POLITICS
I used to be opinionated about politics. I used to like discussing politics. I used to think you could change people’s minds about politics. I used to think it mattered who was elected to represent you in government. I still think it matters, but I don’t think you can change people’s minds, and I no longer like to discuss politics.
Unfortunately I am still opinionated.
As much as I no longer want to discuss politics, being a stubborn opinionated clod, it is often very difficult to bite my tongue.
The problem is that people do not ask you if you want to discuss politics. If they did it might go like this:
“Excuse me, I have an opinion on who should be elected president this November, and if you don’t agree I would like to change your mind. Would you like to hear my opinion?”
“Why I am sure that it is an interesting opinion with many facts and statistics to support it, however I have already made up my mind and no facts or statistics will change my opinion or how I plan to vote, so any conversation about the election could only prove to be unproductive. Who do you like in this week’s Giant’s game?”
Unfortunately conversations never go this way. Generally either at a casual meeting or over the internet I am greeted with this:
“Excuse me, I don’t know you, but don’t you think that Mitt Romney is a scum sucking, hate the poor, rich bastard who wants to lower taxes for his rich cronies and convert the rest of the population into corporate slaves, while ending legalized abortion, and eliminating homosexuals? Oh and what about his plan to drill for oil by fracking in your backyard and polluting the atmosphere and causing the ice caps to melt which will flood the property of anyone making under $250,000 a year?”
I would like to respond, “No comment.” But that could be interpreted as,
“Oh yes, I very much agree with your intelligent assertions.”
Alas, I am unable to do this. Instead I get dragged into a political argument that I had no desire to be drug. (Dragged? Drugged? Be druggen? One of those.)
For you liberals, I also am unable to follow along with the extremists on the right who want me to agree that President Obama is a card carrying communist, is a non-citizen Muslim who hates America and wants to establish himself as a Supreme Dictator, take money from hard working rich people and distribute it to his friends, while at the same time making abortion and homosexuality mandatory and outlawing the burning of any fossil fuels.
It is as if someone sidled up to you and said, “Excuse me, but there is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his name. Don’t you agree?”
Until I learn how to bite my tongue and just ignore these antagonists, I am afraid I am doomed to locking political horns whether I like it or not.
How do you avoid discussing issues with fanatics who constantly want to drag you into a political discussion and convert you to their position?
i don't go there. not even in blogland.
ReplyDeleteI used to talk politics, but then came talk radio, and my parents started to agree/quote Rush Limbaugh. Family gatherings became difficult, hate and accusations mixing poorly with roast and mashed potatoes.
ReplyDeleteI now smile and make references to the weather. :-)
Pearl
I find hate on both sides of the aisle. It seems it's okay to hate certain things or people, but not other things or people. It's okay to hate Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney, but say one thing about Obama that's not complimentary and then you're a racist. I will not allow anyone to back me into that corner.
ReplyDeleteI'll talk about politics if I want, but I have a right to my opinion as you have a right to yours. So I agree, no one can change our opinions and I don;t even try.
Have a fabulous day. :)
Today's politics are too polarizing to handle open-minded discussions. People believe what they "need" to believe and are too often immune to logic. I think the media is responsible for much of today's political discord. Fox is a conservative attack dog and mouthpiece for the Republican party, and MSNBC at the other end of the political spectrum isn't much better. It's often hard to avoid talking about politics, but the key buzzword that makes my ears prick up is "compromise," a word I don't hear nearly enough.
ReplyDeleteLike Pearl, I used to enjoy talking politics, even (especially?) in situations where there were very mixed views. But these days it's hard to find people who can listen to one another, offer rational views, respect the right to disagree. Even I don't have the patience I once had. So I might "like" some postings on Facebook but mostly I just mind my own business.
ReplyDeleteYes, we intelligent folk of "the correct" version are being driven into silence by those idiots on the other side who just can't seem to realize that they should not have stopped learning anything after they dropped out of school in the third grade. What are ya gonna do?
ReplyDeleteHave you tried the line, "My mind is made up--don't confuse me with facts!!"?
ReplyDelete"My grandson's class is selling Holiday Gift Wrap. Would you like to sign up to buy some?"
ReplyDeleteIt works wonders... and it's true.
I just don't try. I will not change them and they will not change me so why get our blood pressure all out of whack for no results. I usually choose diversion and just ask to see the grand kids latest pictures or remark how the Hogs lost again by a whisker. .
ReplyDeleteI know that our opinion does matter, so I vote. It is just that I am not rich enough to let my issues be heard. LOL
ReplyDeleteI wish that the level of ignorance could be considered comical. 'Round here abouts I get regularly engaged by people trying to sway my opinion. I just wish once in a while ... or maybe just once? the clueless would actually stop a moment and research what they believe instead of grabbing on someone else's ordered beliefs. Takes very little to expose stupid.
ReplyDeleteI believe tongue-biting is a highly underrated skill and virtue!
ReplyDeleteI have high school freshmen telling me how to vote. I do not engage. Other than to tell them that I do not take advice from 14-year-olds who do not yet have the right to vote.
ReplyDeleteThe juniors are another matter. Some of them will be voting by next year. We had an informative discussion on the merits of a new 9-1-1 tax in our county, switching the burden from the ever-shrinking pool of landline users to a 3/8 of a cent sales tax. They were actually quite knowledgeable on the issue.
Politics and Religion two topics I try to avoid but yet get trapped sometimes when I least expect it.
ReplyDeleteI give the deer in the headlight look when someone brings up something political. I don't really keep up with politics (but I do vote) so when people try to discuss stuff, I kind of plead ignorance.
ReplyDeletebetty
To misqoute Groucho 'I have opinions and if you don't like them, well, I have others' - which is why I rarely allow myself to get drawn in to political debate (that, and the fact that I'm woefully ill informed and spend enough of my time looking stupid without all that!!) - I like be druggen though but I think you should combine them, Bedruggen, like bejewelled or bedecked ...
ReplyDeleteI try really, really hard not to get sucked into a political debate. I usually vote 3rd party, which shocks and upsets the Liberals and the Conservatives into shutting up most of the time.
ReplyDeleteAt 72 I have been labelled a "Cranky Opinionated Old Bastard" so I have added this topic to my blog. Whilst you are abdicating from political discussion or opinion I am on the other hand encouraging it. I am in Australia where we have similar issues to you in USA. Its just that our politicians have different names but spruke the same Bullshit as yours.
ReplyDelete