When I was in the 3rd grade, my stepfather told me to never talk about politics or religion with strangers and casual acquaintances. He also said, “Opinions are like a$$holes – everybody has one“.
I loved talking to him back then. After dinner, I’d clear the table and dry the dishes my sister had washed while he and my mother sat at the dining room table smoking. When I was finished with my chores, I’d sit with them and we’d talk about everything – politics, religion, space travel, Antigua, music, karate, war, school, mathematics, the projects, wealth and a myriad of other fascinating topics.
If I didn’t understand a word he used, he’d have me look it up in the dictionary and then we’d discuss its usage. Other times we’d pull the Almanac off the shelf and read it together to get an understanding of something we were discussing.
These talks were the highlight of my relationship with my stepfather. They were the good times.
I don’t remember much about our discussions of politics. Since both my stepfather and I liked to read he paper, I’m certain I asked him lots of questions about the news. And since he was a radio newsman who wrote his own copy from the AP newswire that came into his station via teletype – he knew everything about current events.
I’d suppose he voted Democrat because he was Black, poor/working class, came from the projects and lived in a democratic city his entire life. I know my mother has never voted for anyone other than a Democrat. She’s a straight ticket Democrat lever puller.
On the other hand, my stepfather was a thinker. He liked to analyze, study and ponder ideas. Perhaps his voting decisions reflected this too.
As I grew into adulthood, I tended to avoid discussing politics and religion with anyone outside of my closet friends. This was especially true when talking to the parents and families of my friends (and especially my girlfriends’ parents).
What I experienced was these adults would spout off at any opportunity offering opinions with certainty about Blacks, Jews, Police, Teachers, Management, Judges, Politicians, Neighbors, Gay People, and anyone else they had ever met or heard about.
I couldn’t believe some of the things they said.
I rarely hear people talk this way today. Most of the people I interact with are simply too polite. I am certain that we hold many different beliefs and values – especially concerning religion, politics and life.
But unless they want to have an actual deep and meaningful philosophical discussion, the topics rarely come up.
- In my state, more than 50% of the people vote Republican. The remaining vote Democrat. I support neither side and often vote for third party candidates.
- Many of my acquaintances are religious. They go to church. They have yard signs and bumper stickers about Jesus. They will mention praying for someone or something to happen. I’m an atheist who thinks religion is magical thinking.
Yet somehow, we all tend to be pretty darn nice to each other. We look out for another. We smile and seem to be genuinely interested in our casual friendship.
Where it is different is online.
The unbelievable things that adults used to say back when I was was a kid, are everywhere online. I know that some are from bots. Some are from kids playing around. Some are from “trolls” hoping to stir up a reaction. It seems like some people are genuinely antagonistic a$$holes who have found their comfort zone – as a semi-anonymous forum member, YouTube commenter or social media user.
Pundits and the news media feed and promote this as well. Almost every story reports has a “slant” and they use hyperbole, exaggeration and obfuscation to gin up “controversy” and fear.
My response is to opt out and avoid all of these as much as possible.
What prompted me writing this today is the Kyle Rittenhouse trial coverage. He’s the 17 year old kid who shot 3 people in Wisconsin last year at a BLM protest/riot/demonstration. Two of them died.
I’ve got a bunch of opinions about this. None are worth writing about because I’m not wasting my brain cells digging into the case, the story, the politics and the reports about this shooting.
Instead, what I thought when I heard the jury’s decision is coming soon is how sad it is that a 17 year old kid bought an AR-15 and decided to play “protector of society” during a chaotic event. As a result, two people are dead and multiple people’s lives will be forever negatively impacted by this no matter what happens with the trial.