I was talking with a woman recently who, as part of the late
1960's Berkeley crowd, or just the
Berkeley crowd in general, wanted to know my exact political beliefs. Not only was I, even as a politically active person, taken by surprise by this advance, I was in for an even bigger attack that led me to a few realizations about just how sad our political scene is today.
So I got into this conversation at a weird time, and I was obviously not prepared for what was about to come.
"So, if you had to, what would be one or a few words you would use to describe your political views?" This was her first question in the series. Seems simple enough, right?
"I'd say that I would use the word 'moderate'." I responded, almost naturally, as I had to that question many times before.
"Uh-huh. And what does that even mean?," she shot back, delivering it with an almost confused look. I knew she wasn't
stupid, but I could only start to realize that she was being irrationally picky. Yikes.
First of all, I'd like to point out that I hate conversations like this. Whenever I tell someone that I'm interested in a career in politics, which is almost as generic as saying "I'd like to be employed for money someday", they always think that I'm ready AND willing to give my opinion on anything. While a lot of the '
sell-outs' looking to get into the business of governance are willing to throw in their two cents at anything, I tend to avoid the '
pundit syndrome' that spreads over American television like the bubonic plague. Plus, Thomas Jefferson once said that there were two things you should never judge a man for: his religion and his politics. Maybe that's why they say to avoid talking about those two things the first time you meet someone...
"I, uh, mean that I believe in finding actual solutions through, uh, you know, working together...," I hesitantly replied.
"No, no, NO, I mean what do you believe?" I was beginning to think that she was looking to destroy me in some way. But I shall not be defeated that easy.
It's not that I don't enjoy sharing my political beliefs, and there is nothing wrong with doing so. But there's a more proper way to address them. Just asking how someone feels on a single issue (or just asking them their general affiliation) is dangerous because it goes along with one of the most troubling issues with politics in our country today--the fact that we, as a nation, don't sit down and LISTEN to each other. We're a nation of 10-second phrases. George W. Bush got ELECTED on having better 10-second phrases(and being the guy you would rather have a
beer with!).
We're a nation with political Attention Deficit Disorder. If someone doesn't believe the same thing we do, what do we do? We change the channel, listen to a new radio station, get a new magazine or newspaper, we shut them out. And I think that's what's wrong with just going out and asking "What are you, what are you?" and not actually seeing what people believe. We're running without substance, and that's a problem.
I am starting to feel the tension, but I gear up and give her a response.
"I mean, I believe in a government that is proactive and reactive, but never inactive, I believe in a government that has principles but is not governed by narrow doctrine, and I believe in a government that is willing to change when change is necessary." I wanted to stand up and give myself a
standing ovation, but having used all of those lines before, I sat in anticipation of her reaction.
"What? What are you talking about?"
Not the reaction I thought I'd get.
"Well, what do you want me to say?"
"I want you to tell me what you believe in! What do you support?" She was really starting to press me.
And so I responded with a stern voice. And for those of you that know me, when I get stern, I get STERN. "I believe in a pragmatic (realistic) government. I believe that while we should hope for and work towards a perfect world, but know that we will never get it."
At this point in time she started to rail against me for using the word 'pragmatic', something that, in the 1700's, was used to describe a more conservative political stance, but in today's politics means taking a realistic approach to policymaking, understanding the multiple stresses on issues and working through compromise and deal-making to actually get something done. But she was old school. She didn't want me to use this word.
And at this point, I was ready to go up to her and let her know how I really felt, but I am not one to show my anger when it comes to politics. Because you know what, the way things are today, it wouldn't have mattered.
It wouldn't have mattered because she'd keep going on and on about how this issue and that issue mean so much to her and she wouldn't try to hear what I was saying, but just try to press her beliefs on me. And I doubt she's got any conservative friends. But as for me, as someone who would judge a person based on HOW they argue for their politics rather than WHAT they argue, I wasn't about to lose my patience to prove a point to this woman. Because that would be abandoning something that I believe in deeply--the idea that political discussion is that--a discussion, requiring patience and respect. There are times for debate--where one side will win, like in policymaking situations--but we're just talking to talk, so it was not appropriate to do so.
Because, people, it's all about the approach. We view politics as a game, a lot of the time. In that mindset, Karl Rove is a Most Valuable Player, Dick Cheney is a Hall of Famer, and George W. Bush is an All-American. These past 7 years, people like them played the game and won big. They won out. They won the debate.
But I'm tired of it being viewed like that. This is our government, and these are people's lives that we're dealing with. We've got serious issues to deal with--global poverty, climate change, $10 trillion in debt, security and terrorism, the Patriot Act, failing schools--and this is a game?
So the next time you want to discuss politics, be it with your parents, your friends, strangers from Berkeley, or me (let me know--haha!), remember this: While you can make jokes about these sorts of things, while you can make it into a game, and while you can just choose to be sheltered and ignore other people, you can't be serious about changing ANYTHING until you sit down and really think "What can we do?"
(Writer's Note: This doesn't mean I'm going to let anyone off easy. Sarcasm shall still reign.)