If you are reading this blog then you are already part of a club, even if you think like me that you would not join a club that would have me as a member.
There are many types of clubs one could join or just be considered part of. No, I am not talking about night clubs, swim clubs, shopping clubs, etc. But, consider:
- Family is certainly a type of club for some people
- There are community clubs, such as Lions Club, the Masons, Toastmasters, etc.
- College fraternities and sororities (something that just never appealed to me, I must say)
- Libraries, the JCC, air travel clubs
- BJ’s, Costco, etc.
- Other local clubs, like Easterwood and even Pikesville’s Panther Club
Our Pikesville Panther’s Club is a 77-year-old local club with members mostly in their 80’s who share time, camaraderie, and social activities to this day, The Jewish Times featured this group a couple of years ago for their 75th anniversary and they are still looking for new members to this day!
Why do we have clubs, join clubs, or otherwise need clubs anyway? I guess the reality is we humans are a social species and we need to belong. Clubs allow us to share common ideas, values, or activities. Sometimes people use groups to organize against another group or individual and these kinds of clubs represent the lowest common denominator of society.
You have not heard political discourse in this blog, certainly not from me, but I must say that the position of the many different groups at either end of the spectrum of thought and philosophy is very discouraging to me and I think it may lead to people disconnecting from groups.
I certainly don’t want to be labeled as this or that simply because I belong to a group or because I agree with various positions a group might embrace. Think about how people push their agendas on those of us who are NOT part of their group. It happens in many political, social, and academic groups with great regularity and I would ask you to stand up for yourself, think for yourself, and be strong enough to defend your own thoughts, feelings, and way of life.
Hate speech, attack ads, “fake news,” and the many ways society tries to shape public opinion should suggest you pause and take stock of your beliefs, convictions, and attitudes. Before we suggest Fox News is this or MSNBC is that, or that Donald trump is this and Hillary Clinton is that, we should make sure we have done our part to really think about how we contribute to derech eretz and making the world a better place for us and our children.
I, for one, belong to the “Being Zayde” club and it is a wonderful club that I invite each one of you to join (whether you have grandchildren or not). Being a Zayde reminds me of what is truly important in life because you can’t be a Zayde without truly offering love, respect, and guidance to others.
Vito Simone is a local resident, home renovation expert, and a Zayde to Zev and Leo. You can find his professional business online at www.TodaysHomeRenovations.com. Comments are welcome below or you can email Vito at [email protected] or call him at 410-952-5595 with blog comments or ideas, or for more information about Today’s Home Renovations.