Friendship Train

"We've got to learn to live with each other, no, no matter what the race, creed or color"- Gladys Knight & The Pips

I've had the pleasure of loving a black Republican. And when I say a black Republican, I mean a Rush Limbaugh-loving, welfare-bashing, Reagan-loving Republican. That Republican was my grandfather. 

And maybe that's why when I read such FB comments as "all Republicans hate black people" or "the only reason Republicans won't vote for Obama is because he's black", I shudder to think what it must be like for those few black Republicans who do wear their politics on their sleeve. My grandfather was one of those people. Yet back in his day, he could engage in healthy debates. He typically was stubborn, but he never demeaned anybody in his conversations. 

I probably also take offense to the whole inclusive statement thing because I hate when people assume I am a Barack Obama-supporter because of the color of my skin. For the record, I consider myself a moderate. I will vote for the person who I believe will fix shit or won't fuck it up anymore (or at the very least won't invite the second coming of 9/11). While right now I can see plenty of reasons why a person wouldn't vote for Romney, I can also see where a person who doesn't agree with President Obama's stances on various issues would vote against him. That's the thing about voting, sometimes it's not so much a vote for someone as much as it is a vote against something. Trust me, I know. My first presidential election was the 2000 election and my second was 2004. 

I just hope that at the very least, the conservatives and liberals in my life learn how to coexist peacefully for the remainder of this election season because we will have to long after that first Tuesday in November. I'm all for intelligent discussion and sharing viewpoints, but it would just be nice to do it without all the bashing. 

Triumphant

"Can't fall down. Stay triumphant. Keep on living. Stay on your toes. Get off the ropes. Don't let 'em ever count you out."- Mariah Carey

Over the course of the past two weeks, I've sat through some of the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention and watching President Barack Obama accept his nomination brought to mind imagery of this song. The president is not backing down even when polls suggest he could be in for a losing battle.

Working as a journalist for years, my political opinions always were muted in an effort to be objective. For the first time since I could vote, I can watch all of this unfold and vent through social media and this blog. The number one thing that I thought: Anybody can sound like they have all the support in the world when they are preaching to their choir.

Great speeches were made this past week and my timelines were filled with quotes and photos and the like. That's great and all but as anyone can tell you, it won't matter if you don't show up in November. All the rhetoric in the world does not a re-election or election make. Anyone who thinks any speech made over the past week was so great that they can fall back is a prime example of how thinking too highly of anything can lead to an ultimate downfall. More and more work will be needed as the election draws near.

One More Night

"And I be waking up, feeling satisfied but guilty as hell."- Maroon 5

This weekend, I visited my parents and grandma with the goal of getting some of the best barbecue ribs in the Midwest. That goal was so met.

However, in the course of trying to get to these ribs, I had a conversation with my mother where she pretty much insinuated that I was having a very active sex life. I neither confirmed nor denied these allegations for I feared that a denial would lead to lesbian questions and a confirmation would lead to other questions. 

The simple truth is I haven't hooked up with anyone in months. Why? Because the older I get, the more I realize that it is harder to have uncomplicated sex. Either someone will want to get more involved, have a higher sex drive or the person you really want in your bed wants someone else. Or you just put yourself in a situation that you know is not really healthy for you mentally or even physically and that leads to what Maroon 5 speaks of in this song. But of course that is the situation that you become addicted to. 

So now I'm at the point where I can look at a guy and in my mind, evaluate whether he is doable and whether I want to deal with any aftereffects. At the moment, that second answer is a resounding "no" for everybody.