September 7, 2012
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Anger and Politics
I watched parts of the Democratic convention the past couple of nights. I skipped most of the preliminary speakers. I did watch Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama. They were just amazing. I was especially impressed with Bill Clinton’s speech. It was lengthy (over 40 minutes) but I was glued to my seat. No wonder people pay him tons of money for his speeches. I did try to watch a bit of the Republican convention a week earlier. I didn’t stick around too long. It just felt too slick. I did catch a bit of the bizarre Clint Eastwood performance. I felt bad for Clint as I really enjoy his movies.
My cousin and his wife came up to visit my family a few weeks ago. I found out a couple of years ago that they like the Republican party. One year he started talking about how Barrack Obama had set up death panels. I looked at him and then at my dad. I didn’t know who was becoming more senile. I was stunned how a well educated man, one who was also well traveled could believe stuff like that. When he came up this year, I avoided talking about politics. Until another relative asked him about the upcoming US election. I rolled my eyes. This time, I saw a sudden transformation from a happy, laughing man who was enjoying his dinner to a rabid, angry man who spewed hatred. He saw me staring at him. He changed his tone a bit – “Well, I’m sure he is a nice man. I just disagree with his policies. They will destroy our country.” Luckily the conversation moved back to food and he quickly became the friendly, genial cousin that I know.
When my brother travels to the US on business, the one topic he avoids is politics. It’s too divisive. Conversations ground to a halt. People become tense. It wasn’t a good way to start a business meeting.
What worries me is that I’m seeing the same thing in Canada. Disagreement on policies & politics turn into deep hatred and bitterness. I guess anger, hatred and divisiveness can win elections.
Comments (16)
I hate politics. In a family and between friends.
I agree, definitely avoid politics in business environments. And in our family, we just don’t bring it up because we know each other has different views. I too am sad how some people have been so swayed by hateful lies about the President. I just read the GOP is going to blanket our airwaves with tens of milllions of $$ of negative ads starting tomorrow. We will have to endure that for the next 60 days
I hope you can keep hatred out of your country’s political scene.
It’s very interesting how dividing politics are. And it seems that this “hatred” is more pronounced on the conservative side. Actually, all extremist sides spew hatred, the Right and the Left.
politic is the LAST thing i’d talk about with anyone. though it’s part of life, i don’t have an interest on it, nor do i like what i now about it. it’s becoming more like a religion to many who follow it and it segregates people. if i rule the world, the only political issue in my politics would be glitter & sequence vs. khaki.
Politics, I never discuss! Nor religion! I fear in the USA both parties seek power and not necessarily the good of the country.
…I love politics! Though I do agree it’s not the best dinner conversation. But funny thing is I grew up listening to my parents’ debate on Mao’s former policies whenever we sit down for dinner.
You know Matt, I could have written that first paragraph of yours. I thought those three speeches were electrifying. I didn’t watch the Republican circus and felt bad when I caught a little bit of the Clint Eastwood circus in the various news channels. I liked that guy for the roles he plays in the movies. But I think he was a nuisance at the convention.
I too do not discuss politics and religion. I would rather not be in a gathering which foams at the mouth when these topics come about.
Have a good weekend.
I was in Toronto for a week and enjoyed the political coverage in the newspapers. It was like US Politics For Dummies and helped me understand things I didn’t know. I’ve lived in the US off and on for 35 years, but still feel like an outsider in some ways. I have serious issues with both parties, and especially with the rabid partisanship that makes finding real solutions impossible.
Clinton is indeed an amazing speaker. I was very impressed with him the first time he ran for president. As governor of Arkansas, he got people off welfare by insisting they had to look for work, and he had other innovative ideas. A friend of mine who follows politics very closely said to me at the time, “He’s a brilliant man. I just don’t know if he’s a good man.” The record makes it clear that in some ways he was not a good man. But he’s definitely brilliant.
Oh if you think politics in your side of the globe is kinda bad, you don’t want to hear about ours. It’s crazy to the point of stupid that people are totally hopeless about it.
I was inspired by Michelles and Bills the most. Honestly, now that I need to go on SSD, I was contemplating on that saying “get busy living or get busy dying”. I felt hope for the first time in a long time and I will try to retrain for a job, but right now I’m so injured and broken, I need SSD to feed my family. I really hope that the Dems win for our sakes that are unable to work. Population has grown and this is an unfortuante side effect.
Politics make me neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeervous
I find US politics so confusing. On the Canadian side, I hate the attack ad style of the Conservative party!!
@KevEats - I think money and power have gotten into the politicians & lobbyists. It seems now when there are any discussions about politics, it’s really all about “are you on my side or on their side?”.
@ed408 - I’m just staggered by the amount of money that is being raised and spent in the US elections. I wish the money could have gone for better use. In our last elections, the attack ads started showing up even before the elections was declared.
@beowulf222 - yeah, I think the hatred is more so on the right than the left. The extremists on both sides are too much for me.
@rudyhou - I’m a khaki kind of guy. ^ ^
@Fatcat723 - ah yes, religion is another touchy subject. There is a lot of sleazy stuff that seems to go on with politicians.
@MzKeekz - those must have been interesting conversations and debates.
@ZSA_MD - Yeah, those 3 speeches – especially Clinton’s was amazing. I wish I could speak like them. I did have a good weekend and I hope you did too. Perhaps one day, the environment can change where we can talk about politics and environment. Thanks for the rec.
@Roadkill_Spatula - I was really amazed at Clinton’s speech. It’s not often a politician can hold my attention for that long. I just wonder though how this rabid partisanship can be removed. Will it take several years or decades?
@oxyGENE_08 - ah yes, politics in the Philippines is very different and can be deadly.
@hesacontradiction - I hope you will get SSD w/o any hassles. I hope the Democrats win too. Thank you for your comment and for visiting.
@secade - don’t be… I try to stay as informed as I can. But sometimes it’s just so difficult trying to figure out who is telling the truth.
@brooklyn2028 - I hate those attack ads too.
@ElusiveWords - It is deadly… =/
Sadly, I suspect the world is moving ever closer to the US style of politics… =(
@ElusiveWords - that is swell. matt, you and i will get along just fine