Mindfulness, metta, and politics

For the last year, I have worked on being mindful and compassionate in my political dealings. I have strong feelings and been quite involved in the political process, but I have also worked to be aware of my prejudices and loving of all people with different beliefs.

I have recently met my match. Palin's nomination is laughable. Palin's claim that she is qualified to run this country because you can see Russia from an island in Alaska is just weird. Palin's lack of knowledge on the Bush doctrine is scary. Palin's condescension towards Obama's "community organizer" days is insulting.

The Republican party's hypocritical and duplicitous sudden concern for women's rights is embarrassing. The Republican party's claim that the media is bullying Palin when just nine months ago she basically said Hilary had to toughen up is frustrating.

The Republican party's campaign strategy is working.

I can take McCain as president. But I need to turn off the television, put away the newspaper and cancel the Newsweek subscription because I've already lost equanimity and because I'm having trouble feeling love and compassion for these people when I know that under all that hockey mom lipstick, Palin is just another working mom like me who may have different politics, beliefs and values than do I.

I guess I would usually compare myself to a Labrador, while Palin compares herself to a pit bull. Except that I feel like the lab being mauled by the neighbor's pit bull.

I guess I'm back from my blogging hiatus.

Might You Need to Update Your Voter Registration?

So earlier this week I get a call from the Obama campaign.

(Back up four years.) There was a time when I didn't vote. Then a time when I voted, payed attention to political news, and debated with friends. Then I started realizing that elections and campaigns don't happen magically. People are behind them. These people need help. Much of this realization came from my introduction to the Adlers, a very politically active family in town. So I started getting involved more, helping out. I walked door-to-door for Bonnie Parnell, who is a retired teacher (woop! to the teachers in the house) and now state assembly woman. Then I slowly started doing more. I stick to candidates and issues I feel adamant about, but I have committed to being more politically engaged.

(Fast forward to this week.) I get a call from the Obama campaign. They want to know if I'm willing to help. So I say yes. They want me to host one of those house party thingies.

I don't want a divorce, so I say no.

Can I work the booth at the Friday Night Party at 3rd Street? They'll be registering people to vote.

Sure, why not.

Here's what I envision: A white booth with "Voter Registration" painted in blue and red and little American flags flapping in the wind. I sit there with a fellow registrar talking about life and local politics and mutual friends while people come to us smiling and asking for the form to register to vote.

Cue record screeching, ala Alley McBeal.

It's a live rock concert. Of a band who plays covers of classic rock bands: Aerosmith, The Eagles, Van Halen. My job is to circulate the crowd and ask them if they'd like to register to vote or update their voter registration. Mind you, this is to people sitting in lawn chairs on a street, drinking alcohol and listening to classic rock. On a Friday night. They don't want me around.

Most are nice, but it really didn't seem the appropriate place for me to be walking around with a clip board. Then I get to sit at the "booth," which is a table set up outside Pop's BBQ with a poster that is made of printer paper taped together and "Voter Registration" written in orange high lighter.

OK. So this is a grass roots project. I know that these people have worked hard to make things happen, and the three bright and energetic, young, recent college graduates running the show are inspiring in their enthusiasm, work ethic, and vigor. And I know I have to leave my ego at the door when I'm doing things like this. I'm glad I did it.

But walking around with a clipboard asking partiers if they want to register to vote is not my thing.

Maybe a house party isn't such a bad idea.

Jessie Jackson Hubbub (Rant Warning)

So while on the dentist's chair today, I get to watch CNN (but not hear it). Jessie Jackson is apologizing publicly to Obama for something he said after an interview when he didn't realize that his mic was still on.

I come home to try to find out what he said. CNN's article hinted at something to do with Fox News. This FOX News article indicated that the apology came before the comments were to be aired on The O'Reilly Factor.

Now I'm irritated.

I'm irritated at the hypocrisy of a Christian preacher who says such negative comments about someone he supposedly supports.

I am irritated with myself for gossip-seeking and actually turning to Fox News for that information.

I'm irritated with Fox News (not a new concept in our liberal household) for airing gossipy content under the guide of "news." (Although, really, is anything on The O'Reilly Factor ever really news?)

This is why I stick to Newsweek and Time and avoid CNN. Anymore, it seems like CNN is far too often airing celebrity tabloid stories. If I want to know who wore Armani to a red carpet event or the latest scoop on Brittany Spears, I have endless channels to wander through that allow me to participate in garbage TV. In fact, E! is devoted to pretty much nothing but that. So I want my news to remain news.

For the sake of full disclosure, I should fess up here: I do sometimes watch the tabloidy TV, especially after major red carpet events because I am in love with gorgeous dresses. But when I want to know what's going on with the current political election or the war in Iraq or the latest medical research, I should be able to turn to a channel largely void of the candy TV, one that gets straight to the chase.

About ten years ago, CNN ran this commercial: It was a spoof on the Good Morning America type shows. It was a commentator saying, "Big news overseas! But first, is your pet psychic?" I loved it because it so wells summarized those morning shows: Splatterings of news mixed with candy TV, which is fine as long as you know that's what you're getting. But CNN should be news. Nothing but news. And Brittany's split from Fed-ex and George Clooney's new relationship with Ms. Hotty is NOT NEWS!

Newsweek and Time have their gossipy stories, and they'll both probably cover the Jessie Jackson scandal, but at least I can sort through the article titles and choose what I want to read.

I apologize for the rant.

***

Back to the dentist's: I got two new front teeth! Woohoo. When the swelling in my gums go down, I'll post a pic.

Obama Speech

Obama came and spoke here in my town a few weeks ago. My friends Mandy and Terri and Jason and I were lucky enough to get great seats. Although we were off to the side, we were pleased, as Obama mostly faced our direction. I believe Obama is a good choice for president in that I believe he is one of the few candidates who can create unity rather than divide. He can speak to liberals and conservatives. He is running his entire campaign without the funding of lobbyists.

Hilary has a solid platform, but she may prove too divisive if she can even get elected.

One of my favorite things about Obama is that he appeals so incredibly to the younger generation, and I have seen an interest in politics in my students that I haven't seen in my previous ten years of teaching. Teenagers love him, and I'm pleased that they are finding an interest in national happenings.

None of my pictures came out that well. This is the best shot I could muster. The rest were too blurry or of the back of his head. For those of you who know Mrs. Q-D, she's in the background there, and my student is the blonde head in the front row.

Here is Jason, who actually ended up a couple rows ahead of me. He got a "blue ticket," which got him in earlier than those of us with yellow tickets, but somehow we ended up right behind him. :p