The easist thing would be to pass judgment now

Last night, I caught a bit of the replay of Palin’s speech. Man, could she have been more disrespectful? Oh well. I suppose that’s the way politics are now. I used to believe that 99.9% of politicians believe they are doing the right thing for their constituencies. Regardless, I am baffled by why Palin and her speech writers found it necessary to be so dismissive of Obama and his experiences and intentions. Oh wait, she (just like pretty much every other politician it seems) believes that those of other parties intend to hurt Americans with their political actions. In other words, in her eyes, we are not all on one American team, but rather, there are people that are so different from us that we cannot find common ground. There is a separation, a divide that cannot be closed. We are rich America and poor America; we are black America and white America; we are liberal America and conservative America; we are right America and we are wrong America.There are differences between us that can, and apparently should, be exploited for their political gain. Who cares if pointing out these differences worsens them and makes me feel distanced from my neighbor?! I’m just one man. That’s only one relationship. The aggregate “positive” effects of their crap-talk must outweigh the aggregate negative. Otherwise, they wouldn’t do this, right?

I, for one, am part of the disenchanted, sick-and-tired-of-the-same-old-mudslinging-crap America. As these people raise their children, do they teach them that it’s okay to make fun of others who are trying to help their fellow man? Do they teach their children that it’s best to say whatever you need in order to get what you want? More importantly, do they teach their children that vilifying others, their family, and their friends is a means to an end?

If, as Laura Bush said, there was really some change I could believe in this time around, I would feel torn between two best possible options. Instead, I feel apathetic and removed.