Peaceful Politics… and all else
Ah, it’s almost over. The wait that is. Here in the United States Facebook feeds are filled with rhetoric, memes, links, and jokes that are all in bad taste toward other candidates. Yes, I’m talking about election time. We are about to elect our 45th President, and it is downright ugly.
The divide is more than its ever been, and people seem to have forgotten that our founding Presidents tried to find a common ground. That isn’t the case any more. Now it’s a very angry right and a hateful left. Things have gotten violent in some cases. It’s almost as if you are no longer allowed to have an opinion because someone will scream at you if it’s different from theirs.
In all honesty we are at a scary point in history. If something can’t be agreed upon we may end up in dare I say another Civil War. (Some already claim this is happening). Thomas Jefferson once said, “Our country is now taking so steady a course as to show by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit: by consolidation of power first, and then corruption, its necessary consequence.” That was 200 years ago, and it couldn’t be more fitting now.
Part of what makes this country an amazing place is that no matter if you are Black, White, Straight, Gay, Christian, Jewish, or of any other denomination or group, you are ALL American. So why is it that our passions have gone and made us embarrass ourselves? Why can’t I sit at a holiday dinner with family or friends, and have a conversation that is rational and respectful toward other stances?
I blame this on the media as a whole. If you’re watching CNN, Fox News, or any of the other mainstream go tos, you’ve probably only gotten a biased reporting. I say probably, but we know that’s the case. The fact is as Americans we have the right to vote, but we have the DUTY to do it responsibly. Taking someone else’s word for it (media or not) is irresponsible.
So how do you figure out the facts? They are out there if you look. Stop voting for Hillary because she’s a Democrat… Stop voting for Trump because he’s Republican. START voting AMERICAN… if you do your research and feel that either of the above, or a third party are what is best for America, then I encourage you to vote that way, but ONLY if you do your research. Otherwise you’re just one of the irresponsible angry or hateful ones.
I want a country fit for my children and generations to come, but politics seem to divide us more each time. I was asked by a friend, “How do you do proper research on the candidates?” The answer is simple. Click on those links you don’t want to view. If you’re an avid Left or Right of center person challenge yourself to honestly look at what the other side is offering. It may irritate you, but you may actually gain a piece of information that your side isn’t giving.
Look, I’m using politics as my main line here, because it is what is happening right now. But this goes for anything. No matter how correct you think you are, you aren’t perfect. No one is. If you’re sitting there behind a screen sharing “information” about how bad the other side is, then you should be looking at your own candidate’s flaws too. If you’re constantly on the offense, then no one will ever take you serious. You will NEVER win an argument or convince someone of your ways because you will seem irrational, and in most cases no one will want to be around you.
I wrote a book a few years ago about arguing, where I presented some facts from both sides of common disputes. I presented it without bias despite having strong feelings about some of the issues. Each chapter is introduced and ended with a humorous experience from my own life. I hope to update it one day soon as it could use an extra fact or two added because of changes in events.
The goal of the book is to find a common ground, or something near common so that we can be civil with each other instead of civil warring each other. Sure there is a chapter about Conservative vs Liberal, but other arguments (some silly and some serious) are presented as well… Cats vs Dogs, Star Wars vs Star Trek, Religion, Sports, Music. The list continues on.
NO, IT’S NOT. YES, IT IS: ARGUMENTS is available in print at lulu.com and in digital at Amazon. Feel free to check it out.
In the meantime, let’s all get along or at least try. Stop doing things such as “voting for the lesser of two evils.” That’s still evil. Stop voting AGAINST a candidate, because if you are doing that, then you aren’t voting FOR someone. Vote for something in which you believe. If you aren’t fighting for something you believe in, then you are just fighting because you’re intolerant of other people.
As a side note, yes I AM voting in this election. I do lean toward one side more. I have toyed with voting third party. I’ve taken into account ALL angles and have decided on one that I believe is the correct choice to lead. I hope this post helps you realize that it is important to negotiate with facts, and not bias. If not facts, then at least have common sense in your stance.
Wrapping up my rant I’d like to say that those who claim “Third party voting is throwing your vote away,” well I agree and disagree. I agree because let’s face it… one of the big two will win (at least in this election). I disagree because if you are voting for someone who isn’t Republican or Democrat, then you are telling the establishment that you don’t like their choices. I’m by no means saying to do that, but if you are then I don’t believe your vote is being wasted. Again, research is the key, not what media and others tell you.
I haven’t pushed my view in this post or who I’m voting for, because that would go against everything I’ve mentioned. Stating my stance would negate the purpose of forgetting outside influence. I encourage comments below. Please do not go off on political rants for or against your choice. Let’s see how civil we can be in a forum, and maybe there is hope for the future. And with that I say cheers.
sCrypt Publishing 