The Divided States of America
I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the Divided States of America. And to the republic, for which no one stands, multi-nations,, under no God, easily divisible, with limited liberty and perceived justice for all.
I don’t like talking about politics. There is literally nothing more frustrating and irritating to me. As an organized, Type A perfectionist, an inefficient government is my kryptonite, both mentally and spiritually. Nothing dulls my spirit more than wasted money, programs that don’t work and the ever-fattening of the wallets of government officials.
I could go into my personal beliefs here, but who the fuck cares? I don’t care whether you know how I think or not. If you want to know how I feel about something, you can ask me. I will gladly share. But I’m not here to lecture you or anyone else about my political beliefs. Furthermore, in this day and age, my beliefs will define me as a person to you. You may hear something you don’t like, and then what? You’ll unfollow me? You’ll quit reading my stuff? Or maybe you’ll share my post! Maybe you’ll agree with me and spread my words as if I’m qualified to speak to any of this. But from what I’ve seen going on in the world lately, everyone’s got a trigger finger and a sharp tongue, ready to pounce and denounce. And quite frankly, that’s a risk I don’t want to take.
I am embarrassed and ashamed of what this country has become. And I’m not just talking about political talking heads here (although come on; who are these asshats?); I’m talking about US. I have never seen so much division, hatred and intolerance in my life. I never thought the day would come when I would see comments from the people I have known and love, spewing hate towards those who choose not to vote the same way they did. I have never seen so many people attack others for their life choices. It’s like all of a sudden people have become experts on everyone else’s life. All of a sudden, our ability to scroll social media and repost and share highly editorial content as fact and then lecture our “friends” about their choices has deemed us experts in things we personally know nothing about. I got news for you: you don’t know what’s best for any one but yourself. Mind your damn business.
I was triggered to write this post because I’m tired of seeing so much hate and intolerance in my “friends.” I was scrolling the ‘gram the other day and saw a story a friend posted. It was a beautiful meme that appeared to be a poem but at the end, the last line was something to the effect of, “And I will think less of you if you vote for Trump.” I was honestly pretty shocked. This is someone I have literally known my entire life and was heartbroken that they felt this way about someone who could have a different world view than they do. I see this in my own family too: the hatred for “those people”; those who think differently than they do. The hypocrisy of a group of people who claim to be tolerant of everyone; who claim to support those who are different and uphold the underdog; those who want fairness and equality. Yet they shun others for who they vote for. They call them names and unfriend them and treat them horribly because they’re different. What the fuck is that? What is wrong with people? What happened to accepting people as they are?
John Mayer has a song that I think about all the time when I think about politics and people on different sides of issues. His lyrics are as follows, from the song Belief:
Is there anyone who ever remembers
Changing their mind from the paint on a sign?
Is there anyone who really recalls
Ever breaking record off
For something someone yelled real loud one time?
Oh, everyone believes
In how they think it ought to be
Oh, everyone believes
And they're not going easily
Belief is a beautiful armor
But makes for the heaviest sword
Like punching underwater
You never can hit who you're trying for
Some need the exhibition
And some have to know they tried
It's the chemical weapon
For the war that's raging on inside
Oh, everyone believes
From emptiness to everything
Oh, everyone believes
And no one's going quietly
We're never gonna win the world
We're never gonna stop the war
We're never gonna beat this
If belief is what we're fighting for
We're never gonna win the world
We're never gonna stop the war
We're never gonna beat this
If belief is what we're fighting for
Is there anyone you can remember
Ever surrender with their life on the line?
We're never gonna win the world
We're never gonna stop the war
We're never gonna beat this
If belief is what we're fighting for
We're never gonna win the world
We're never gonna stop the war
We're never gonna beat this
If belief is what we're fighting for
What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand?
Belief can, belief can
What puts a folded flag inside his mother's hand?
Belief can, belief can
Never have truer words been written, spoken and sung. Belief is a PERSONAL choice and furthermore, cannot be changed by anyone but the person who holds them. Just because you chastise people for how they think or lecture them on how the world should be doesn’t ever end up in them saying, “you know what? You’re right! I’m going to change my mind right this second because you told me so.”
I just want to make one thing clear: we live in the greatest country in the world; we have the freedom to think and speak as we wish. Why is it so hard to honor and respect our friends and family for their right?
I read an article recently that talked about why it’s so hard for us to talk about politics or things that we disagree on with loved ones. It basically said that we get so upset when our friends and family think differently than we do because it comes down to a fundamental difference in the way we view the world. And naturally, we want our friends and family to share similar beliefs (group-think at it’s finest) because that means we see the world the same: we hold the same values, thoughts and opinions. But regardless of what side of the spectrum you are on, most of us do share the same values underneath it all; We all want what’s best for us and for humanity. We want a safe, clean world. We want others to be happy. We want people to be cared for. And if you’re me, you just want the goddamn system to work. But it’s a tall order; a tall order for a system that continues to fail us. The world isn’t perfect because people aren’t perfect. But we need to do what we can do as citizens of this great nation to look after one another and protect each other. The idea that the government will do that for you is a severe fallacy. It’s all a lie: no one looks out for you but you and the people who love you. So grow the list of those who love you. Find strength in the numbers. Make love not war. This country depends on it.