From Tracie: I'm Not Talking Politics

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

I'm Not Talking Politics

I love politics. I haven't missed a single nationally televised debate since I was sixteen. I enjoy them the way some people enjoy sporting events. I'm the annoying person in the room who yells talks to the candidates, as if they can hear me through the television.

I read news from both sides, I carefully research every candidate (including judges), and never tire of the endless discussions about candidates, policies, and strategies.

In the past I did not understand those people who said things like, "I'm annoyed by all these political ads," and "I can't wait for this election to be over." I would pull myself away from yet another political article I was reading just long enough to comment on how they need to "get informed" and "do their part as a citizen" and probably give at least one passing grumble about irresponsibility.

But this week? This week I realized I am now one of those people. I'm tired, in fact, I'm politically exhausted.

If I read one more article, watch one more news story, have one more discussion, I feel like I might explode.

Can I blame Todd Akin? Partly. (If you don't know who Todd Akin is, or what he said about rape, please tell me what rock you are living under, because I would like to come stay with you.) I was angry for days after his remarks about "legitimate rape," and I'm still angry. I couldn't put together coherent words to write about it, even though I tried several times.

I felt that anger seep inside, and act like acid eating away at me. Each person who defended him, or tried to take away some of the sting of his remarks (impossible, by the way - there is no defense or explanation for what he said, just as there is no such thing as "legitimate rape") increased my anger, and each piece written against what he said fed my anger. But still I would click on every article, every news story, every blog post that discussed it. I couldn't stop. I also couldn't stop crying.

The Todd Akin situation hits me at a personal level, because I am a sexual abuse survivor. But the political aspect is present as well.

This weekend it all came together for me. On Saturday I had a discussion with my friend Debra about who we would be voting for in November, and why. It was a very long discussion. She told me, if her candidate loses, she will no longer love me for voting the way I plan on voting. Especially since I live in a swing state. She was kidding. Sort of. Probably 60% kidding, and 40% plotting ways to invent a mind control machine to make me vote the way she wants.

On Sunday I felt so very depressed. Sad. Exhausted. And I looked at my browser, and realized that I had no less than fifteen tabs open with blog posts and articles about political things. Things I ultimately can't control right now, today. Things that aren't new information to me, but just a regurgitation of facts I already know. Even the storm coverage was political, because of the Republican National Convention being in Tampa.

And in that moment, I had an epiphany. I realized I needed a break, because I was starting to lose it. I was close to making myself physically ill over politics.

So I'm stepping back, and I don't feel guilty.

I'm still going to vote in November, and my candidates are all picked out. I might even allow myself to watch the debates (I do love debates), but I will not be watching political news or clicking on political links - at least for a couple of weeks, and maybe longer.

I realized that I can be a responsible, informed, voting citizen without letting politics tear me apart. And it feels good.

Do you find yourself feeling exhausted by politics? 

29 comments:

  1. Well said! I feel this way about a lot of things, unfortunately. Ignorance makes my stomach hurt and there is too much of it to go around... I think you're making a wise choice. However, if you're like me, you'll be back in the middle of it before too long.

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    1. You might be right about that ;-) It is hard to stay away!

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  2. I just went through my facebook peeps and hid all of the people guilty of distributing propaganda. I can handle a discussion - or an article - but the crap that is going up on facebook is down right obnoxious.

    I'll unhide them in February 2013 :)

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    1. I think I will be doing some of that during my break. It is getting crazy over there on FB.

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  3. Relax and enjoy your family and do something for you! I delete all of the political stuff, have revoked my Democratic status and will register as Independent and vote for the Green Party - no chance in hell they will win, but they stand for things I believe in. If Romney and team win, well... I am looking for a deserted island for sale! Take Care, Tracie-I don't know you as a face-2-face friend, but feel like I know you through your blog and as an FB friend, so I will be here waiting for you when you come back and can't wait to hear what you've been up to!

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    1. Thank you so much, Kyle!

      I'm voting third party this year, too.

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  4. I do. I find myself overwhelmed at times, especially by the ignorance of people who flat-out refuse to educate themselves. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but my goodness it is EXHAUSTING when you know their opinion is based on some Facebook chain post that is full of lies. Also, Todd Akin... I am speechless. That's why I haven't said a word about it. I literally have NO words. Only anger. Enjoy your break!!! ♥

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    1. Oh YES! Those Facebook chain things are awful. It takes one minute to do a quick fact-checking google search before reposting something.

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  5. Good for you, Tracie! I love reading along as you learn things about yourself that help you move forward in your life.

    I'm one of those people who doesn't follow politics anywhere near as closely as I should - especially since I live in a country where voting is compulsory. However, I've heard about the Akin stuff, and even more importantly, I do know the basics for my own country. I suffer (a form of) politics burnout but much more quickly than someone like you would - a handful of relevant news pieces is more than enough for me!

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    1. I didn't know y'all had compulsory voting. That is really interesting. How does that work?

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  6. VERY VERY exhausted. Over the last 8 years or so I've pretty much turned my back on politics. I was very involved for years but I just can't handle it anymore. Politics barely touches the things that I am concerned about in my daily life, and I've lost hope that anything I vote for will actually affect change around me.

    If it's a human rights issue, I'll pay attention, but if it's just two slightly different versions of the same fucking thing, I just don't care. I'd rather let people who DO care about those issues do the voting on them - I don't have room in my life to care about MORE things.

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    1. I know exactly what you mean, here. Especially on the "two slightly different versions of the same thing," that is so often what we are getting.

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  7. And I just wrote a post begging people to become informed! Are you rebelling against me? Totally kidding. You are informed, you've done the research. . . . take a break. I think things have gotten nastier since the first election I really paid attention to (1988, couldn't quite vote and it frustrated the hell out of me) and much as I love politics and want people to be informed, I've been skipping a lot of articles lately.

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    1. Ha! Look at me being all rebellious!

      I read your post, and it was great. You are so right that it doesn't take much to be informed.

      I was just a few months shy of being able to vote in the 2000 election, and it was SO frustrating!

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  8. Good for you for being informed but I also understand not wanting to see much of stuff.

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    1. It is a hard balance, but I'm hoping to find it!

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  9. Oh my, do I feel you! Thus the only thing I have posted politically regarding the Todd Akin idiocy was a hilarious bit by an Onion commentator. Politics - and I do very much pay attention - tend to make me cynical.

    In the end, bottom line, I always feel I'm choosing between the worst of two evils because I am voting on a politician. I always vote because it's my civic duty - especially as a thank you to all the women who fought for that right in past generations.

    I did get really excited the last presidential election because it was an exciting opportunity for both racial and gender equality (and to finally get someone besides Bush in there - God help us).

    BUT, in the end, it's the Congress and Senate who pass laws and no one works together. So, yes, it is absolutely exhausting and makes me want to shoot myself right in the face so to speak, LoL.

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    1. You are so right that it is the Congress and Senate who pass laws. It frustrates me when people only vote for on the presidential race, and ignore the others.

      The thing about choosing the least of two evils? You are still choosing something evil. That is why that phrase has never really made sense to me as an explanation for doing something. But I'm going to keep on voting!

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  10. yes I think the political ass holes have been out in force this year and not sure what rock some of them have been living under. How one votes is a choice and many of my friends over the years have had to agree to disagree. It's not always about what the main man thinks as you can tell, there are many others involved and most of us don't really know what each congress/senate person really thinks until they spit something out that gets in the news. Hugs and healing girl, you are not alone in this one

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    1. You are so right. Some people seem perfectly sane, until that moment when they let slip out what they really think, and we all learn just how out there they really are. I guess that applies to people who are outside of politics as well.

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  11. Is is completely exhausting and sometimes I get so tired of the various political messages being shoved down my throat. I can't discuss politics with my husband because he gets very agitated if we don't agree on things...not worth the fight.

    I agree that it's good to step away sometimes. Doesn't mean you're not informed...just means your life will be much simpler for a little while without all the chaos!

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    1. I have family members who don't agree with me, either. It can be stressful, and I am learning to stay out of conversations with some of them where politics are concerned.

      I'm looking forward to simple. It sounds beautiful.

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  12. Yes, yes - step away. You're already informed. You don't need to be tortured.

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  13. During the last presidential election I let myself get a little too wrapped up in it all & was burnt out by the end. Great job staying informed & involved though. Visiting from SITS _ Have a wonderful weekend :)

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  14. {Melinda} I have been extremely passionate about following politics since I was 12 years old. And I agree with you. I am SO sick of all the hatred and division that's being spewed. I can never remember it being this vile. But I feel like this election is too important -- perhaps the most important ever in the US -- not to be involved in supporting the candidates I support. So I will. But I really just want to shut out all the media until Election Day.

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  15. Beautifully said. I totally agree. I can become totally engulfed in politics, if I let myself. As I've gotten older I have less of a stomach for it. And it does seem to be getting more visceral lately. I have plenty of stress and anger in my life without adding to it. I now take it in small doses and only when I'm up to it.

    Enjoy your break; I still think you're a great citizen.

    Happy Sharefest. I hope you have a lovely weekend.

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  16. I admire your interest in politics. I wish I was better at staying up on all of this. It does get old, and I'm not even someone who watches a lot of it.

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  17. It would be so much better if more people took the time to be informed. That being said, someone like yourself who has done her homework surely should be able to step back. I wonder if you'll be able to stay the course though. Seriously, it seems to be in your blood.
    Wishing you blessings...
    P.S. Popping over from SITS
    P.P.S. Just for fun, though new to blogging, I've already done two post on Yellow!!!

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    1. It is hard, much harder than I thought it would be, to step away.

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