I'm coming across a lot of drafts in my emails where I've started to rant against something that's meant for social media consumption, only to not be posted due to my own reticence.
But nah. Let's do this. Clearly I'll have something about Trump later.
From...the last time there was a mass shooting:
We set up our government so that our Presidents don't get to do whatever they feel like. This is particularly true when the Congress in place is run by a different political party. On top of this President's agenda, I imagine, is to radically reduce incidences where he has to give a "tragedy struck our nation" speech by way of gun violence. He has given many since taking office.
By the way, I live in a gun-owning household.
He has called for common-sense gun control laws, which has NOT included the BANNING of weapons. Our congress, who have been proudly, openly, obstructionists in this and many other regards, have accused him of wanting to undermine the second amendment and accusing him of just that - the banning of weapons. Reasons for why they conflate the two are clearly political. Reasons why anyone continues to accuse this President - I'm going to see this through a rhetorically comic frame - is that they're simply, mistaken.
Since we cannot change people, we must change laws. This is the way we've set up this country -- we have drunk driving laws because apparently some of us didn't know we shouldn't get into a car when we're drunk and they wind up killing people. We have laws against smoking in public places because even though smokers know smoking can cause cancer and choose to smoke, enough of them don't seem to mind it happening to someone else, including their own children. We have laws for littering because some of us literally can't figure shit out or throw them where they belong. We have laws because we're deeply flawed humans who need to be protected from one another.
For you who are "against politics," "disinterested," "don't like it," --- by virtue of your citizenry, it is a privilege and a responsibility. Politics happen whether or not you like it, or are paying attention. Politics have real implications. You can let it happen to you, or you can figure out how to work with it. Just because it hasn't happened to you or your loved ones doesn't absolve you of responsibility. Find a cause --- #GetPolitical.
If you're tired of my posts --- I wish you well, but I hope something will always nag at you at the back of your mind. That while you're counting your blessings and happily living your life and going about your business, there are people hurting who needed you to listen to them, to stand next to them, and to speak for them.
