2010-02-08
Ideology May Be Important, But There's More To Life Than Politics
I wanted to follow up on what Travis just wrote. I recently got back in touch with a good friend of mine from High School. Since the time I became a Republican to the time I graduated High School and left for the Air Force, this guy was my political sparing partner. He was a left wing liberal and I was a right wing conservative. We drove people absolutely nuts talking about tax policy, social justice, and just even things one wouldn't consider political issues - we found ways to fight over it.
Well, it turns out he joined the US Navy. When I asked him if they made him a Republican yet, he quickly shot back that he was 20 times more liberal than before and asked, disapprovingly, if I was involved in the Tea Party protests. Now, my response, unfortunately in my opinion, is uncommon among most of my fellow conservatives. I laughed and offered to buy him a drink the next time he's in the area. I was amused that despite all the years we hadn't spoken and all the changes our nation has seen over that period of time, we still had the same argumentative friendship.
I can't begin to tell you the number of times that I've seen personal relationships be completely destroyed by politics. To be fair, it happens on both sides. I've seen just as many liberals excommunicate conservatives from their lives as conservatives do the same for liberals. Not only do they let politics destroy their friendships, but they also let it destroy their families. That to me is absolutely unfathomable.
I know we like to focus heavily on politics here, but let's take a look at the people who lived under the dictatorships, monarchies, and oppressive governments in world history. These people had no political freedom and, in many cases, entire generations didn't even dare to dream of political reform. We have images of these people being absolutely miserable, but that's not always the case. In fact, billions of people live and have lived politically oppressed, yet happy lives. The truth of the matter is that happiness can be found just about everywhere in the world. That's because whatever the meaning of life is, it's more important than politics.
Those of you who know me know that family means virtually everything to me. You may also know that I have a lot of liberals in my family. If I had to choose between politics and them, you would have one less blog to read everyday. Personally, I truly believe true, honest happiness comes from your relationships with other people. Therefore, whatever it is that can come between you and the people who inspire your happiness; be it money, jealousy, politics, etc.; THOSE are the things that need to be excommunicated from your life.
That isn't to say that nobody should be allowed in politics unless they are resigned to being miserable human being. Rather, I'm telling you never to let politics come between you and your family and friends if they disagree with you. If you're not able to do that, then I highly recommend finding something else to do with your time that builds upon your personal relationships rather than tears them down. Maybe bowling.
