Talking Politics

Nov 04

AndrewPolitics and Nation , , Comments Off

It is always weird to me to watch the gloves come off during election season.  For weeks now, my friends have been jousting over their support for Obama and McCain in ways that are none too pretty and seriously intolerant of the diversity of views that our country is supposed to stand for.  Sure, so-called open-mindedness is largely a myth of inaction as opposed to some Utopian state where we exist in harmony, but does that really mean we have to go slinging insults just because someone disagrees with our political views?

I am sure if I confronted my friends, some of them (but not all) would express contrition and say that the war of words is all in good fun.  It’s not a concession to the (lack of) strength of their political beliefs, but rather a concession that nobody takes the abuse seriously.

I guess I do take it seriously because it scares me to see the fervency with which people embrace their candidate.  I have no problem with the strength of belief, and little problem with the attempt to convert people to your way of thinking than I do the method by which you go about it. It is no more comfortable for me to watch the candidates’ mudslinging commercials than it is to listen to my friends to rebuke and provoke people for supporting a different candidate.

It is fascinating to me that since Obama was declared the frontrunner in the election, McCain supporters have largely gone underground. I sat at a round table with friends who all said outright that they were “in the closet” of their support for McCain at work. They would rather pretend to be democrats than risk being ostracized at their jobs.  That’s a value system we are trying to emulate in this country?  (And no small irony the metaphor of being a Republican closet case, but I digress.)  Those of my friends who haven’t backed down in supporting McCain have faced zealous opposition.  Sure, it is still just words, but those words are merciless and sadly hostile.

The upside of all the talk is the heightened awareness that this campaign season is a big deal.  Maybe you only go to the polls knowing the Republican and Democratic candidates, but while you are there, hopefully you see that there are initiatives and measures and other seats to be voted on.  You are participating because you begin to understand the importance of participation, no matter that Obama is a surefire bet to take the presidency and that you have never heard of Proposition 1 before you got to the polling place.   Every presidential election is an historic vote, and it is nice that we as a country are starting to get it.  And next time, maybe you will vote in a non-presidential election year and maybe you will read up in advance on the measures being voted on in your precinct.

The downside is a stunning lack of respect that has been on display the last couple of weeks.  Oh, it will evaporate tomorrow, regardless of the victor in the presidential election. I know that for another four years, at least, the political digs will take the backburner for most of us. But I can’t help but notice that all the talk and backtalk this election season has left a bad taste in my mouth.