Politics and ALL that comes with it

We have just seen the 44th President of the United States begin his term. Congratulations to Barack Hussein Obama. I hope he serves our country well. But still, I'm irked.

OK, so I didn't vote for him. I did vote. However, since he is now my President, I am going to take the high road as best as I know how and try to see the positive in the situation. He's promising to bring about some reforming changes... hopefully they will be in the right directions. Since I lean conservative, I am probably guessing that some of his 'sweeping changes' that he wants to implement will not be in the direction I think is best for this country (even if it means I get a pay raise as a high school teacher... I didn't become a teacher in order to make money).

But that's not why I'm irked. I was raised in, for lack of a better term, an ultra-conservative environment. Mom held high regard to Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, and Dad has a background in Finance, and was fiscally very conservative. Although there are some liberals among us, virtually all of my immediate family is far right.

Then came college. Among other things, I was drawn to the fine arts. I have a strong passion for them. So I became acquainted with people with a much more liberal background, and, in comparison to what I was familiar with, a VERY liberal background. For whatever reason, it seemed as if the majority of my close personal friends from college would have considered themselves 'liberal' or 'very liberal'. Although I still lean conservative, I can understand the other perspective much better than I could before college. My core thoughts lean 'right', but I have spent a good deal of time weighing how I feel on each issue. And, for the most part, I am willing to listen to a reasoned argument on political issues. I value the fact that I think for myself.

Well, while college was going on, trouble ensued. For the most part, I hate conflict, and try to avoid it. I couldn't get away from the negative end of politics... the name-calling, back-biting, and general 'immaturity' of the entire situation. I was surrounded by college newspapers giving me the liberals attacking conservatives (not politely), and it was countered by conservatives attacking liberals (again, not politely). My own girlfriend at the time, who I credit with helping me see things from a much more objective point of view, held some very liberal ideas, and I would see her quite often listen to news reels or comedy that bashed conservatives... didn't seem productive, just seemed to be for the fun of bashing. Was I free from candidate-bashing myself? Honestly, no... part of it is human nature... part of it is a sense of vengeance. But after I caught myself laughing at a couple offensive jokes (either conservative or liberal bashing), I would many times be upset with myself for having laughed at them. And, by the way, making a little fun of politics is OK... but making it outright offensive happens way too often.

This past election, as it always does, brought more controversy (which in American politics goes all the way back to the beginning... the Hamiltonian Federalists and the Jeffersonian Antifederalists, which is how our country developed two separate legislative bodies... The House of Representatives and the Senate.. there's your history lesson for the day). I felt the need to defend Obama against attacks from family that he was 'a radical Muslim bent on destroying the USA from the inside with his liberal agenda'. And then, after I got done defending Obama, I had to defend George Bush from people attacking him for being 'a war hawk idiot who can't pronounce English and is bent on running our country into the ground with his fascist agenda'. I'm sick of hearing this type of dirt on either side.

For that reason, sometimes I wish to God that I were either still ultra-conservative or that I became ultra-liberal, to the point at which I was naive about the other side. That way (one would think) the ugly comments made on one side or the other wouldn't bother me so much. Hearing people say that Obama 'is a darky' demands that I stop, grit my teeth, and demand an apology. Someone who is equally offended would start making fun of Dick Cheney because he happened to be in a wheelchair on the day of Obama's inauguration (Hey, I hate the Halliburton connection, too, but what gives you the right to laugh at another man's misfortune?).

In closing, since this is me getting rid of some steam, I guess I had better try to stay out of politics when it becomes 'election season'. I consider voting and political opinion to be a very important right to any democracy, but I can easily get wrapped up in it. I have to learn that if other people want to attack political leaders, especially when it is done 'immaturely' as opposed as to through reasoned thought, I need to avoid the situation as much as possible. No amount of energy I spend arguing or trying to reason with people who don't share a desire for civility is going to change their opinion much. It's politics.

SIDE NOTE: Many people are EXCITED Bush is gone. In his place, they've ensconced Obama. Obama is MUCH more talented at public speaking than Bush (in my opinion, that is). In that respect, Obama is a much better politician. But this is the very reason I'm still somewhat wary of Obama. A politician is one who likes to say what the people like to hear. But no one can argue that McCain has often said things that people didn't want to hear, but things that he felt had to be said. THAT is the type of person (man or woman) that I want to serve as President. One who I know will do what they feel is the correct course of action... not the one who feels that they must do what will garner the most votes. That was the reasoning behind my vote. Looking at their voting record, no matter how it was 'spun' during the election, neither candidate was a 'pure' conservative.

Neither candidate was perfect. And even though Obama has a hallmark in history as the first black President, it doesn't guarantee that the U.S. of A. has a Golden Age up ahead. Congratulations go to him, true. But we've got a challenge ahead, and I want to see how this guy runs Foreign Affairs. Obama is now my President. As such, he and his family have my prayers for a strong, prosperous, and directed future on the road ahead. And please, everyone, be civil to both those coming into office, and to those who are going out. Otherwise, you are no better than the guy that was equally rude about your candidate. If you really want there to be change, then quit doing what you've been doing all along!