Blog Philosophy

After a major life change earlier this year, I had to adjust my schedule and priorities. It was not fair and it involved a traumatic loss, but I trust that God allowed it to happen for a reason. I know He is working right now even though I don’t know what He’s doing yet.

As someone who works and goes to grad school, my schedule is packed. But last year someone suggested that I start a blog. I thought, “whoa, when do I have time?” Between work, school, my people, and life, that didn’t sound possible.

But I come from a family that thinks, reads, and writes about 10 miles an hour faster than average. While that does not make us better or smarter than other people, I found that when I finally started writing, the words flowed like rain, thanks, in part, to what seems like a genetic extra gear.

I’m always reading, researching, writing, and thinking about things. While my formal education in forensic psychology started just last year after earning my criminal justice degree, I’ve spent many years researching related subjects.

When problems come along, I’m determined to solve them. I want to get to the very core of why they occurred in the first place and ensure that they never happen again. I feel very strongly that sometimes we are allowed to go through bad times so that we are able to help others in similar situations.

The name of my blog came from an argument in which someone told me, “you’re all about truth, justice, and the American way!” Yes I am! I’ve always appreciated that line, which comes from the Superman comics, and have used it half-jokingly for awhile.

But now I’m serious. I know who I am and I know what I’m passionate about. My life has been filled with a seemingly disproportionate number of troubled people who blame their issues on others. I’d like to see other people start taking responsibility for their actions, not only so they are treating others respectfully, but to avoid the consequences that may overtake them at any moment.

Do I think I’m near-perfect or “all that” by calling other people on their behavior? No way. The ground is level at the foot of the cross and I’m many miles away from anything even remotely resembling perfect. Most people who read my blog have never ridden in a car with me when someone’s cut me off.

I’m just someone who values what Winston Churchill calls the great, simple things that can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, faithfulness, loyalty, truth, faith, hope, and love. I believe our society needs to rediscover some of these concepts.

Having a blog has had a “sieve” effect on my life. Bringing certain facts and opinions to light has meant losing a few friends but gaining a few more. I’m at a point in life where now more than ever I know I have to be authentic and not change to suit anyone else. Dr. Seuss said it best: Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

So that’s what I’m doing. I write about whatever’s on my mind whenever. Readers can decide what’s worth reading and what’s not. I post a lot of material, much of which is longer than your average blog article. I don’t like leaving unanswered questions and I like to be thorough. I’m not writing to please anyone and I’m not out to win any popularity awards. This is about being myself and helping people.

Again, people can decide for themselves what looks interesting. I like reading other people’s blogs because they don’t have the pretense and prepackaged flavor that the news sites I read do. I hope that somebody, somewhere might get something out of mine. If just one person can be helped by me sharing a challenge in my life, even if I look like a fool for sharing, it’s worth it. It’s paying it forward out of respect for all the people who’ve stood by me when the atom bombs have hit.

Dr. Seuss also said that “Unless someone like you cares a whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Blogging has connected me with similar people, people who have HAD IT with lying, cheating, psychopaths, home wreckers, and the like. People who’ve had their lives and livelihoods threatened when they haven’t gone along with their abusers’ games, or seen their loved ones forever altered by evil.

While there are many fantastic and gifted experts on problems like domestic violence, psychopaths, and pathological behavior, no one knows how those concepts work better than those who have lived them. Nothing prepares you to help others like walking through hell barefoot yourself a couple of times.

It is exciting to see so many people who are expected to remain silent about their victimization coming forward on the internet, working arm in arm with those experts to shut down the vampires among us. This movement is made up of women and men, liberals and conservatives. Our ability to work together on behalf of fellow human beings transcends our political and religious differences.

The banding together of survivors and experts (many of whom are survivors) is becoming a powerful force. I believe in a God of truth and justice—as well as grace—and see Him working through the raw honesty and righteous anger of this community. The public is being educated about interpersonal violence, personality disorders, psychopaths, and pathology to the benefit of all.

While my blog is a spontaneous and unstructured holding area for all sorts of different thoughts, it is the truth and justice part that is most on my mind tonight. I’m thankful that so many people are blogging on behalf of these great ideals. Through this medium, the cowards that perpetrate violence, abuse, and the destruction of families are being called out and held accountable.

Similar to what Wyatt Earp said in Tombstone:

So run, you cowards… run! Tell all the other cowards that justice is coming!

You tell them we’re coming… and heaven’s coming with us, you hear?

Heaven’s coming with us!

Thank you for helping me pay it forward.

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Recognizing evil, dealing with it, seeking to pursue good and avoid evil, acknowledging evil in ourselves and turning it to good—these issues are at the core of our human existence. –Charles Stanley

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©2010 H. Hiatt/wildninja.wordpress.com. All articles/posts on this blog are copyrighted original material that may not be reproduced in part or whole in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from H. Hiatt/wildninja.wordpress.com.