(this entry has not been sanctioned by my loving wife)
While straining to withhold my fury during this election season, I continuously ponder the amicable ways in which to express my political opinions. This burdens the soul. We have been reminded by our peers, throughout our lives, that there exist three topics that are to remain OFF LIMITS: religion, money, and politics. One of my fondest memories of this comes from sixth grade. Our class was visited by a professional soccer player, and when he began to field questions, I immediately raised my hand and asked, "What is your average annual income?". My teacher then proceeded to rush to my side, grab me by the arm and whisper in my ear, "There are three things you never ask a person, and that is one of them!". I had learned about the other two topics earlier in life while asking questions in Catholic school. You are not allowed to ask women in penguin suits questions. They give obligatory answers. Herein lies the problem: these three parameters shape our daily lives more than most others. Yet, we have been conditioned to talk about the latest sporting event, episode of Grey's Anatomy, or the end all be all of conversations - the weather. The problem arises that, when one of these black listed topics reveals itself, people rush for an exit. I, on the other hand, would rather bar the escape routes and force an answer from the sealed lips of the masses. Yet, because of this view, I am deemed confrontational and unworthy of an educated discussion. My aim is not to incite divisiveness; I can do that by talking about football. I just want to know why a person believes what they believe. That's all. Nothing more. So, here is what I believe.
I believe that Barack Obama should be the next President. He is an inspiring, educated, and spirited individual. He has earned all that he has gained through life, and I find that to be a very important attribute. That man has brought more energy into this country than we've had in a long time. He is not a terrorist or a muslim and if anyone believes that, then that is reflective of the poor state of our educational system. There's my politics.
Monetarily, I am not a rich man. I measure my wealth by the friends and family within my life. In that respect, my pot of gold is full to the brim. Like most of us, I just try to get by and help those I can along the way. But too many people are influenced by wealth and status. When I look at Obama, I see someone that started with little, gained a lot, and helped as many people as he could along the way. Why would we not want someone like that representing our country? There's my money and politics.
How do I drag religion in to this? Let's look at the term religiosity. According to the American Century Dictionary, it is defined as the "state of being religious or too religious." Well, I believe that too many people are too religious. And when a person becomes too religious, they tend to be unable to look at the world for the incredibly large melting pot of religions that it truly is. Obama, a known Christian, has not used his faith as a stepping stone for his political or social gain. Rather, he has used it as a moral compass throughout his life. In general, I think that this is a better use of religion, rather then letting religion make all of the decisions for you. There's my religion and politics.
So, don't be a schmuck. Go vote for Obama next Tuesday.
