Speak Loud If You Want A Target On Your Back

I've been thinking about this a lot recently. Loving this city, but wishing there was an easier way to tiptoe around the whole politics conversation. Those who know me might read that and be confused - Yes, I love me some politics, but not after 5:30pm. The main reason for this development as I have so unfortunately found out - I end up with a target on my back. I'm as independent as you can get. I fall 50/50 on the spectrum of issues out there, and it's hard to find people of the same persuasion or cool people that understand politics is subjective to the individual and that there are no real right or wrong sides to an issue.

My bookshelf reads that I am utterly confused on my politics, religion, and philosophy - and maybe I am, maybe I'm just afraid of being wrong, but I'd rather be a skeptic than a self ordained know-it-all (like most of the people I meet on a daily basis). It astounds me this disconnect between confidence and genuine wisdom. When I meet someone who is open to new ideas I want to just give them a hug right there in the middle of the restaurant or bar that I met them at. As I've only been a resident in the District for the past 5 months I know there's a whole new world out in this city I've yet to discover. Until then, I'm going to direct my attention to the specimen I have had the pleasure of observing over the Summer.

As of present I've been exposed to a bread of liberty lovers. The hipster libertarians, the right of center LGBT community, some old gen tea-partiers, social conservative cheerleaders that like to get loose on the weekends, the war crazed neocons, the 'traditionalists', Wall Street republicans, and the guys with a lot of guns that you don't want on their bad side. A lot of good people, a lot bad people too. The thing that gets me the most is how utterly, chaotically disorganized the entire bunch is - I mean ideologically speaking the sum of all the parts do not equal one. The problem with this picture is not that there is fighting within the party - the elephant in the room (pardon the pun) is the disregard for new ideas verses the old.

Instead of a strengthening from within I see the over production of regurgitated ideas passed down like chow for the hungry ankle biters waiting for their chance to move up the ranks. I see this as a supply and demand problem for my generational counterparts. Why do they work 60+ hours a week for shitty pay? Because there happens to be a line around the block of people waiting to do that same job. Why are they dissatisfied with their job? Maybe it's because deep down they know they are cogs, and cogs are a dime a dozen.

It's not that they don't read or develop arguments - they just don't read anything they don't already agree with. No information sharing, no investigative research on the studies their bosses base their policies off of - literally it's a battle ground and unless you want to be typecast as a Benedict Arnold you better fall in line. There is no place for the individual in Washington, D.C. The irony of all ironies. Especially since the Republican party markets itself as the party for individual rights. I know so many smart people that seem perturbed at the slightest mention of me disagreeing with conservative propaganda. Oh shit, there's a G.D.I. in the room! Any time I mention women's rights, pro-peace measures, or free trade agreements I can see the bewilderment in their eyes as they frantically try to determine if I crashed their party by accident or if I'm apart of some elaborate candid camera production.

The typical response I get when asked who my favorite Republican Presidential nominee is, is met with laughter. Why? Because I tell them the ones I like won't make it through the primaries and the ones that will won't beat Obama. "Muwaha ha ha," goes the middle-aged balding man too cool to back up his degrading laughter with an actual rebuttal. And yet, stupid enough to think our lackluster exchanging of words was some sort of a connection. This isn't an episode of Mad Men folks - typically a lady will not swoon over your natural disposition to discount her opinion by offering to buy her a drink. "No thanks on the Miller Lite". (I drink liquor you pussy - try your moves on the Hill interns who think just because you're older you must be important.)

Be it as it may the number one lesson I have learned this Summer is that people are freakin scared out there. They don't take kindly to new ways of doing things, new markets, new technology that phases out familiar technology, and new people. It's kind of scary how divided this city is - because anyone with half a brain realizes that big changes have to be made in order to carry on into a prosperous future. And if you have the nerve to challenge the existing code you end up with a target on your back.

Not to say I hate it - it kind of amuses me now. I can't even get mad at it anymore since I am trying to slowly win the hearts and minds of people out there - just not particularly on a Saturday night when I'm trying to get sloshed. So to all you bright scholars and hard working Millennials out there - keep an open mind to the changing times, don't be so quick to judge new ideas, and for crying out loud don't talk work or politics at clubs on the weekends.

Peace, love, and revolution! 

Double Standard Much?

I was taken aback by yesterday's blunderous display as President Obama and Justice Roberts administered the oath of office. My initial reaction was "Aww poor guy, biggest moment of his career, botched!" Then of course as I had more time to ponder this mishap and giggled at the sentiment that he could memorize a 20 minute speech yet over look the 20 second Presidential Oath (that he only needed to repeat). As the day progressed and more political pundants and analysts offered their take on the days activities, I was surprised to notice the silence surrounding the swearing in of our new President. Destitute of the juicy political retribution from the last 8 years watching clips of President Bush misspeak I waited patiently for the late night TV hosts to deliver my much anticipated dose of comic relief. Still, nothing. I mean given the media's intense obsession with making former President W. Bush look as stupid as possible for kicks and giggles I figure the same fair and equal treatment would be levied upon Obama... oh wait did I just say I assumed the media would be equal opportunists? Haha silly me, us Republicans never learn.

Is this seriously not worthy of 'The Daily Show'? Give me a break. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKsL-j7-9No

Overcoming Mundane Anxiety

Now more than ever I feel that coming of age is so much more than merely growing older. Coming of age is not measured by any particular amount of breaths we take; it is measured perhaps by the amount of life's glories and short comings we experience. It's absolutely confounding that you can know someone your entire life yet never fully grasp the person they are. Friendships can be broken in a matter of seconds and stay that way for unbearable amounts of time because of petty arguments and meaningless emotions that can simply be reduced to a completely unfortunate series of events that reflect only our complete abandonment of logic and reason. Years of friendship and love are simply made void because of carelessness. Even worse, relationships can die before either party realizes it. Secret lies just buried under false pretenses and layered by years of negligence that get caught up in a repetitious cycle that cannot be broken- just because. It's just there. You don't speak of it for it's of a taboo nature and we cannot create controversy, God forbid. I've often wondered why we, people in general, are afraid of being alone. I know I can't be the only one. You can be in the most wonderful affair with every desire you could have ever asked for and yet in the stillness of the night fear losing it all. Why? Do the relationships we encounter define who we are? And why is the doubt even there in the first place? Are we such restless souls that we stoop to torture ourselves over trivial things that have yet to go wrong? All I can do is hope for the best and stay true to myself no matter what hardships I find myself facing in the future.
I've been brainwashed into believing that in group settings you are only as good as your weakest link, now I can't help but wonder if the same can be applied to individuals. If so, as soon as you go down that road of thought when you seek out your weakest quality it pretty much always ends badly. Once you've targeted the weakest quality or more realistically your weakest qualities you have to figure out how to fix them. And all that accomplishes is an endless cycle of new year’s resolutions that slowly begin improving, sort of, and shelves full of half read self improvement books you keeping putting off because you tell yourself you have no time, when in truth it’s because you know they don't fix the problem. I think it’s a lot easier than we make it out to be. There is only a certain amount of knowledge we can learn through reading about life, issues, and theories. You have to experience the failures, heart breaks, and losses in life to appreciate all the good stuff you find yourself blessed with throughout a lifetime. Life has an ironic way of letting you know you're still living- if that makes any sense. I guess the only way to go about it is to dive head first into the unknown and pray for mercy. All you can do if you fail is count your losses and start again.

Original Post : Saturday, August 18, 2007 at 12:46am