The Return To Innocence

A quote I loved:
"I wish that we didn't have to choose parties. I mean, how much voting happens just because of party? People treat their party like a football team that they stand behind: right or wrong. Imagine what we could do if we only had to vote on issues?"

I wish it could be the other kind of party. I wish I could have ice cream cake and a pony ride every time I voted.

I also wish people wouldn't use words like "evil" or "pathetic" or "malevolent" or "brainless" to describe people affiliated with the opposing party. We're all people. True, some people have extreme ideas on how to control the masses (denying access to reproductive options, denying marriage for non-heterosexual people, denying gun ownership for citizens, denying death penalties for severe criminals, denying funds for military defense, etcetera). But they're still people.
I sit in the middle, and I look left and I look right, and I throw up my hands and declare, "You are all insane and I want nothing to do with either of your parties. But because I have no choice, living where I live, I have to choose one of you or I can't vote in the primaries. You all suck. But you're closer to my social ideals, so I'm going with you." And I point to the left, and sigh, and shrug. And my husband does the exact same thing, only he points to the right, because they're closer to his fiscal ideals.
Neither of us is actually a Democrat or a Republican, neither of us is actually a liberal or a conservative, but those are our options. While we're equally moderate and agree in almost everything, we can stand on both sides and try to figure out the least awful candidates in both parties. I like having a partner who thinks the same things I do as we stare in bafflement at the chaos, shake our heads, and wonder when there will ever be balance.
I guarantee that someone will call my husband "evil" and someone will call me "pathetic" just because we find ourselves affiliated with one side or the other. But we're still in the middle. Like a lot of people.
But shades of gray are never quite as stark as black and white, I guess. The blood and claws and teeth fly hard and fast if you're on one side or the other. Being in the middle sometimes means that you get to watch the damage pile up from a bit of a distance, and it gets depressing.

A conversation online that made me giggle:

Him: So, What are you, politically?
Me: Moderate.
Him: Moderate what? Moderate Republican? Moderate Democrat?
Me: Yes.
Him: Which one?
Me: Yes.
Him: Yes what? Yes moderate Republican or yes moderate Democrat?
Me: Yes!
Him: Who are you, River Song? Why can't you just answer my question?
Me: (long pause) Spoilers!
Him: You know what, I can't talk to you anymore.
Me: Because I don't fit in any of the boxes you have?
Him: Whatever. Bye.
Me: I have a really nice big box right here. It's blue. It's bigger on the inside. You should try it! I can make you some tea and brownies.
Him: (silence)
Me: YOU DO NOT REQUIRE TEA?
Him: (Apparently signed out)

Dear Internet: Is there a rule that I've missed that requires a person to be One Thing Or The Other Thing? Because I never got the paperwork. Was there a deadline? Will I get a summons? Can I just vote "Whatever" on the next ballot?
Also, I am very very tired of hearing the phrase "they are disgusting" in the same sentence as either "conservatives" or "liberals." Please quit insulting all my friends. My friends are awesome. I can manage to be friends with both anti-abortion rights folks and anti-gun rights folks and nobody has killed each other. This makes me happy.
Dear World: Learn to live together. We all die in the end anyway.

A conversation online that made me giggle:

Him: So, What are you, politically?
Me: Moderate.
Him: Moderate what? Moderate Republican? Moderate Democrat?
Me: Yes.
Him: Which one?
Me: Yes.
Him: Yes what? Yes moderate Republican or yes moderate Democrat?
Me: Yes!
Him: Who are you, River Song? Why can't you just answer my question?
Me: (long pause) Spoilers!
Him: You know what, I can't talk to you anymore.
Me: Because I don't fit in any of the boxes you have?
Him: Whatever. Bye.
Me: I have a really nice big box right here. It's blue. It's bigger on the inside. You should try it! I can make you some tea and brownies.
Him: (silence)
Me: YOU DO NOT REQUIRE TEA?
Him: (Apparently signed out)

Dear Internet: Is there a rule that I've missed that requires a person to be One Thing Or The Other Thing? Because I never got the paperwork. Was there a deadline? Will I get a summons? Can I just vote "Whatever" on the next ballot?
Also, I am very very tired of hearing the phrase "they are disgusting" in the same sentence as either "conservatives" or "liberals." Please quit insulting all my friends. My friends are awesome. I can manage to be friends with both anti-abortion rights folks and anti-gun rights folks and nobody has killed each other. This makes me happy.
Dear World: Learn to live together. We all die in the end anyway.

Look, don't tell me my gay atheist conservative right wing Republican friends can't exist. They're not unicorns, damn it. People don't fit into your neat little boxes. And don't you dare tell me that it is impossible to be a gay atheist conservative right wing Republican living in Virginia with a long term same sex partner. I just talked to both of them on the phone about their cat's failing health. They exist!
You know what, stop talking. Just shut up.
What the hell is wrong with people? People exist outside of boxes and stereotypes whether you want them to or not. In fact, one of the most amusing things I have ever, ever heard was "Your friend claims to be a gay pagan pro-choice conservative Republican? Then he's not a real Republican, because real Republicans can't be gay or pagan or pro-choice." This was said by a left wing liberal Democrat who bragged about being accepting of all people no matter what and who claimed to never stereotype people. I almost cyber-bitchslapped him.
It's even funnier than the guy who told me I was a bad pagan because I was not a liberal Democrat.
Damn it, humanity, stop making me facepalm and headdesk all over the place.
Boxes. They can be broken. Seriously.
Argh.

This is why I stay out of politics. Politics make my head hurt.

If I wasn't in so much physical pain right now, I might rant more, but this is all I can come up with.

Look, don't tell me my gay atheist conservative right wing Republican friends can't exist. They're not unicorns, damn it. People don't fit into your neat little boxes. And don't you dare tell me that it is impossible to be a gay atheist conservative right wing Republican living in Virginia with a long term same sex partner. I just talked to both of them on the phone about their cat's failing health. They exist!
You know what, stop talking. Just shut up.
What the hell is wrong with people? People exist outside of boxes and stereotypes whether you want them to or not. In fact, one of the most amusing things I have ever, ever heard was "Your friend claims to be a gay pagan pro-choice conservative Republican? Then he's not a real Republican, because real Republicans can't be gay or pagan or pro-choice." This was said by a left wing liberal Democrat who bragged about being accepting of all people no matter what and who claimed to never stereotype people. I almost cyber-bitchslapped him.
It's even funnier than the guy who told me I was a bad pagan because I was not a liberal Democrat.
Damn it, humanity, stop making me facepalm and headdesk all over the place.
Boxes. They can be broken. Seriously.
Argh.

This is why I stay out of politics. Politics make my head hurt.

If I wasn't in so much physical pain right now, I might rant more, but this is all I can come up with.

I woke up with this weird rant about social issues, humanity, and politics bouncing around in my head, but it's starting to fade now.
The gist of it: I don't care if you are a raging conservative or a raging liberal or a raging libertarian or a raging whatever. If I get along with you and I like you, I will be your friend. Not all conservatives want to ban abortion and not all liberals want a mommy government. If I read your blog and you make generalizations like "All conservatives/liberals disgust me" I will unfriend you. I hate the terms libtard and neocon. I will call you a hypocrite if you say things like "This political group is made of rabid wolverines and barbed wire but my political group is made of double rainbows and happy kittens."
The following statement will probably cause a few people to yell at me. I sometimes watch Fox News. I don't call it Faux News. I almost always want to punch the commentators in the genitals. But I watch it because it is news, just like any other news. All news is fake at this point. All news is biased. Nothing is fair or balanced. But I watch Fox News because it presents several sides, and while that may not be as fair and balanced as they want, it's better than nothing. I also read the Huffington Post. I almost always want to punch the writers in the genitals. But I read it because it offers opinions and views that I might one day want to debate. Now, I can't debate my way out of a paper bag, but I try. I want to equally break the jaws of Glenn Beck and Michael Moore. Libertarianism works great on paper, not so great in the real world. Big government scares me. Social programs have their flaws and benefits, but I refuse to take sides. Screaming never solved problems.
If I don't seem to be going anywhere, tell me.
I'm in center. Centrist, Moderate, whatever. Some of my views are conservative. Some are liberal. Some are Libertarian. Some are Democrat. Some are Republican. I admit that I honestly do not understand how someone can subscribe to one view and one view only, rigid and stubborn, never wavering. Life isn't like that.
I do my best to understand everyone, no matter what side they are on or what opinions they have. I won't yell at someone for expressing a view that I disagree with, but I will ask them lots of questions.
I was once accused of being a bad pagan because I didn't call myself a liberal Democrat. That confused me for days.
I am a polythestic agnostic eclectic pagan witch. I'm politically in the center. I don't like confrontation. I have mixed feelings about cultural appropriation, since it's everywhere. Nobody can live in a bubble. Cultural experiences tend to spread around the world and people are going to teach other people. Everyone is human and this is how the world interacts. But respect and reverence and understanding is key. It is very easy to cause insult and offense no matter who you are. I don't know how to argue or debate properly. Sometimes I can't identify strawman arguments. I like learning, so please teach me, but try not to be too biased, because I want to learn every viewpoint.
Where was I going with this? I have no idea. But it's out of my head now. I shall now anticipate various comments along the lines of "You are an idiot if you believe/watch/read/agree with [thing I don't like]."
I will need more coffee soon. This time I plan on adding pure acai juice, Chobani vanilla yogurt, and cocoa.

I woke up with this weird rant about social issues, humanity, and politics bouncing around in my head, but it's starting to fade now.
The gist of it: I don't care if you are a raging conservative or a raging liberal or a raging libertarian or a raging whatever. If I get along with you and I like you, I will be your friend. Not all conservatives want to ban abortion and not all liberals want a mommy government. If I read your blog and you make generalizations like "All conservatives/liberals disgust me" I will unfriend you. I hate the terms libtard and neocon. I will call you a hypocrite if you say things like "This political group is made of rabid wolverines and barbed wire but my political group is made of double rainbows and happy kittens."
The following statement will probably cause a few people to yell at me. I sometimes watch Fox News. I don't call it Faux News. I almost always want to punch the commentators in the genitals. But I watch it because it is news, just like any other news. All news is fake at this point. All news is biased. Nothing is fair or balanced. But I watch Fox News because it presents several sides, and while that may not be as fair and balanced as they want, it's better than nothing. I also read the Huffington Post. I almost always want to punch the writers in the genitals. But I read it because it offers opinions and views that I might one day want to debate. Now, I can't debate my way out of a paper bag, but I try. I want to equally break the jaws of Glenn Beck and Michael Moore. Libertarianism works great on paper, not so great in the real world. Big government scares me. Social programs have their flaws and benefits, but I refuse to take sides. Screaming never solved problems.
If I don't seem to be going anywhere, tell me.
I'm in center. Centrist, Moderate, whatever. Some of my views are conservative. Some are liberal. Some are Libertarian. Some are Democrat. Some are Republican. I admit that I honestly do not understand how someone can subscribe to one view and one view only, rigid and stubborn, never wavering. Life isn't like that.
I do my best to understand everyone, no matter what side they are on or what opinions they have. I won't yell at someone for expressing a view that I disagree with, but I will ask them lots of questions.
I was once accused of being a bad pagan because I didn't call myself a liberal Democrat. That confused me for days.
I am a polythestic agnostic eclectic pagan witch. I'm politically in the center. I don't like confrontation. I have mixed feelings about cultural appropriation, since it's everywhere. Nobody can live in a bubble. Cultural experiences tend to spread around the world and people are going to teach other people. Everyone is human and this is how the world interacts. But respect and reverence and understanding is key. It is very easy to cause insult and offense no matter who you are. I don't know how to argue or debate properly. Sometimes I can't identify strawman arguments. I like learning, so please teach me, but try not to be too biased, because I want to learn every viewpoint.
Where was I going with this? I have no idea. But it's out of my head now. I shall now anticipate various comments along the lines of "You are an idiot if you believe/watch/read/agree with [thing I don't like]."
I will need more coffee soon. This time I plan on adding pure acai juice, Chobani vanilla yogurt, and cocoa.

So.

Futurama Episode Transcript: A Taste Of Freedom

Freedom, freedom, freedom, oy, Freedom, freedom, freedom, oy?

Also, Adam played Manowar's Fight For Freedom. It was amusing.

So.

Futurama Episode Transcript: A Taste Of Freedom

Freedom, freedom, freedom, oy, Freedom, freedom, freedom, oy?

Also, Adam played Manowar's Fight For Freedom. It was amusing.

Watching... oh, hell every channel is broadcasting it. But we are currently watching CNN.
Me, a few seconds ago: "YIPE. OH GOOD GODS, THOSE ARE ALL PEOPLE. LOOK AT THAT HOLY SHIT."

They're everywhere.
And this is just what is along the Mall, never mind the parade route.

Now all we need is Michael Buffer with "Live from the Capitol Hill in Washington DC, for the millions in attendance and the millions watching around the world! Ladies and Gentlemen, let's get ready to inaugurate!"

And really, people, can we give George W. Bush a break this one time, on this one day? He's about to go away for good. His cat died and nobody cared. He's been a horrible president, but he's a person. Mr. Bush, I hope you have a good life, and I am sorry about your cat.

As Bush walked out, Adam started playing New Model Army's You Weren't There.
Lyrics.