Distraction and Misinformation

     In our American world of alleged sophistication and "1st-world-ness", I find it immensely frustrating that we are so willing to judge the unknown. For all our claims of tolerance and you're-ok-I'm-ok postmodernism, I sense a much more real dynamic of intolerance, judgment, and even hatred towards people who disagree. There is perhaps no better time to see people's true colors than in a time of political transition. I feel a mixture of amusement and annoyance with facebook right now, as people who probably have no genuine political convictions feel free to vent their opinion on health care... people I know well enough to know that they have probably not researched this bill, being scared off at the first mention of "big government" and ambiguous, sinister references to socialism. The same people who didn't vote. Or who voted without truly believing that they were voting for a cause or for change. To everyone who voted for the "cool black guy" rather than a politician who made no apologies and cast no illusions that he was going to initiate change: shame on you.


     I think that a healthy discussion among people who disagree is beneficial. I do not, however, think that anyone is benefitting, growing, or becoming better educated from biting comments about how we hate our president. I voted for him knowing full well that he was going to make changes... and, frankly, he hasn't made many. I understand that I am certainly on the good end of health care reform... one of those who will benefit from it and there are those who will not. I also understand that the increase of government's involvement in things like healthcare is a change that could be a catalyst towards a mild form of socialism many many years down the road if it continues unchecked (unlikely)... but I understand these things because I've researched them. I'm okay with these things not because I'm 1. blindly committed to any partisan agenda or 2.think Obama is infallible... in any political scenario you have to pick your poison. Whatever my commitment or yours, as I know I differ with many of my friends on this issue, have some respect. If people are as angry as they sound, and hate the President that much, they can certainly relocate out of country for two years and maybe better luck next time. This hatred gets us nowhere.