Note: Just some thoughts....
"I have never liked to write; because once you put something down in writing, it is hard to dispute the fact that you made such a statement. Writing shows your ignorance of spelling, stentence structure, and grammar. The written statement tends to make fact of hearsay and romantic fiction or legend. Writing about a persons past to record it for the future is more difficult because no matter how or what you say, there is somethings that should be left covered by the rug. Any one that would write his past is like the damn fool that jumped into a pack of sleeping dogs and started kicking, and then, wondered why he got his leg chewed off."
~ Roy Reece Bailey (My Grandfather)
Part 1:
How true is this. Not only in politics, but in life in general. Especially the latter; writing down even the most trivial thing concerning your past, usually (In my case) leads to a "fox in a hen house" incident, so to speak. And something to add to it, is to think before you answer. Often, people react, instead of thinking clearly and *then* responding. I'm guilty of this myself.
Part 2:
It is "humorous" (for lack of a better term) to sit back and view some of the debates/conlicts that occur around JU. One to mention is the (seemingly) constant one between a few of our notable bloggers. On one side we have one who seems to...how shall i put it, "insist" that the current president is accountable/at fault for lets see, *counts* numerous things. On the other hand, we have those bloggers who will do the research to back their statements. Often though, (The first blogger) is easily discredited. (right word?) His situation is comparable to playing football with one player; Out manned, out gunned. At times it is inevitable that he is "set aside" as a "nonsensical" blogger.
While watching this, I start to wonder: "What drives him to do this?" Is it hatred? Is it gullibility? For that matter, what drives each of us to stand on one end of the political spectrum? Is it, pride, arrogance, or ignorance? Lets take Cindy Sheehan for example. Is it really her dislike of war that drove her? Or perhaps it was ignorance of certain things (like the good things happening) that occur. With the influence of the media; it isn’t unreasonable that it is said that the “average American” is against the war. The media is in some cases completely biased, though not always because of political affiliation. Lets face it, just as “sex sells”, so does news, and the more tragic and disheartening, the more it seems to attract. Why? I have no clue. Is the “average American” willing to take the extra step and look deeper into the situation? Perhaps, but I digress.
Another example are politicians who (“conveniently”) change their opinions to the “status quo” in hopes of maintaining their political career. This is another thing I notice, the adjustment of ones (blogger or politician) stand on an issue, as to suit their needs.
I think, it is selfishness that drives some of us. Not all of us. We are (at times) easily led to believe things. Those (like myself) are easily trusting and are (in the end, at times) "sheep led to the slaughter". Ostracized for taking their stand.
Hmmm, well, that’s all I can think of at the moment.
--Lucas