Come to the Sane Side

"Religion is hijacking people's spirituality for political purposes."

~ Robyn Hitchcock

Robyn Hitchcock may have taken too much LSD over the course of his nearly 60 years but he is relatively sane.  He has some unique opinions about religion and politics and I agree with this one.

The Religious Right has been lured by the Republican party for the last 30 years.  From the pulpit the majority of evangelical Christians were encouraged to vote for the Republican Party.  Christianity in America became a political statement.

In exchange the Republican Party gained an electorate that failed to notice the impact of the secular elements of the Republican agenda. Economists have declared trickle-down economics a failure, bank deregulation led to the Great Recession and Colin Powell admitted the evidence he presented to the UN when making the case for going to war in Iraq was false.  All of these issues cost tax payers trillions of dollars. Because the Republicans are pro-life, pro-gun and pro-God, the righteous right either didn't notice or didn't care.

In 2009, after President Obama was elected the Tea Party was formed as a segment of the Republican party.  In my opinion most Tea Party fundamentalists are voluntarily ignorant and guided by the principals written in the Bible; a book written by people who had auditory and visual hallucinations.  Those same people would be heavily medicated or committed in a hospital today.

The Republicans have gerrymandered the districts so Tea Party radicals can be elected, influence legislation and given a platform to throw their tantrums.  If they are unable to enact their legislation they are able to prevent legislation they do not want.  Any consequences are then blamed on President Obama's inability to lead them.

This electorate votes on same-sex marriage, abortion, Intelligent Design and gun control.  Fiscal conservatives surrounded themselves by a highly combustible, under-educated constituency who will push the secular issues right along with their passionate need to perpetuate Christianity and their limited world view.  

Do they understand the basics of taxes enough to know if or how they are impacted?  Do they understand if corporations pay less taxes it isn't their Earned Income Tax Credit that is affected?  It's their child's education or their grandmother's healthcare or the farm subsidies that keep food affordable.

So, what do we do to stop the madness?

What I see now is a shift in the Republican Party.  There are the evangelicals holding hands with the rich.  Then there are these poor moderate Republicans who have WTF expressions any time a loud mouth Tea Party representative says something that causes Rachel Maddow to fizz out.  Jeb Bush said the Republicans have crossed the line into crazy.  Okay I'm paraphrasing, but still, he thinks they've gone way too far to the right.

To those of you who voted Republican and wonder what the hell happened, it isn't too late.  Politics have shifted.  The nuts have taken your party over.  We will respect and accept you the way you are.  Why don't you come and play with us for a while?  

Social Rules of Engagement

Last week I spent a few days with a very nice, very Christian couple.  They really are very nice people who had no intention of offending me.  I was invited to pray with them during our first meeting and I immediately got defensive. I was very anxious the rest of the week during my interaction with them so I took a pill each time.  I decided I really need to think of how I want to be around people.

Social Rule of Engagement # 1: Whenever possible be polite.

I am a "what you see is what you get" kind of girl.  They made us take a personality test at work to see how we can get along with everyone. I tested with my conscious and sub-conscious markers in exactly the same spot.  If I like you, you'll know it.  If I don't like you, you'll know it.  You'll know what kind of hand I have in poker too.  I have spent years learning to temper my expressions and people still always say sarcastically, "Tell me how you really feel" or my favorite, "Did you really just say that?"

Social Rule of Engagement # 2: Know when to shut up.

For real.  If you've aggravated someone it's always better to agree to disagree.  Do not try to justify yourself or press the issue further.  If you want to continue this relationship learn to recognize their displeasure and ease yourself out of the hostility.  Unless it involves the safety of you or a loved one it isn't important enough to trash a relationship.

Social Rule of Engagement # 3: If someone causes you to take a pill every time you see them, rid yourself of that presence.

We shouldn't have to spend time with people who compel us to take medicine.  Those who do not have pills frequently violate rule number one.  I know.  My ass has been shown more times than I care to admit.  That's why I have pills.

The only exception to the rule is the dentist.  You should continue to see the dentist for regular cleanings and check-ups.  My dentist said once, "Everyone should have a good time when they come to see me. Use the nitrous, sit back, relax. It'll be fun."  I like my dentist a lot more when my mouth doesn't hurt.  Routine visits that include nitrous have improved our relationship.

Social Rule of Engagement # 4: Never discuss religion with anyone. Ever.

So one of my biggest points of anxiety is religion.  I HATE discussing it with people.  I don't want to make any one angry.  I don't want to get angry.  Politics are adjacent to this category.  If you insist, be prepared for some hostility and refer back to Rule # 2 and Rule # 6.


Social Rule of Engagement # 5: Stand up for yourself.

If someone offends you, tell them.  Do it politely and do it directly.  I guarantee 100% of the time I will respect your wishes.  Don't hold it in, retaliate or give the silent treatment either.  I don't want to continue to offend you, get offended myself or wonder what the hell I did to piss you off.  I'm too old to play games.


Social Rule of Engagement # 6: Time dilutes rage.

If someone says or does something that makes you angry, ask for time to get it out of your system.  I usually follow these instructions:

1. Go to the car.  
2. Find the song that makes me scream the loudest.  
3. HOWL along with that song at the top of my lungs until it hurts to breathe.  
4. Return and address the situation.

If someone is angry with you, ask for time to permit them to cool off.  You might still go to your car and howl along with a song or two but that's just for giggles.  If I sense someone is angry with me, I refer to Rule # 2 and give them the time I would need if I was about to spit fire and venom.

These are just the rules I came up with while I was at my dentist's office this afternoon.  For the record, I do not always follow them.   I do know that if I did I would have shown my ass less, burned fewer bridges and taken fewer pills.  They're simple enough to talk about but in practice you have to be committed and secure enough in yourself to really follow through.  If you find you're not, modern chemistry has made a better life for many.

I will leave you with a quote my boss shared with me:

If you cannot be a good example, be a horrible warning.