The other day I had a long
conversation with one of my dearest friends about politics. He said to that politics isn’t personal. I
have to strongly disagree; politics and religion are the most personal subjects
that one can endeavor to discuss. When a
candidate uses a religious stance to back his political agenda then that makes
the issue personal. When they allow
religion to dictate to the rest of the country the laws they must abide by that
makes politics personal. When a politician tells his tales of woe and suffering
to appeal to you for your vote, he makes it personal. When they attempt to say their way is better
than your thinking and they know best, it makes politics personal. Everyone whether or not their opinion is
based on emotion or logic or some mixture of both have definite opinions
regarding the issue on the platform.
Those feelings then pass forward to the candidates they desire to back. It is all personal choices based on your life,
your family, your income, your religious beliefs, and your ability to decipher
to the logic involved in each situation.
You have to choose but that choice regardless is a personal one.
I am a creative mind. I tend to think outside the box sometimes
more than others. Yes I do allow my heart to guide me in some matters but the
person who says they don’t is only lying to themselves. For the record, I am a registered Democrat but honestly I tend to vote for the person I feel best suited for the job. My politics are based on the needs,
financially, emotionally, and physically of the people I care most about. My vision of the future is based in the same
place. I do not understand now or ever
why people rich or poor, white or blue collar, religious or spiritual feel they
have the right to dictate to me how to think or feel on any given issue
especially not ones that have such a potentially huge effect on me and on my
children.
I am really very frustrated with
those of you who constantly question my judgment because my opinion is not your
own. Yes, at times, I do play the devil’s
advocate. I want you to think past
yourself and your bank account to the good of the many and not the few. Sometimes the good of my few outweigh your
voice, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I am wrong or stupid or naïve. Most usually it means that I am attempting to
be open minded, respectful, and consider that the future isn’t about just this
moment or that person. I am not asking
you to stray from your beliefs or your principles or even to change your mind. All I am asking is to be heard and for you to
listen as patiently to my thought process as you expect me to listen to yours.
I find it horrible that candidates
feel the need to build larger smear campaigns than they do platforms. It is
ridiculous that there have to be fact checkers going crazy to prove or disprove
the speech of anyone running for a higher office. This election is riddled highly emotion
issues and the turmoil of this economy is on everyone’s mind. But come November, one way or another, one of
them will be elected and we will still have to go on be friends and
family. I think it is high time we all realize
this storm cloud too shall pass. Tolerance
and acceptance are incredible qualities that I highly value. So I am asking you to please use them in
regards to each other and to me.
