This is a nonpolitical post about the current state of our political system. I am honestly not a very political person. I don't identify with any particular party. I am a living, breathing, thinking human being who forms my own opinions on each issue in a singular manner. I'm not a bandwagon jumper. I don't automatically succumb to scare tactics. I have a brain. And free will. And I just don't understand what is going on in this country.
I am aware that not everyone's brains work like mine. I know that some people thrive on clinging to one party or another with a steadfast death grip. I get it. Look at organized religion, which I also don't happen to be a fan of for similar reasons. But, I digress. When viewing different news channels, it is easy to see how people get brainwashed. It is rare to get an unbiased viewpoint. The newscasters are either spewing dogma from the right or the left....with nothing in between. It's very disheartening to watch for any length of time.
Listening to the presidential candidates speak is painful. More time is spent bashing the other party than anything else. Our country has innumerable issues right now and they're up there like 5th graders throwing digs at one another. When I hear one insult the other, it doesn't bolster the insulter's credibility for me. It actually hurts it. But, I can rest assured that the victim of the insults will be acting in an equally as juvenile manner in no time. Just tell me what you're going to do to fix the things going terribly wrong with our country. Don't waste the time you have trying to convince me the other person is bad. Convince me you're good. And while you're at it, capable.
I am troubled by the choices we have this November. I know every vote counts and you "have to vote" but there is a part of me that just doesn't want to. I feel like there is no right decision. There is so much craziness and hate going on in the world, I just want someone to step up with a clear plan that gives me comfort in the ways they are going to go about fixing it. I think about my daughters and am concerned about how what we do now, as a country, will affect the world they live in as adults. I can see pros for them on both sides as well as some real negatives. I feel stuck. And I know I'm not alone.
I despise the fact that I need to refrain from having intelligent political discussions with friends around this time because some people are so closed minded and just get up in arms about anything that may differ from their views. I almost lost a friend last election discussing tax brackets. Seriously? It's so not worth it. I know many people who abandon Facebook during this time to avoid the plethora of indignant posts. I don't blame them.
Although tensions always run high around election time, this time seems different. I live in the Washington D.C. area and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned about what might go on the closer we get to November. Not just here, but around the country.
If we could just remember that we are all in this thing called life together, no matter what race, religion, socioeconomic group, or gender we identify with, or whom we love. If we could accept that, then, just maybe we could all pull together and save ourselves. I know that sounds ridiculously idealistic and it probably is. I just really am almost depressed about the choice that needs to be made. We need to do better. And, I know we can.
God Bless America.