America's Values, Soldiers, and Refugees.

Trump's showboating highlights not only his narcissism, but also a very disheartening issue I have with refugees and our military in all the chaos. Our vets, and current military, fought their asses off to afford this country the privileges many take advantage of, especially right now. Our military fights for all Americans. I get many enlist for the bonuses, such as money, housing, and a chance to travel. But each believes in what they are doing. Each supports America's core values. most American's swear they support those wonderful values and rights.

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The soldiers who died today, they were fighting for the same values. Every. Single. One. of. Them! They didn't go, "Wait, the guy next to me? Did his dad or grandparents come from Syria? Cause I can't be protecting his freedom or rights then. Sorry Bob, you're on your own in the field." They fight for our values, all of us. No picking or choosing, as so many people are doing today. 

I think society forgets, most people in the United States are from immigrant ancestors who fled for protection, a better future for your family, or because they shared our core values. Many of those same people have family who have fought in the US military to protect their rights as new citizens and future citizens. No matter their birth nation or their parents birth nation.

Those rights include free speech to protest. It includes our American values to protect and help others. It includes our given right and ability to have checks and balances in the government. Their fight was, and is, for our freedom, everyone’s freedom, to pursue life, liberty, and justice. Our inalienable rights as declared in the Declaration of Independence.

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The lack of understanding and compassion in so many Americans yelling that refugees, Mexicans, African Americans, anyone who is not white, have no place here and should leave is vile and disgraceful. Your ancestors didn't believe that or they wouldn't have come here. Our soldiers, government, and citizens have worked through the generations to ensure America's beliefs remain intact. Why do so many disrespect that work? Do you truly want to see a child suffer? What about those people who put their lives on the line to help our military?

I know, I know, you're saying but we have to protect our country from terrorists. The same terrorists that are lurking in every one of the 3/4 million refugees who have crossed into America since 9/11. Though, the terrorist problem is very close to home especially if we look at mass shootings, refugees are not even near the top concern, much less Muslim refugees.

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So, feel free to state your hatred and fear disguised as opinions. Enjoy your pretty gated all-white community of Christians. But, remember everyone has those same rights when they come here. You cannot in good conscious morally support America, or even Christianity, while taking those same rights our soldiers fight for and ripping them away from other human beings. 

No amount of media circus, false patriotism, or distraction tactics can hide the bigotry and racism behind your true intentions. Your lack of compassion and empathy will continue to show through. The rest of us, however, will stand for America. We will #resist.

For a compilation of over 100 ways we can take action and #resist, visit my Facebook folder - Save the United States! It contains petitions, contact information for all of congress, planned marches, how to help archive, immigration information, and more.

© 2017 Melissa C. Lyons

Critical Thinking versus Creative Problem Solving

The Differences:

For the last few days, we have discussed how to use critical thinking and creative problem solving to work through various issues, such as choosing a college or solving a problem with bored cats. Several differences appear as we ventured through the two processes used to reach the best possible solutions. 

For instance, critical thinking often occurs in orderly manner with a focus on facts and reliable information to make informed decisions. The process is also designed to understand a subject in greater depth rather than solve a problem. Critical thinking is also a logical process that categorizes and classifies for rational and orderly decision making.

Creative problem solving tends to use unrestrained approaches to reach unique or new solutions. Additionally, the depth of imagination we use in creative problem solving makes it ideal for innovating, improving, or changing an item, technique, or idea. Another difference is creative problem solving works better with a little chaos. Disorder or lack of categories can encourage broader connections and leaps in thought that are vital to generating ideas resulting new or unique concepts.

The Similarities:

As much as the two methods, critical thinking and creative problem solving, differ they also contain similarities.  For example, both are a complex, teachable process used in decision making. Also, many of the same skills are helpful, such as perseverance, concentration, and curiosity.
 

In addition, the elements that affect critical thinking also affect creative problem solving, including the environmental, psychological, social, and educational factors. Another commonality is some of the steps applied in both processes. Each process requires us to gather information, analyze problems, and explore options.

Another important point  is the excellent way the processes work together to find creative solutions to complex problems. We use critical thinking steps such as identifying the problem to begin our creative problem solving process. 

As an example, to generate numerous options, we use creative problem solving techniques, such as brainstorming. Once we find an idea or two we want to try, the critical thinking process is exercised to categorize what does and does not work. The categories are then used to make new connections (creative problem solving again) on the road to improving our approach. Last, when we implement our unique idea we use critical thinking to examine the solution for viability. Though each process is used to solve specific problems, complicated problems benefit from the use of both processes.

Creative Problem Solving with Cats

Locutus of Box, resistance is futile!

To change or adapt to a situation we can use creative problem solving. In this case, we worked to help our cats adapt, or maybe they were helping us adapt. Before I explain how our furry little cats trained us, let’s explain creative problem solving and its process, which differs from critical thinking in our last post.

Creative problem solving is useful in solving many types of problems, such as those with unknown sets of parameters or unlimited options. When finding ways to move from your current point to a desired point in the future, creativity can help guide you. For instance, we have all held a job we disliked. Many of us still want to move forward to a dream career. Using creative problem solving in finding options or different ways to promote ourselves is a great technique for reaching goals.

Some skills are useful in using the creative problem solving process, such flexibility, an open mind, and courage. These skills help us explore and adapt to any situation. The skills also encourage us to improve techniques and find unique solutions, such as meeting our cats’ needs. Try comparing the skills of creative problem solving and critical thinking.

Thankfully, creative problem solving is not a talent or trait one is born with, but rather a trainable skill. The process consists of understanding the problem, generating ideas, developing ideas, and taking action. One doesn't have to hope for good genes, but can learn.

Asura, the center of the universe.

The first step in creative problem solving is identifying the problem and establishing the goal. Our first cat problem was evident when we bought a wonderful $300 cat tower and none of our cats used it. Our oldest, pictured left, preferred to lay in the middle of the floor. We still wanted to give them a place to play besides behind our backs, with our toes, under our feet or sheets, and on our heads (One of my cat's favorite spots).


As many of us know, cats love boxes. My husband’s cat, Locutus, uses them mostly as a food source. She claims every loose box piece and chews it to bits. Our first step in solving our problem was creating a space that Locutus won’t eat to bits before the others can play in it.

Another issue was our other two cats. Our oldest cat, Asura, is very easy going and believes the world revolves around her and everyone exists solely to give her attention. She needed an open space to lounge in a busy part of the house so she can plea for attention as we give her none. Ever. At least, she makes it seem so. 

Freya, the vicious stalker.

The baby of the group, my cat Freya, prefers to stalk everything, including paper and Legos. She needed a place to hide and to run in and out for those ever so silent toe attacks. After we gathering information, including our resources, we began working toward our goal of creating a play space meeting each cat’s needs.

The next step in the creative problem solving process is generating ideas. My husband and I spent many days exploring types of cat areas, cat behavior, and watching our own cats. Some of our ideas were buying a tube system, exchanging our cat tree, or building a new cat tree. A new piece of information was that cats like change to keep them stimulated. We couldn't keep buying or building different play areas or could we?

The epiphany came when we were watching how our cats made us chase them around the new cat tree.  We discovered they were using it but not as we expected. After chasing Locutus around for the hundredth time, we noticed how she used other objects around the tree to get what she wanted. Aha! Why can’t we build onto the tree in cardboard boxes we get every day? It could be altered at any time while still providing them plenty of stimuli.

The mighty Viking ship.

The first project we put into action took a half hour using only the resources we had on hand. Tada! A cardboard Viking ship, complete with a sail to hide Freya. We attached the ship to the cat tree with more cardboard homes. Because we positioned the large base next to a walkway Asura had her large sleeping area where she could reach everyone. 

Understanding the creative problem solving process helped us approach our problem with more confidence and curiosity than we usually would. In addition, we were able to create a wonderful product that met our goal.