu for next week at the Hilltown Senior Center is here, so come and enjoy a lunch that you don’t have to cook. Doors open at 11 a.m., and lunch is served promptly at noon.
Of course, we always have games and cards on Mondays and Tuesdays, and our versatile songs mistress, Nancy Frueh, on Fridays.
— Monday, Feb. 22: Chili over rice, braised collard greens, cornbread, milk, and applesauce;
— Tuesday, Feb. 23: Roast pork with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, whole-wheat stuffing, milk, and tropical fruit.
— Friday, Feb. 26: Macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, California blend vegetables, whole-wheat bread, milk, and apricots.
Please call 24 hours in advance to 872-9400 to reserve lunch. Email HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" , or sign up when you come in. Tell us how many are coming, your name, and your telephone number. If you’d just like to come and help out, give Mary Moller a call at 861-6253, or email her at HYPERLINK "mailto:[email protected]" , and put “volunteer” in the subject line.
Lunches are provided by Helderberg Senior Services, the Albany County Department of Aging, and Senior Services of Albany. The Hilltown Senior Center is located at 1360 Helderberg Trail (Route 443) in Berne.