On Shutting Up...

Someone needs to just smack me when I try to talk about politics with people. Blogging is okay because it lets me get my frustrations out with out having to punch anyone in the face, but talking one on one about an issue I'm pretty crazy about is different.

First, I don't speak well. If I don't have a paper or something to read off of, forget it. My brain starts going a hundred miles an hour and my mouth can't keep up, I forget things I meant to say, I start mangling words, can't find the right words and I sound really, really uneducated. I need to plan things before I say them. I use really crappy language. This is probably why I'm so scared to talk to most people and why that "you write how you talk" rule doesn't really apply to me. I am way better at explaining myself and my views in writing even if I grammar trips me up sometimes.

Second, I like most of my friends most of the time. I have two best friends. Neither of them agree with me on all the issues, though one agrees with me more than the other. I try to avoid talking about politics with both of them because I want to stay friends, I'm not one for starting fights with people I care about and I'm not friends with either of them because we spend extensive amounts of time talking about politics or religion or any of that brand of heavy stuff. We talk about our families, music, movies, experiences and boys most of the time. Adding politics and religion and all of that stuff will only complicate things, and really, I don't really want to complicate things. I like having them around, and that's enough for me.

Of course I have other friends and acquaintances that I do talk politics and religion with, and they know who they are. I know I get crazy sometimes and that I try too hard to convince people to join my side of the argument, and I'm sorry, but there are some things that I just can't let go, which brings me to # 3...

There are some things that's I'm a total hardass about. No one will ever get me to like Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Michele Malkin, Pat Robertson, and several others. No one will ever make me "pro-life". No one will ever make me anti-gay or anti-feminist. No one will ever make me see any good in racism or classism. No one will ever get me to start eating meat. No one will ever be able to get me to validate the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Vietnam War, Ronald Reagan, genocide, hate groups, neglecting innocent people and animals, the Bush era or bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki. If anyone tries to do any of these things, I tend to get really pissed and harsh things start coming out of my mouth and I'll refuse to apologize for them on principal. I don't apologize when I tell the truth. Case and point, my stepfather. I called him a "bigoted moron" after he told me that every Mexican and everyone that speaks Spanish should get out of the country. I apparently hurt his feelings and my mom tried to get me to apologize. I, of course, refused because saying that every Mexican should get out of the country is both bigoted and moronic. This has happened several times in the past because he is an avid fanboy of Fox News which stands for most things that I hate. It also happens when I lecture my mother about how shitty my brother's being because she's slacking as a parent or the fact than none of the dogs have been to the vet in over 4 years. I don't pick fights just to be an asshole.

My being a loudmouth about some things has both helped and hurt me. I won't and can't shut up entirely, but I'll try to be a little nicer and maybe a little more respectful of other people's views. I've made a little progress because I don't get too political or religious on Facebook anymore unless it's really, really called for, but I know I still probably annoy the hell out of people with all of my issues. Oh well, I'll add that to my list of things to work on, right after "learn to talk to people on the phone without having a panic attack."

Source: http://kgrizz.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-shutting-up.html

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