For that matter, neither is Republican.
So this is what happened today: I dragged myself into work despite the humdinger tension headache that made me feel like someone was beating me around the head and shoulders with a rather large hammer. One of my coworkers, a guy I've known since day one of my career as a gummint employee, dropped into the chair next to mine. He was killing time because he didn't feel like working. We got on the topic of respectful dissent and how it's not really allowed where we work. You have to drink the Kool-Aid or be branded a troublemaker. I mentioned how boring the world would be if we were all the same---thought the same, felt the same, etcetera---and this guy says, "Yeah, I don't like Democrats, but I'll do my best to respect them." Now, he knows I'm a Democrat because we've had political discussions before, so I got the message. As far as he's concerned, I'm...what? Less than zero? Pond scum? Something not good. Of course, the fact that I'm a damn dirty Democrat won't stop him from asking for my help when he needs it, but that's another story.
Democrat isn't a dirty word.
I'm a Democrat who believes in personal and fiscal responsibility. I go to church, I pay my taxes, I try to behave myself and not break the speed limit laws. I don't cheat or steal. My husband has been my only sexual partner. I paid back my college loan. I'd rather that women had access to affordable, plentiful, and efficient birth control so that abortions wouldn't be necessary, but I don't want the government or anyone else telling any woman that she is a criminal/bad person/going to hell if she has an abortion. I believe in God and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, but if you don't believe in any of those three, I'm not going to hold it against you, and frankly, I don't think it's my place to tell you that you're wrong/going to hell/etc. for not believing the same things I do. I don't believe in political correctness; I believe in good manners and treating human beings like other human beings, so when I get pissed because you call someone a "towelhead," it's not that I'm being PC. I'm a product of my upbringing, of grandparents who would have flayed my skin off my hide if I'd used any phrase that could be construed as a slur against anyone.
Yet my coworker and other folks who really really REALLY don't like Democrats don't know all of this about me because they just see me as the enemy, the one with the big scarlet D on her forehead. They assume that I'm a danger to the country, that I have no morals, that I---I don't know---eat kittens for breakfast.
I'm trying to put a humorous spin on this, but really, I feel kind of sick about it. Heart-sick, soul-sick, physically sick.
To hell with it. I don't have a solution. I don't have a clue. I'm going to take my Democratic ass to bed. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.
2 comments:
For me, I have no issue with people if they have a political philosophy different than mine and its based on their values, beliefs and informed decision making. What I don't like is people that espouse a political view or cause because that's what the celebrities are doing or what is considered "cool". I think too many people are fine with how they are *supposed* to believe and don't spend a whole lot of time deciding on their own. I always try to be respectful of those that have a differing opinion than mine, as long as they don't try to bash me for my beliefs.
It's the bashing that really gets me too, and the generalizations that are applied to everyone in a particular group. There are good folks all over the political spectrum, so to me, it makes no sense to condemn an entire group or another based on a narrow view of what that group is like.
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