We're Not Going There...Really

I’m a talker when I’m around people I know and am comfortable with. I could go on for HOURS with my friends. As Lenny will attest, I can fill up a silence like no one he’s ever met (sometimes to the point of annoyance). And when I do get talking, it can be quite entertaining as just about anything will fly out of my mouth. And maybe, I enjoy the spotlight a tad bit.

But even a talker like me hates discussing the forbidden two topics: Religion and Politics.

Generally, I just tend to stay out of such subjects unless I’m debating – at which point I’m forced to take either side – or if I have a death wish. My typical modus operandi is to simply turn and talk to someone else if others in the group are discussing it, or just excuse myself politely. But more and more each day, this is becoming quite the challenge. As the boundaries between Church, state, and political affiliation dissipate, so do the tactful ways I can extricate myself from it.

Before I go on, let me just say that I am a Roman Catholic and have registered as an Independent to vote. However, don’t let these two labels fool you. While I celebrate the Catholic mass, I still reserve the right to disagree with certain edicts and views that are stereotypical of my religion. While I have a left-leaning tendency, I occasionally find myself simply frustrated with all politicians and often have to vote for the lesser of two evils. But, as an American citizen, I view the office of the Presidency with respect by keeping quiet publicly about my opinions. Another election will come soon enough and I will be able to cast my opinion then (As naïve as that sounds, I still believe it).

Let’s hope that’s the last time I ever have to explain that on here.

Back to the point at hand – it is disturbing to me that humans (and more specifically Americans) have divided themselves up into these little groups. The mentality is “You’re either FOR US or AGAINST US.” My question is who is this “us” and why are they whipping up mob mentality? Furthermore, there are divisions within the divisions. For example, it’s not enough to classify themselves as Red State Republicans, but you have your sub-categories as well: Right Wing, Black, Female, Male, Glasses Wearing, Gun Toting, Vegan…the list could probably go on. Each with a different agenda, but all claiming to be with one “party.”

I understand the human need to organize ourselves into groups. Isn’t that what our ancestral tribes were? They were groups of people who shared common beliefs, lifestyles, traditions, etc. They had regional differences, perhaps, but as a whole they were one unit. When a tribe went to war, the WHOLE tribe went. My favorite way of explaining this to people is by using my blue little friends, the Smurfs (stick with me here folks).

Okay – so we had this village of blue people who were three apples high (I think the scale is off, because have you ever stacked three apples on each other? That’s a pretty big ass Smurf). They all had different jobs and characteristics – Papa Smurf was the leader, Brainy was the smart one, Nosey was the town gossip, Fisher was the fisherman, and Smurfette was arm candy (I could make a worse joke, but this is a PG-13 blog). Different Smurfs, different agendas. But when it came down to it, Gargamel the Sorcerer and his cat Azrael wanted to destroy ALL Smurfs by eating them or turning them into gold. Not a single Smurf in the village gets immunity.

Fundamentalists don’t want to destroy just part of American society, everyone living in this country has a target over them. The Papacy doesn’t excommunicate only some of the homosexuals, they issue the statement to all of them. The bird flu isn’t something that picks us by hair color, it’s indiscriminant. But we waste our time telling each other that we don’t like specific groups, when we’re all getting whacked over the head with the same set of bats!

When it comes down to it, we are all in the same sinking boat. So, why not help bail the water out? Instead of deciding “who” you’re supposed to be with, try figuring “how” to fix the problem. It’s okay to mingle, trust me – I’ve done it. I didn’t get cooties from people who have opinions that differ from mine. I have lots of friends who have contrary points of view to my own. Does that make them right? Does it make them wrong? No…it makes them human! If we weren’t suppose to have free will, then whatever higher being/evolutionary ooze/space aliens that set us on this Earth wouldn’t have let us live. If they were aiming for a subservient culture – they failed by a long shot.

In the end, we are who we are. You can’t change anybody – only yourself. As for me, I think I’ve finally come up with a new way to address the question “What are you?” The answer is simple and has been there all along: I am human.

That’s the best group of all!