Political Bunkum

 

I really try to not let my Facebook feed get too political. I try. Sometimes though, I'm just so darn aggravated by something one of the parties did, that I comment. I'll admit, it's typically something the Conservatives did that pisses me off, but there have been plenty of times that the Dems have pissed me off too. I've even admitted on more than one occassion that I'm disappointed in Obama. WHAT? I know, right? Honesty. It's killer.

Yesterday, I was more than irritated that Governor Perry called a special session after the 10 hour filibuster that stopped new abortion legislation from going through. Why did the filibuster stop it? Because let's be honest, the law that is on the table is crap. I know it probably has some merit and maybe even some good points in it, but what it's ultimately going to do is force women to have abortions in places that they shouldn't. So, yeah, I'm against it.

But that's not what this is about. This is about political arguments. Why is it that instead of having healthy debates with each other, we so often get our feelings involved and stoop to insults? Are we really so dense that we can't think of something intelligent to say insted? I know that politics is very heated partly because you are talking about people's feelings. The issues are important and the emotions run high. But, that doesn't give us the right to say someone needs to see a shrink or someone else is a dick. What happened to good old respect for the person you were talking to, whether you know them or not?

It aggravates me because as long as we can't talk to each other, how do we expect our elected officials to be able to do so? If anything, they're more passionate about what the issues we're facing and have more emotions on the table (hopefully). I know that I get angry when people continue to argue and argue and argue and I feel like they don't have anything to back up what they're saying (i.e. Obama should be impeached), but at the same time, maybe, if I can keep my tone neutral and remain calm, we can both learn something from each other. Maybe, if we can act like adults, we can start figuring out problems together instead of pinning ourselves against each other. It's probably a lofty dream, but I for one am going to start working towards it.

“Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.” 
- Mark Twain

Two birds...one blog post...

I'm just going to air out the subject of this post now. that way, if you feel offended or something, you can quit reading right now and not hate me.

This is going to be about race, politics and Christianity.

I'll start with the facts:

1. I'm a Christian
2. I'm not technically Caucasian although just looking at me is hard to tell
3. I'm a Democrat who borders more on libertarian

Recently, I was reading an article from CNN that said "Official apologizes for Obama chimpanzee email" My mouth dropped. Umm what? Obama and a chimpanzee were in the same email? Oh no, it's worse than that. A Republican representative from California felt the need to forward on an email with Obama's face on the body of a baby chimpanzee. The caption of the picture went on to read "Why there's no birth certificate" or something dumb like that.

WHAT?! An elected official, who technically works for the President sent a racist, horrible email about the POTUS? What in the world are people thinking when they do stupid, stupid things like this? Who are you helping? My friend Janet likes to ask me, "What's the advantage" when I'm about to make a stupid mistake. Same applies here....what advantage did this representative gain by sending an email like that? Nothing. In fact, many Republicans are now calling for her resignation!

Now, on to Christianity. In her "official" apology, she wrote some hub bub about how she tries to be a good Christian lady who follows a Christ like path or something. Can I just point out that one of the biggest things about being a good Christian is not judging people like she just did? I know that some religions think that it does involve harsh judgment of other people, but it doesn't. It's about loving your neighbor and respecting those around you. Not sending out hateful emails of people you are supposed to respect! I would have been okay with just an apology, but throwing the Christian twist in there to me, is just an attempt to get more people on her side. Grow up! Christ would not condone what you did, lady. You can be sure of that!

I wish America would just grow up. Learn to respect others the same way you'd want to be respected and we'd all go a lot further in this world.

Sheesh.

We've got to quit giving an audience to the crazies....

Over the past few days, lots and lots of stuff has gone down.

There was a terrible shooting in Arizona.
Sarah Palin compared the media take on her to a 'blood libel'
The right wing extremes have been defending themselves against creating an environment of hate

Here's my thinking on the whole thing -- why are we giving an audience to these people? Okay, let's look at the suspected shooter.....he looks INSANE. And I would imagine that he's getting exactly what he wants right now....attention. He was a loner, right? So that means he didn't get very much attention. And the few stories I've read about his parents make me think that they probably didn't pay very much attention to him either. So...he shoots some people gets an instant national audience. Instead of focusing on the people who lost their lives, we're digging into his. He doesn't deserve it.

Dear Lord can we please stop giving a rat's ass about Sarah Palin? Her blatant misuse of words, or stupidity, is starting to get annoying. She opens her mouth and offends someone becuase she doesn't think about what's she's saying, or she really is that dumb. Comparing the media's take on her to a blood libel is just downright disrespectful. The entire idea of a blood libel is disrespectful. And for anyone (including the others who have used that term this week) to use it is a huge disgrace in my opinion. We talk about how we're fair and we appreciate our melting pot, and we respect freedom of religion, but then we blatantly offend a good portion of our population. I imagine she would feel the same way if someone compared her to Pontius Pilate and said that she not only enabled the shooting in Arizona, she ordered it. Is there any other Christian figure that we can even compare this to? Probably not because the Christians haven't been as persecuted as the Jewish people. She's just dumb and if we all quit listening to her, I think we'd get A LOT further in the journey of ridding the nation of her. Let her go back to her small Alaskan home and hide in the woods. Who cares what she does as long as she's not on the national stage anymore!

As for the right wing extremes who do not see that their comments, beliefs, and actions might be creating an environment of hate.....please someone hit them across the face. WAKE UP! A good number of people are easily influenced. Especially guys like Jared Loughner who went out on a rampage and shot at innocent people. Maybe you didn't put the gun in his hand and maybe you didn't pull the trigger, but a lot of times, the ideas that ,people have are nurtured by the people they watch or see in the celebrity world. So sure Glenn Beck, you didn't call for the hit on Rep. Giffords, but your attitude, and your more than obvious distaste for the current government sure isn't helping anything. How about you and all your friends stop talking about how much you hate the current government and start working to finding a solution to some of the problems you see? How about you work to find areas where we can compromise? Standing back and bawking at everything just makes you look stupid. Besides, the liberals aren't doing nearly as much bitching as you are, and we're not exactly happy with the current situation either. But we're WORKING on it, not just bitching about it.

So my trusted blog readers...here's what I leave you with....quit giving an audience to people who are crazy! I think that Sarah Palin and Glen Beck are intelligent people, I just think they're using their intelligence in the wrong way. Quit supporting them until they decide that they're done just standing by and bitching and they're ready to work on the problems facing Americans....like the unemployment rate, China's continued devaluing of the yen...those types of things that we would be much more successful at if we worked together instead of apart.

*steps off soap box and sighs deeply*
clearly these are just my opinions. I'm sure we can still be friends after you read this.

I just don't get it.....

I just cannot understand how people can support some Republican/Tea Party candidates. I'm fully aware that we live in a free country and people are allowed to have whatever views and opinions that they want, but sweet jebus some of these people are absolutely frapping insane!

Example one: Carl Paladino. He is running for Governor of New York and the dude is INSANE. He has said, and I quote, “I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don’t want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option — it isn’t.” My personal beliefs do not allow me to believe that homosexuals cannot raise the same type of families as straights -- they can and they have. Second, heterosexual marriages aren't exactly a shining example of what should be--come on dude, the divorce rate is like 50% I think our kids deserve every opportunity to make that better, whether it's with a same-sex partner or not! Not only does he have  a whack position on homosexuals, but he also accused his opponent of having no family values because he took his children to a gay pride parade......but Paladino has a 10 year old son from an extramarital affair with his former employee--- not sure you should be the one on the soapbox preaching family values dude -- I think you're missing some of the message.

Example two: Christine O'Donnell. She's running for Senator in Delaware and she scares me. She had a conversation on MTV where she said that masturbation is adultery.....She supports abstinence but has a very colorful past, and apparently thinks that her opponent is a bearded Marxist...I don't disbelieve that she has probably dabbled in some things in her past and now realizes that she was wrong and is "born again". That's cool. More power to her. But don't try to preach on it to other people-- I hate that. I didn't watch the debates last night but I've heard that they were quite interesting. My favorite part of her campaign is that she is attacking the Dems on budget and finance issues, but apparently her personal finances are in disarray. I find it hard to believe someone is going to help the situation when they cannot and have not helped themselves. Those are just my personal opinions though and are not endorsed! :)

I dont think that Republicans are wrong or stupid or anything like that. I have some very intelligent friends who are Republicans. I don't think Democrats are the answer to everything either, and I understand that having both is a healthy balance for the country. But  I don't understand how these two are getting any support. They're just flat out dumb. Each person is entitled to their own beliefs, and opinions, yes, but good grief people....could you least calm down on the crazy a little bit and then run for office? I just wish that we could find some normalcy in these elections. Aren't there some average, middle-aged Americans who want to run for these positions instead of just the wack-os? Or am I alone there?

PS -- this was issue #3 from yesterday that I couldn't remember!!!!