Good morning, my Monday. I'm feeling good this am, and wondering how I ever lived without Trader Joe's. They make life easy for a lazy cook like me- lazy because though I do love to cook, I'm not so keen on prepping every little thing, and they make it easy for me with all of their chopped and "throw in the oven" offerrings. I dig you, Trader Joe's. A lot.
So I'm still a little broken from this weekend's Republican debates. I'm not one to talk politics on this blog, but it's pretty impossible to not have something to say when all of this madness that is happening. I'm one of the first people to tell you that I'm super over the partisan insanity- if there was a good candidate coming from the Republican side, I could tolerate them. And I'm not blind enough to think Obama has dotted all the I's and crossed the T's- he has not. But he has done some terrific things (goodbye Osama, goodbye war in Iraq, so long "don't ask, don't tell") despite interference from the "others" who make it agonizing for him to get anything done (healthcare in particular sticks out in my mind, though it seems like everything he does other than killing terrorists gets met with fisticuffs).
As I watched the debates, one of the most stunning things to me, besides the complete Victorian values of the candidates, was the utter lack of respect for our Commander in Chief. The way they talk about him is a disgrace- and I don't know about you, but I was always taught to never slam your "boss" in a job interview, and this being the biggest interview of their lives, they should really stop beating up on their boss, because he is theirs, until he isn't. It's disgusting and intolerable.
Also as I mentioned for those of you who are friends with me on Facebook, to keep referencing the Constitution in its original form is nothing short of archaic. We all respect the founding fathers, but can we really take such a literal interpretation, with no revisions, to a document created in 1787? Before there were world wars and Columbine and 9/11 and equal rights ammendments? Before the internet, television, and automobiles? To me, regardless of what I believe Santorum railed against (the notion that this country is a business), we are a business, and a big one. Can you imagine a company running the same way it ran when it was 10 people vs. when it was upwards of a thousand? Now imagine running this country the same way we did when we were wee. It's absolutely ludicrous, and since I've been reading a lot lately about CEOs for some work I'm doing, almost every article written about the great ones agrees that they all have something in common- they are great champions and agents of change. Following an old document to guide us in this world that is changing faster than we can keep up is stupid. How about a little rewrite, rethink, or retool? Let's keep the original principles in mind, but let's move forward, shall we? I for one am glad I don't have to churn butter, wear a bonnet, or live without track lighting. Can we, please?
Further, this religious platform has me frightened. Though I am not terribly religious, I am Jewish, and I am not too keen on all this talk of Christian values, because guess what? Many of us in this great country are not Christians, and that's why we live here- because we can practice any religion we want. Religion has no place in government, just as it has no place in work or at school. The reason is not because I hate the thought of spirituality, it's that this country is too diverse to impose these values on us- I am however, for a more spiritual approach to work, life, and leadership- teaching kindness, respect, humility, and caring (hey, Newt, that one's for you, you arrogant arse).
I can't get behind all of this G-d talk, especially when the very notion of family has changed- I care not that the Bible says this or that, gay families are loving families, single parents are lovely parents, and to be completely honest, male/female marriage is on the decline at a rapid pace, so I for one would love the gays to boost the sanctity of the institution, and all the Bible thumpers can take their ancient thinking and shove it. We need innovators, thinkers, creative problem solvers. Not religious fanatics. Sure I know I live in the most progressive city in the country, but I struggle to believe that every other city and state in this land is full of gun toting rednecks. And if you are only voting Republican because you're worried about your 1% status losing steam and getting taxed squarely on the ass, well, shame on you. I wouldn't worry about us becoming a "European welfare state" (Mitt said that), but has our system really done us so well of late? Would it be so bad to share the wealth and bring back the middle class so our economy can start pumping again? (Santorum says we don't have classes, by the way. Perhaps we should drop him off in Detroit, where he can see that we do. All of that religious blind faith has eaten his brain). And I know there's some weird young person's fascination with Ron Paul, who at least is not totally idiotic, but he is as old as the hills, and we don't need that. Sure, we all love Hunstman in a way, but still...too conservative for me, though at least a good human being, with a nice family. I can almost relate to him. Perry, when asked what he would be doing on a normal Saturday night if he was not at the debates, answered he would be at the "shooting range". Really? I don't like the cut of that man's jib, not one bit. He's probably the scariest one, with Santorum a close second, though Romney's inability to seem genuine or not backpedal is a massive flaw, character and otherwise.
I know it's a volatile time in our history- there's so much anger, frustration, and suffering. But I am scared that all of these candidates are using religion to appeal to the desperate masses- and at it's worst, that's what religion does- it preys on the weak and imposes its values on them. We need someone who understands how much we need to move forward- in thought, in manufacturing, in moving our economy forward, in our foreign policy. We have come too far for this, we have stumbled, but now it's time to get up. I honestly could not sleep Saturday night because I was so troubled by these white men telling us how we should live, talking about a straight interpretation of the Constitution, but forgetting why we all love it here- BECAUSE WE CAN BE WHO WE WANT TO BE. Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, gay, straight, male, female, black, white, or otther. It's enough of this conservative shit. It's not going to get us where we need to be, because it doesn't embrace who we are now. And that's what I have to say about that, and I promise not to say much more about politics, because I know you'd rather hear me talk about furniture, fashion, and fabulousness. Don't worry- loads more of that to come..but I needed to get that out, because I am vexed and troubled by all of these candidates, and that's what's up this nothing funny about peace, love, and understanding kind of Monday in the 718. Please open your mind today and celebrate our differences. Marvin Gaye had it right- I am serioulsy wondering "what's going on". these days. XO