Scapegoats and Sacred Cows

Let me start by saying I like you.  I don’t want to argue.  You and I go way back.  Or maybe you sat behind me in 9^th grade Social Studies and ignored me.  Either way, I don’t have the energy for a political debate. There are two small children in my house who demand constant attention, a husband who requires occasional attention, and I’m working on launching a writing career.  In other words, I’m too freaking busy to outline the reasons I don’t like Rick Santorum or any other jerk who wants to tell me how to live.

I have become progressively more liberal over the past 20 years.  The change has come from a combination of education, travel, and life experience.  I’m not saying that conservatives are under-educated shut-ins, I’m just saying that life as it applies to me has changed my view of politics and government.  Yes, George W. had a lot to my conservative-aversion, but that’s not important. 

No amount of arguing, name-calling, or finger pointing will change ANYONE’S views.  I see these arguments on Facebook all the time- the posts go on for pages and it’s really a giant waste of time.   Has anyone ever had a Facebook-related epiphany?  Other than ‘Holy cow, I just realized I spend too much time on Facebook’? 

If anyone has changed his/her political or religious views because of someone’s ranting bullshit on a social  networking site, I’d love to meet that person and punch him/her in the ear.  No one can structure your belief system for you, it’s one of the only things that is yours and yours alone.  You parents can’t give you theirs, not matter how hard they try, and this goes double for that asswipe you made out with one time in high school. 

When I occasionally post political quotes, I’m not trying to bait anyone.  I’m merely sharing something I found interesting.  You don’t have to agree.  Hell, you don’t even have to read it.  Because this is America!  None of us has to do anything.  Just don’t waste your time trying to change my views.  What I have now has taken years to build, and your frothing rant will accomplish nothing but a spike in your blood pressure.