Crap, I forgot to post all week again. I keep intending to go back to posting regularly, and I keep not doing it, and I haven’t been able to put my finger on why. Blogging just has not been as much fun for me lately. Then, I read this post, and I realized that it perfectly describes how I’ve been feeling.
If you get too invested in things, there’s a point where ‘everyone’s stupid and I think it’s hilarious’ starts to become ‘everyone’s stupid and it MAKES ME FUCKING INSANE!!!!’ And I think I passed that point some time ago. I keep drafting amusing little rants only to have them turn into vitriolic endless rants, and at some point during their composition, I leave off typing and begin circling my desk, flapping my hands around and shrieking to myself.
I grew up in the South, where nice people consider public displays of enthusiasm unseemly. It’s understood that one has one’s political opinions, but to get yourself worked up about it is to show a level of involvement with life outside your immediate sphere that reflects poorly on your ability to manage your own affairs. Likewise, while it’s expected that everyone be religious (in a general way), those who feel sufficiently possessed with the spirit as to go around talking about God all the time and wearing Jesus accessories are at best tacky, and possibly a little touched. Nobody wants to be without money, but to admit of difficulties concerning it is to drop down a class level – money should simply flow, unseen and unremarked upon, into one’s coffers, as gently and steadily as rain from heaven.
All of this is to say that my blatant interest in this year’s primaries is making it difficult for me to maintain a cool, ironic detachment. What’s needed is some perspective:
The two parties are, at heart, not very different from each other. Neither will totally save us, or utterly damn us. My complete lack of active (or financial) involvement in anything even remotely concerning politics (or other people, or life outside my apartment) makes any pretense of actual concern about the world in general or this country in particular hypocritical beyond all belief. My own personal life will be unlikely to change in any significant way as a result of anything short of an apocalyptic disaster, or a profound personal attitude adjustment (which are both equally unlikely). People are stupid, especially me, and it is hilarious. Ten people read this blog on a good day. I have many friends who are actually out there working real, positive changes in the world, rather than just sitting around bitching all the time. And sometimes, it’s a blessing when the internet goes out.
To sum up: Oh, wait, I forgot – I don’t care again!
