Politics

I don't like politics. I run very far and very fast from politics.

It has nothing to do with disagreeing with my friends. My best friend and I will probably always vote against each other, but that's because different things are important to us for different reasons. I don't get mad at her when we discuss our differing opinions, because I know that certain things have shaped her life just as different--but no less important--things have shaped my life.

I will not argue with you about your voting policy. I will not argue with you about you opinion on who is better. I may, occasionally, engage in healthy debate about the way I think things should go, but I will not argue.

And this is why I don't like politics.

I had a debate in my English class on Wednesday. We read Oedipus the King over last weekend, and split into sides based on whether we thought that Oedipus was a victim of the prediction made about him before his birth, or if it was his character and choices that led him to his fate.

(For those who don't know, Oedipus the King is the Greek story about the guy who was sent away at his birth (him mom wanted him killed), and was raised by another king and queen because of shepherds. He grew up to kill his birth father and marry his birth mother. Greek legends are nasty as hell, really...)

Personally, I was in the "Human beings are illogical dumbfucks, I'm going to Vulcan" camp, but since I had to pick one side or the other, I went with "This is not Oedipus' fault". And I could expound on how it isn't. Maybe I will, because it's interesting, but it will be in another post. I'm trying to make a point (shocker!) here.

The thing is, in this debate, there were a bunch of eighteen-to-twenty-three-year-olds. The "immature" ones. The "entitled" ones. The ones who were raised to be spoiled and think that they are the second coming of Christ. Or something. However the hell you want to describe my generation. That was who was participating in this debate. You know what, though? We were respectful. We actually listened to each other. We brought up well-thought-out points and counterpoints. We actually debated.

To tie this back into the beginning and title of this post, there are some things that I have never heard the "mature", "unspoiled", "intelligent" participants of political debates say that I heard in that room. For example:

"I never thought about it that way."

"I concede your point."

"I understand why you see it that way, even though I don't see it like that myself."

Admittedly, the media would have a field day with any politician who said that. The opposing side would be all "OH MY GOD THEY DON'T STICK TO THEIR OWN BELIEFS HOLY CRAP THIS IS HORRIFYING THAT SOMEONE IS CHANGING AND GROWING ENLIGHTENED BECAUSE THAT IS WRONG YOU AREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO THAT YOU SHOULD TOTALLY VOTE FOR OUR CANDIDATE BECAUSE HE IS IMMOVABLE."

I mean, they wouldn't phrase it like that, because the way I said it makes it clear that change is a good thing (or, at least, I think it does), and the media sources would want to make it seem absolutely terrible. I don't know why. I probably never will. See, if I heard a candidate say that, I don't think I would give a flying monkey fuck what his policies were. The fact that he would agree that he might be wrong or that his opinion isn't the only valid option would make me respect him immensely, and my respecting someone means one hell of a lot more (generally) than my agreeing with them. Any politician who says something similar to that has my vote.

It bothers me that Obama supports abortion. It bothers me that Romney thinks gays don't have families. It bothers me that Obama isn't really working with the Catholic Church on the contraception issue. It bothers me that Romney doesn't seem to care about  hardworking poor people. Both these people have their faults. I don't even know how I'm voting at this point. But I would be swayed immediately by someone who listens, someone who understands, someone who respects their rival. That is all I want in a president. I want someone who isn't afraid to be swayed by good, strong arguments. I want someone who cares about what the other side thinks, even if he doesn't agree with him. I want someone who takes everyone's opinions into consideration, and then makes the best decision for the majority.

Who the hell knows if I'll ever get it, though.

Unpopular Opinion Time

I’m going to do something I don’t normally, and give this a preface.  Why?  Because I don’t want my head bit off, and I know that’s what can happen if someone with a strong opinion reads this.  I’m probably going to anyway.  But the preface:

My opinion on contraception is that…I don’t have one.  If you want to use it, that’s fine.  If you don’t, that’s also fine.  I have no need of an opinion on this matter, and don’t foresee one for a good long time.  The issue of contraception is something that should be decided between partners, not in Congress.

That being said, I’m getting fed up with the hullabaloo around the contraception issue.  No, a bunch of old, white men should not have the final say in women’s health.  No, women going to get abortions¹ should have to have wands stuck in their privates, just because.  Yes, women who want contraception should have access to it.

Note my last statement, especially the bit about women who want it.  The picture that has been painted of the Catholic Church during this whole thing is unflattering: it’s a huge, mammoth beast who gives no craps about women and their health.  It’s unreasonable and demanding and misogynistic.  It wants what it wants, and it’s not going to take no for an answer.

Okay, again with the backing up.  Yes, the Church wants what it wants, but d’you know what it wants?  It wants its rights as laid out by the First Amendment.  It wants freedom to practice it’s religion peacefully, without other people horning in and telling it what it can and can’t do in relation to faith.

You know something that’s bothered me about this whole shebang?  You people protesting the Church’s protest have lost sight of something important.  You know how what they don’t want to do is to have to provide insurance covering contraception for employees of Catholic organizations?  You know how it makes sense that most people employed by Catholic organizations would be Catholic themselves?  Can you see what I’m getting at?

Chances are, the women whose rights you are defending² would not use the contraception in the first place.  Because of their beliefs.  Because they are Catholic women, making their own choice to follow their beliefs and not use contraception.  Would you want to take a wad of bills and flush it down the toilet?  Because that is basically what you are asking these companies to do.

Maybe you’re one of those who have been vocal about this, and you’re feeling attacked.  I’m sorry; that was not my intent.  Maybe you never thought about it this way, and need time for contemplation.  Take all the time you need.  Maybe you’re unswayed, and still think that Catholic organizations should provide the insurance.  Okay, you do that.  I just feel like, good as your intentions may be, the women who this would actually affect should be taken into consideration.

*shrugs* Just a thought.

¹I’m not getting into this.  I have an opinion, and well-thought-out arguments to defend myself with.  What I don’t have is the energy or patience to deal with the foot-stamping, whining, and childish “No, you’re wrong and I’m right and LALALALA I’M NOT LISTENING” that inevitably, in my experience, comes of this.

²Yes, I see that you’re defending them.  I thank you for the thought, and I’m sure they do, too.