Obligatory Political Post

[ellenmillion]

It's not even August, and I am so, so over the politics. I don't mind disagreeing with you - and we're bound to! - but the venom I'm seeing this year has been really unsettling. Smart people, nice people, get swept up in this ugly 'us-versus-them,' fixating on specific issues or fears or catchy macros or really suspect 'data'. I don't mind when they express support for someone or something... that's awesome, in fact. But it seems like it's less and less 'support for X' and more and more 'talk crap about Y.' Liberals are all lazy and on wealthfare. Conservatives are all racist. Democrats want to take away all our freedoms. Republicans are responsible for gun crime. Point fingers. Blame problems.

The economy the way it is, the speed at which our culture is evolving... these unsettled times need a divided population like it needs more poverty and drought. I can't fix these problems, and I don't think any one candidate can. But I can fix what I see, and how I act, and I will be filtering out folks who are spreading things I consider hateful, on both sides of the party lines. (On Facebook, where possible, I'm just changing to 'important updates only', so I'll miss all your likes and shares, but hopefully still see your actual status updates, etc.) It's not that I like you any less, just that I am weary of the rhetoric and dismayed by the ugliness. I still want to see your art and read your stories and know what's happening in your life - you're people, not parties! But if the noise to signal ration is too high, I'll be tuning you out for a while. I want to focus on positive things: growth, creativity and generosity. I hope you understand. Drop by the political-free zone of my journal any time. You'll be welcome, no matter who your candidate of choice is.

It goes without saying that comments should be respectful, or I'll close them.

Comments

[aliyna.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you, 200% - I blanch to say yes to family gatherings anymore the way my family screams at one another (and me!) about all kinds of political things. And I agree that we can't afford to be a nation taking sides, anymore. There can't be sides. There's no room for sides.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this wise reminder to resist getting caught up in the ugliness.

[jake67jake]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks it's been particularly nasty... and unfortunately, I think the candidates--local, state and national levels--are actually leading the charge.

*le sigh*

Our forefathers are rolling in their graves... :(

[ariestess]

Agreeing with you SO VERY MUCH on this. I'm kind of dreading going to my brother's wedding in a week and a half, because I know at least my sister is politically diametrically opposed to me, and she loves to goad me into fights.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

I cut people who talk about politics more than once. Fine, you have an opinion on an issue; great. Now we're done. :,

[frigg.livejournal.com]

*nods*

It is one thing to disagree, but it can be done respectfully. Like most Europeans, I have to admit to be utterly baffled at how ugly the U.S. campaign is, and that there doesn't seem to be any middle ground.

Oh... and if I see Denmark being called a socialist country one more time by someone arguing for or against socialism in the U.S., I might just scream. ;)

[snippetchick.livejournal.com]

Ugh, yes.
As an Australian, I actually find having various U.S. political views shoved down my throat to be quite offensive. Australian politics can get quite dirty, but the U.S. campaign seems to be much worse.
Australia seems to cop the 'socialist' label from time to time as well.
Sigh.

[frigg.livejournal.com]

*nods*

We usually manage to keep it pretty clean, but then our elections last all of 14 days, from the election is announced till we vote. :)

Political Post

[mary strauchman (from livejournal.com)]

Yeah! Someone else noticed, and is upset by it. The sad thing is it will get worse. I am glad for you that Elsa is not in school yet. My boys of course will be discussing elections as part of their curriculumn and although the teachers try to stay neutral not all are good at it. I personally like them to ignorant of all of this like I was, there is plenty of time for them to be grown ups.

[kelkyag]

I'll hide over here with you ...

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

omg cookies *salivate*

[kelkyag]

Sorry about that. It's my default sympathy icon. (Cookies make everything better! Except when they don't, alas.)

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

Even when they don't they are pleasantly distracting!

[pixiewildflower.livejournal.com]

I feel so much that way. It's awful that people think of people in the other party as an enemy. We are all Americans here!