Before 2003, I was not an especially political person. Sure, I voted in every election, even the local ones, and I had majored in government as an undergraduate. But as far as being actively engaged in politics, putting a bumper sticker on my car was about as far as I’d go.
That all changed in 2003, when I became passionately interested in the candidacy of Howard Dean. Living in Michigan at the time, I became a Meet-Up organizer for Dean and one of the lead volunteers in my area, and I learned to
care for the first time. Dean’s campaign was the first to which I ever gave money, the first for which I walked precincts, the first in which I truly felt motivated to participate.
And my Dean experience in turn led me to blogging, with the
launch of Blast Off! in August 2004. After a couple of lengthy hiatuses (hiati?), I returned to
Blast Off! last October, once my outrage-o-meter had reached a new high, and I have every intention of keeping
Blast Off! going as long as my energy and interest will allow, and as long as I continue to be psyched about receiving comments and hits and links and all the things that make me realize, “hey, people really
do read what I have to say … and some of them even think it’s worthwhile!”
But lately, I’ve had at least two rather jarring experiences that have forced me to realize that not only does everyone not feel as strongly about politics as I do, many people would just rather behave as though politics doesn’t exist at all. Two such people are good friends of mine. I’m not saying these are ignorant people who don’t vote or stay abreast of the issues, because that’s not true at all. Nor am I saying that they’re people who disagree with me on core issues, because indeed the two friends I’m thinking of in particular probably lean to the liberal side of things, albeit probably not as far as I do.
The only way I can describe it is that they are
offended by politics. They just don’t want to have anything to do with it, and (to varying degrees) they would rather not spend time with me than run the risk of engaging in a political conversation or enduring a politically-tinged remark (such as “Bush sucks,” for example).
Now, please understand that I do not live, sleep, eat, and breathe politics. This blog is an outlet for much of my anger and frustration with the current regime, and as a result, I actually don’t say all that much about politics in “meatspace,” i.e., real life. However, I’m also not reluctant to share my opinions
if asked, and by doing so, I’ve gotten myself in trouble with these two friends not for what I’m saying, but because I’m saying it at all. And in at least one case, even my friend’s
knowledge that I have an interest in politics (including that I maintain this blog) may result in the end of the friendship.
So, I’m curious whether any
Blast Off! readers have had similar experiences, and if so, how you dealt with them. I admit that politics has become more important to me, but I don’t equate being opinionated with being obsessed. I may have strong opinions and be confident and intelligent enough to express them cogently, but that doesn’t mean that everything I do is affected or influenced by politics.
I believe that politics is important because it affects how our society will function, today and in the future. That means something to me. But if it doesn’t mean the same to others, I’m okay with that, too. So, shouldn’t they be okay if I don’t care about, say, basketweaving as much as they do? Or am I just being unrealistic …
What do you think?
Labels: blogging, Howard Dean, meta, personal
I'm on the way to Orlando for this weekend's Florida Democratic Party convention. I'll be involved, of course, with the Florida Netroots Coalition activities throughout the day tomorrow, including my appearance along with Steve Schale, political strategist presently involved with the Dan Gelber for Attorney General campaign, and Beth Reinhard of the Miami Herald on a panel discussing "Bloggers, Journalism, and their Role in Campaigns."
