Maybe some of you fellow bloggers can relate with this frustration I have, constantly. :)
Most circles I travel in know that I am a passionate person. Much of that passion is thrown into things of the political nature, such as issues concerning the Supreme Court, Foreign Aid, Liberalism and Ted Kennedy, oh and more recently, Brian Williams. I think I am only moderately politcally involved. I forgot to vote in Los Angeles' Mayoral Election (seemed futile anyway). I didn't volunteer for the re-election of President Bush. In fact, I'm really not politically involved at all. I'm aware. If I feel it will make a difference, I'll write to congressmen and senators, or others, but that's few and far between.
People who are completely unaware of world and domestic events, however, swear I'm running in some type of election. When they introduce me at parties, they introduce me as someone who "knows a lot about politics." When they want to introduce me to a guy, they tell me, "Oh, you two will hit it off just great. He likes politics." AGH!!
I was recently at another "gathering" when a slightly political topic came up among the group I was talking to. One of them made a remark that would work in a perfect world (and believe me, I wanted her suggestion to be a possibility), so I quickly spoke up saying, "Well the reason that would never happen is because their government is completely corrupt and could care less about the nation's inhabitants." Cue the blank, uncomfortable stares and cricket noises. Cue my frustrated silence at once again talking outside the realm of typical feminine topics. AGH!, again.
I don't think I'm interested in anything that everyone else shouldn't know about. I care about the persecution of Christians and Jews worldwide. I care about terrorism. I care about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, the restructuring of the Iraqi government, the treatment of women in the Middle East. I don't think these are obscure issues that only specialized people would have interest in. I think everyone should be, if not deeply aware, at least headline readers.
I understand if you're a mom of three kids and can't read a paper. Trust me, I'd understand that. But what excuses do other people have? I'm just tired of being "political girl." I'm not. I just care what happens in the world.
Does anyone else have that experience in social circles? It'd make me feel so much less alone. :) One is the loneliest number.
Posted by Portia at July 9, 2005 08:23 PMEmily
I can empathize with your plight.
I have adopted an approach of not advertising my interest in politics, and try very hard to speak more historically and abstractly when the subject arises so that I can't be pigeon-holed.
And people seem to be intimidated by those of us who have opinions on current events.
To your point, being labeled "political" in a social setting is the kiss of death.
I don't have any answers, other than to keep pouring your thoughts and opinions into your blogs and just ignore others that are only comfortable by labeling you "political."
Posted by: Spear Shaker at July 10, 2005 01:38 PMAs a man, I loooove to talk about politics. As the class clown, nobody takes me seriously. It's annoying.
When I'm on some blood-thirsty rant about mercilessly destroying terrorists without remorse, I can see people waiting for the punch-line. It gets old.
Since I don't know what this "social circle" thing you speak of is (is that what happens when you leave your room?), I can only project what I think would happen. There I go making a joke, again....
Posted by: MacStansbury at July 10, 2005 10:06 PMI recognize the cricket-noises moment of which you speak and therefore try to spend as much time as possible in lively conversation with kindred spirits in the blogosphere. :)
Posted by: Sissy Willis at July 11, 2005 09:29 AMOne of the side-effects of the type of attitude you are describing is the disengagement of people from our government's policies. That is doom for a democratic system of government.
I do sympathize out of my own experience.
Posted by: MaxedOutMama at July 12, 2005 04:11 AM
