I passed a vehicle the other day, which was the California version of a Redneck. Heavily pro-gun, support America and the troops.. but it was a suburban not a pick up truck. And as I passed, sure enough, there was a white male in his 50’s or so.
I started wondering if he’d always been like that or did that man’s attitudes change over the years. He was probably born in the 60’s (or even the 50’s). He’s lived through the hippy years and the dancing 70’s and maybe peaked in the money-driven 80’s. Maybe he joined the military and got his intense pro-American influences there. Or maybe he didn’t. Maybe he spent a wasted summer stoned and drifting and is swinging to the other extreme in his elder years!
But as maturity sets in, sometimes it sucks the fun out of a person. Its almost as if the stereotype of “growing up” forces them into a Republican attitude. His vehicle had a sticker on it that said, “YOU LIE!” There were other words (hopefully WHO was actually lying, so he wasn’t just blankly blaming everyone!) but they were too small to see without causing an accident! So if it wasn’t funny, perhaps he was serious.
And I realized all this led me to ASSUME he was a Republican. Just from what he advertised. I was judging him by his Stereotype. I pondered that, since I’m narcissistic to look at ALL my thought processes, including my faults. But I theorized HE was the one advertising his beliefs so if I made assumptions WHO’S fault is THAT!
This blanket assumption of his political beliefs made we look at the stereotypes within the two political parties. And I broke it down to this. In my opinion, (lawyer-speak for don’t sue me) one of the differences between Demo & Rep was the fact one was mostly forgiving and giving while the other was mostly about punishment and keeping. Me, I’m pretty demo but I do have some Rep tendencies. I don’t mind helping someone out, but when they abuse it.. its frustrating. I believe in providing services to our fellow man, but admit that the system is heavily abused and difficult to police.
The real irony is that I feel the Christian religion is about loving and forgiveness, yet some of the most ardent “Bible believers” are judgmental and unforgiving about anything outside their own beliefs. Classic dilemma, Pro- Life AND Pro- Death Penalty… otherwise known as, we’ll wait 18 years to kill ya.
And I think some people “grow up” into these closed minded beliefs. I know my brother and sister did. As they married and found religion they suddenly became Republicans. Which was ironic, since they both took advantage of social services put in place by Democrats when they were younger. But as they made more money, they didn’t like parting with it. And as they chose a religious path, they stopped tolerating others choices and voted on the basis of Moral issues.
Which cracked me up, even as it baffled me. Because as we ALL know..
there is no morality in politics!