I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. No one tells me what to do, not even myself. I kinda figured a lot of you feel that way, too, so here is my out-of-the-blue resolution: No more politics on this blog. If I have thoughts that won’t be held in, I’ll create a separate blog. This country is more divided on political matters than I’ve ever seen it, but so many of us are in sync in more ways than we aren’t. That’s what is blog has always been about, with a few diversions on the soap box. The soap box is going.
What brought this about? An unnamed best selling author invited me to be a friend on Facebook (soft promotion they all do). I have not read any of her books, but she is considered a Southern writer, and I do gravitate to Southern writers, so assumed I would enjoy her “friendly banter,” and maybe pick up a few writing tips. Lately though, her page has become a litany of political videos and rantings (with a chorus of admirers offering amens). What this writer showed me is that politics is a poor PR business model, and so is throwing your web friends under the bus for their views by implication. I promise to try hard to not do that. Let’s see if I can. YOU are worth it.
Anhinga,
So far, I have stayed away from saying anything political except my inability sometimes to get my head around belielfs that someone non-moderate would espouse. That goes for both sides.
The GOP criticized Pres Obama for speaking to kids in school, using such terms as “propaganda,” “hitler,” and a something to do with the red Chinese. Some liberal of the other side showed how children from a New Orleans parish praised Pres. Bush while singing a song to the First Lady Laura a few years back, attemptingto show hypocrasy.
You guessed it,
however,the Far Left used almost the exact language to criticize the action, (you have to read the comments about the news story to get the full flavor) even using the identical term of “propaganda” to describe such a threat to our Republic.
That’s why I try to follow Aristole’s Golden Mean: “Moderation in all things.”
Michael J
It really has gotten crazy out there politically. I like your thinking. Time to step back and enjoy and dissect milder goings on. Thanks for stopping by. I briefly visited your site and will be back. Very interesting.
I think that’s a very wise choice. I stay away from politics too. Last November with the passage of Prop 8 in California, banning gay marriage, I was so outraged that I let it slip into my blog. I think that’s different although at the moment it escapes my mind how or why. I guess maybe it’s because it involves a basic human right.
In any case, you’re right. When one starts a blog with a certain focus, readers go there for that focus. If we change tracks in the middle of the road, then it’s not really right or fair. I think that’s what you’re saying, and I think you’re right!
I chimed in on the prop 8 issue, too, as well as others. But you are right; politics is not what this blog was supposed to be about. I’ll just dig deeper from now on. Thanks for your views.
This is ojne of those intriguing posts that raises more questions than it answers. Who, what, where? But I’ll not complete such queries in honor of your new resolve. *smile*
I think it’s a good decision- if you do.