I know most of us have already made our choice between John McCain and Barack Obama. Hell, I'd be willing to bet that a good portion of us had decided which party we were voting for before the primaries even began. I know we all have our belief systems in place and are ready to defend them.
But do we have to be so goddamned nasty about it?
In the past week, I have heard and read many shocking things about Sarah Palin from my fellow Obama supporters. They tore her to shreds with their comments. While I'll admit that I've taken more than my fair share of potshots at George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and other Republicans, I've never come close to stating anything as downright hateful as the things I've been exposed to in the past week.
The other week, I was sitting in the waiting room while I was getting my car's oil changed. An elderly woman was sitting beside me, watching CNN. She turned to me and said, "I hate that Nancy Pelosi bitch! She's the reason gas prices are so high!" Damn, Grandma! I just giggled nervously and picked up a copy of Field & Stream to hide behind.
The whole country's bathed in hate. The accusations and slurs that supporters of both parties are flinging at each other appall me. We all have our differences, but we do not have to annihilate everyone who is different from us or does not share our views.
Jozet from Halushki left the following comment on my Sarah Palin post last week:
I think you're right. And Flying Spaghetti Monster save us. I think that a lot of cultural and societal issues are going to come to a head in the next few years and not until after a huge clusterf*ck circular firing squad of everyone on everyone.
But that's what we've seem to set ourselves up for and what, after all, we seem to want. We not meaning me of course. ;-)
I do believe, though, that the story will have a heroic and possibly happy ending. However, as in all good epic tales, there is a fire walk into dark places and good deeds will abound from unlikely sources. I have that faith. (But don't tell anyone I have faith.)
When I first read her words, I chuckled. Now, I'm not so sure. I think she might be right. And that scares me.
We've still got two months left until the election. Let's try to be nice to each other and even though we may disagree with certain candidates, treat them with respect.
Supporting a candidate does not mean degrading another candidate.
Song of the day: Walking On Sunshine by Katrina & The Waves
