It Is Cool To Be Politically Aware

There has been a long standing tradition with many about how you should never discuss politics or religion in polite company, but let's be honest: people do it anyway! People who are into politics or current events are often made to feel like they should be ashamed of this interest, or tone it down around those who do not share their passion. Well, I am going to stand up and say it is okay to be politically aware, and even discuss politics, too. I know a lot of people hate all the campaign talk and just want it to end, but some of us actually follow politics out of interest. For instance, I would rather watch clips from the Young Turks on YouTube or read a news article on the BBC than watching a sporting event, or playing one of those popular virtual reality games. Just because my interest happens to be politics and current events does not make this less valid.

Faux Political Discussions Are Boring

I prefer a heated and real political discussion any day of the week over a faux political discussion. I am not afraid to say hey I am voting for Obama on November 6, and this is my choice even though I would have preferred him to be a bit more progressive on many key issues. I have no problems with arguing about policy positions that Romney supports that I think are not in the best interests of the American people, and I really do not have to be ashamed of admitting this. It is okay and encouraged to root for a sports team, but heaven forbid we have an intense debate about foreign policy.

Faux political discussions are not satisfying for many of us political junkies because the people who engage in those are only interested in saying "everyone should vote," but balk if any real positions are discussed. For instance, a few days I was on a certain company's Facebook page when they posted a message on their wall about how everyone should vote on November 6, and several of us posted our reasons as for why we might vote for Obama or Romney. All of the comments stating who we would vote for and why were deleted, but only the pc comments about "go vote" were kept there. Yes, I know a business does not want perceived as if it is taking sides, but a lot of people were not pleased about having their opinions deleted, especially since the company had brought up the issue of voting.

So the bottom line is if a group of people or a business brings up an issue like voting, do not turn it into a faux discussion about politics that just says something generic about how voting is cool. One particular Facebook political interchange on a business wall was civil, and a lot of us did not feel like commenting on this company's wall anymore after they deleted anything that was remotely political in leaning. I have a lot more respect for people I disagree with me and put their opinions out there and back it up rather than just having a feel good faux discussion about politics just to keep the peace. I think yes we need to be civil and not call names, but having seen how Julia Gillard called out her opposition in the Australian Parliament, I often wish American politicians in particular, and Americans in general would not clam up every time a person has remotely political opinion. 

It is okay for someone to be passionate about a basketball team they like, but heaven forbid an American show passion for a certain politician. Oh my goodness, you might not want to be my friend anymore because I am a liberal. Oh well, you probably were not my real friend anyway since you did not understand we are not all carbon clones of each other. I am still friends with conservatives, and I like that I know where they stand on things, actually.  In my book, faux political discussions are boring.