For a really long time, I didn't have much of a political opinion. Whenever someone talked politics, I would groan and either change the subject, or drift away. I really considered most of it above my head to be honest. And truthfully? A lot of it still is. But I have realized that I have an opinion. I've also come to realize that I'd prefer to vocalize it, than remain silent.
So I bet you're asking yourself...Dawn, what is your opinon? :)
I'm a bit of an odd mix, I don't feel like I follow any one political view. I do lean more heavily toward liberalism, and I'm bordering on, wait for it...socialism! *gasp!* I have some conservative values, and would not like to see some of my countries more conservative ways go the way of the dinosaur. I've visited Britain, numerous times, and am always shocked at the skin magazines you find at eye level in gas station convenience stores, and yes, even grocery stores!
But I think that our country has become a dinosaur in comparison to many other places in the world. A small, narrow worldview is choking the life out of America. Restricted immigration, while good in some senses, has also created this insular society who can't see beyond the noses on their faces.
I know this because I was once one of those people. Life didn't exist for me outside my small sphere of living. My job, my family, my local relationships. I was, at one time, a fiercely patriotic American. I still support our troops, though I do not support the war. But I used to believe the "American Way" was the best and only way to live. It took traveling internationally to open my eyes to what we're missing out on. It took being married to a citizen of another country to show me that things can work and people can be happy even when a country is run in a way different to ours. Talk about a wake up call.
People around here treat the word socialist like it's a curse word. They call our president a socialist with disdain. They believe government should have a limited role in people's lives and should just leave us to shift for ourselves. Really? But these same people call out the government when they need help, like more unemployment because they can't find a job, and help in natural disasters. And woe to the government when they don't respond quickly enough to help you out. Or even worse, curse them as they help you! That's a novel idea and really mature!
The way employees are treated, because business don't have any government regulation whatsoever! We're driven like slaves for low pay, little vacation time and are working in a corporate environment ruled by fear. They load so much work onto you and expect you to do it. And you kills yourself trying to, because you tell yourself you're lucky to have a job and you know it will be almost impossible to find another one in this recession. The recession that was cause by greedy banks preying on financially illiterate consumers.
I'm tired of the "fend for yourself" attitude of American's. They think that anyone can make it if they work hard enough and if you don't make it, well, you're just lazy, and maybe stupid. Leave your fellow man in the dust and step on his face for good measure just so you can get to the top. No, not everyone is like that, but enough people are like that, that those are the kinds of idiots they vote into our government, so things WILL NEVER CHANGE!!
Also the intolerance of other people, cultures, and religion. One would like to think we left that behind with the civil rights era. But all that's happened is hatred and loathing once reserved mostly for blacks is now transferred to our new big fear...Muslims. What those that destroyed the World Trade Center did was a horrible thing. But you cannot condemn all Muslims for the act of a few. That's like condemning all American's for killing the native people of this land, or condemning all Japanese for the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It doesn't make sense, and yet, people still do.
I guess I just wish that my fellow American's would open their eyes and see that there is more to the world than what they come into contact with every day. That they would stop letting sensationalized media fill their brains with garbage and make an effort to find out facts. If you differ in opinion from me, and can find proven facts to tell me why I'm wrong, then I'll listen. But if you give me only a load of garbage you've heard from Fox news or Glenn Beck, you can take it back where you got it from. I don't want to hear it.
I don't know that much of this makes sense. It's late but I wanted to get something up on here that was about more than makeup or trivial interests. Because we all need to take a serious look at our country and try to help fix what is wrong. Because one of the great things about this country is that we have the power to do that!
So that's your late night, sunrise opinion for today, happy reading...
Dawn
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