Political thoughts.

Normally, I am quite quick to share my political leanings and opinions freely and opening. Lately, however, I've been shying away in an effort to be a) less combative and b) more open to those who are of opposite opinions. It seems to have the opposite effect though; I've been more and more apt to "hide" or consider deleting friends from facebook due to their sheer inability to make a rational, informed argument. Privileged individuals who have never had to work hard in their lives moaning about high taxes for those who "work hard" and those who "are lazy." I devote my time working at a non profit; I don't make a lot of money. Am I lazy? Do I not work as hard simply because I choose to devote my time to a cause rather than the paper chase?

Healthcare is another instance that gets my riles up. Individuals who have never know what it's like to get sick and not have their insurance cover it. People who have never had to worry about scraping together $45 a month for birth control, or the fact that pink eye medication costs some ridiculous amount. Have those that are insured never looked at a prescription to see what the "true cost" is? Now think about if you're terminally ill or with a serious disease, or an accident strikes. Something over which you have no control happens - you are ruined. Credit, savings, debt, often bankruptcy will be the language you speak it.

I don't often get involved in politics myself. I have my opinions, which to be summed would be that everyone should be allowed basic human rights, peace, and the allowance to have equal opportunity for success. Does that make me a socialist? Hardly. What I do try and do is educate myself, not form opinions based on conjecture and rumor, and live my life as a good person, doing my tiny part to make the world a better place. Sadly, I seem to be in the minority of my age group by doing this.

Which brings me to the uprising about President Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Is it preemptive? Perhaps, but President Obama has made anti violence and peace a priority of his life, which started far before his presidential campaign. Even based on simply the merit of his short presidency, he's utilized his position to try and bring the United States out from its ethno and egocentric values, improve diplomatic relations with countries alienated from collaboration by previous presidencies, and created revival for positive social movement. This man has done more in his 8 months of presidency than I know I'll probably ever do in my lifetime for peace. As someone who works in the "peace" arena I promise you - to have even accomplished anything in 8 months seems impossible. In a country (and state) that spends more money on war than education, we now have a president who is actively working to change the approach; proactive from reactive. This doesn't happen in 8 months, it may not happen in his presidency. Regardless, he's doing it. Fundamental shift changes take time, as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day. Barack Obama is not just fixing problems, he's making changes.

My whole point of this is how ethnocentric Americans are. The response to his award oversees has largely been positive. Why? Probably because other countries get it; post globalization, we can't afford to bunker down and discuss amongst ourselves. The decisions we make impact other countries. Americans do not live in a protective bubble, but the majority conduct themselves like swarthy teenagers, with an almost narcissistic focus on the "greatest country in the world!" without recognition of the larger context.

Amongst my babbling is this take home message; too many people are quick to respond with nothing to back it up. I wish that more people my age would take their heads out of their beer cans and bar hopping on a Saturday night to read some international news, or probably any news at all. Read a book. Take some time to reflect. Travel and experience other cultures. Volunteer. In general, just try understanding your fellow human beings. I think you'll be overall better off for it.