Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

Tired of the Politics?

So am I, really. The reason I keep talking about politics in general, and the American election in particular, is because I don't like the way the world is going and I want to do my part to steer it towards a saner course. If everything falls apart, I don't want it to be because I wasn't trying to fix it. I want to be able to stand in the foyer-ever-after and say, "Well, don't look at ME like that -- I did everything I could!" I don't want to be one of those people who stand by silently while history goes haywire. Yes, this annoys people. Yes, it may get me killed. Wouldn't be the first time.

I'm a Bard. I'm an information dispensary and relay station. This is not just my profession, but also my vocation. Part of me is always tuned to the zeitgeist, even though I'm not a close fit for the modern mainstream culture. There are still times when I get tapped to talk about the current issues, just because the Universe considers that part of my job description. I think it's important because I'm good at explaining things, at drawing metaphors, at making connections, in ways that most people are not (based on people's reactions to my work). What I say can have an impact, and I believe in talking about the important things, not just the bread-and-circuses nonsense of who's dating whom and what's on television.

I'm hoping the Universe will give me a break from political supervision, sometime after the election in November.
Tags: personal, politics, writing
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  • 11 comments
sythyry

sythyry

October 8 2008, 18:52:55 UTC 12 years ago

[I'm Bard, but I'm not a Bard by that definition]
dulcinbradbury

dulcinbradbury

October 8 2008, 21:15:22 UTC 12 years ago

me too. :)
browngirl

browngirl

October 8 2008, 18:56:27 UTC 12 years ago

You're bearing witness. That is incredibly valuable and worthwhile.
ysabetwordsmith

ysabetwordsmith

October 9 2008, 02:03:47 UTC 12 years ago

Sooth. That's my purpose. Sometimes it's all that can be done. Thank you for caring.

I actually wrote a science fiction story the other day that's all about bearing witness.
the_7th_guest

the_7th_guest

October 8 2008, 19:20:22 UTC 12 years ago

I actually enjoy your insightful musings on politics, so keep them coming!
morningdove3202

morningdove3202

October 8 2008, 22:23:59 UTC 12 years ago

Ditto!
ysabetwordsmith

ysabetwordsmith

October 9 2008, 01:08:46 UTC 12 years ago

I'm not planning to stop. I'm just acknowledging that the deluge can be overwhelming.
wyld_dandelyon

wyld_dandelyon

October 8 2008, 22:59:03 UTC 12 years ago

I'm not tired of politics per se--political races are kind of like sports events, except the winner doesn't get a pennant or trophy, they get the right to decide things about MY life.

But I AM very tired of the mudslinging and the huge lack of good sportsmanship and good behavior and honesty that we see in our political contests.

I AM tired of "debates" that are used as opportunities to get your sound bites on TV rather than honest discussion.

I AM tired of "news reporters" who are more interested in showing us a nasty fight than in covering the issues.

And this isn't an exhaustive list.

I don't know, given human nature, whether I can ever expect people to stop using ugly dirty and underhanded tactics when trying to gain political and financial power, but I certainly WANT better.
ysabetwordsmith

ysabetwordsmith

October 9 2008, 01:09:41 UTC 12 years ago

That's a key reason why I try to stay focused more on facts than on fussing, and encourage people to think about the underlying issues.

If a magician's hand is waving, look someone else. If a politician's mouth is moving, look somewhere else.

Anonymous

October 9 2008, 03:00:01 UTC 12 years ago

I am not tired of politics! In the sense that Will Durant in his classic on philosophy, The Story of Philosophy (http://www.amazon.com/Story-Philosophy-Opinions-Greatest-Philosophers/dp/0671739166/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223520914&sr=8-1), describes is as the study of "the ideal form of human organization". In reality, since we live in a world with others, the study and application of politics is probably the most important subject of all. And, I think that the more people involved, the better. I the previously mentioned book, as well as Plato's Laws (http://www.amazon.com/Laws-Plato-Great-Books-Philosophy/dp/1573927996/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223520987&sr=8-2), are well worth anyone's time.

Cheers! Ricco

jrittenhouse

jrittenhouse

October 9 2008, 03:45:30 UTC 12 years ago

I agree with that list as well. My feeling is that good government is something that is outside of any bloc or party organization, and if the only way you can win is to dumb down the electorate and make them feel that their vote isn't important, and that they shouldn't think about what's going on - well, that only magnifies to me the utter coarseness and duplicity of your faction.

Right now, I've toned down my commentary because I simply don't have the time to keep up that level of research and writing.
And also, the people who are awakenable on this subject either have been, or are beyond my efforts to conciousness-raise. No matter how closely reasoned my discussions, their response comes down to 'I pledge allegiance to my eternal party', and that's that.

And I don't like arguments, not at all. I don't find them fun. Never have. Some find it sport, and I find it dreary.

I will discuss, educate and inform because I care (and like EB, I'm 'an information dispensary and relay station' by nature) about the world and how it works (by education and inclination) but I won't mindlessly chew things over to try and change the utterly unchangeable. Life's too short and all that.

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