Author’s Note: This is not as straightforward as the title suggests. I know when it comes to stuff like this, people get triggered. This is an opinion piece, as are all my Internal Thoughts articles. You have every right to disagree with me if your heart has other opinions. If you want to hash something out in depth, reach out to me separately.
When it comes to politics, there are generally a few camps. One would say that everything is political and you can’t get away from it, so you might as well talk about it. Another would say that writing and other creative spaces are a safe space. They don’t want politics there, and they don’t want to see people talking about it.
I’m sort of in the middle because it’s both. Here’s why.
Say what you will, but politics affects almost every facet of our lives, at least in the US where I live. As soon as one political cycle is over, the next one has already begun. You cannot get away from it, no matter how hard you try or how deep you bury your face in the sand. It dictates everything we do, whether or not it should.
Every time you turn around, someone is shouting about their ‘freedoms’ and what one person is doing to encroach on them. But here’s the thing. A lot of the time (notice I DID NOT say EVERY time), those people are the ones shouting the loudest to take ‘freedoms’ away from another.
It’s not a secret that I’m heavily left-leaning, though in terms of the US political atmosphere (and even in the grand scheme of the world), I would not be considered a true ‘leftist,’ though I do share a number of their ideals. I’ve talked about this some, and every once in a while I get so triggered at the absolute absurdity someone is spouting that I jump on my soapbox, and I have to let out what's inside. Yeah, I might not be any better than those who triggered the outburst, but when I do it, I’m not shitting on someone else’s freedoms. I’m standing up for something that’s important, and trying to educate people about those very freedoms someone is yelling about.
See, that’s the thing. People want to make everything political. They want to drag it up at every chance and say they are ‘shoving it in our faces.’ But that’s objectively untrue, and sometimes it’s precisely the opposite. This Us vs. Them mentality is ridiculous, and people need to stop. It’s not about freedom or conversion. It’s about control. The thing is, most of the topics that people carry on about and want to throw in your face as arguing politics… aren’t politics at all. Or at least, they shouldn’t be. And that’s sort of the root of the problem.
What I choose to call myself, identify as, or refer to myself as has nothing to do with someone else, nor does it infringe on anyone’s rights. It’s no different than anyone using a shortened form of their name, a middle name, a nickname, a pen name, or another name they’ve changed their legal name to. How is it different? It’s not. And to say otherwise is just ignorant.
In the same vein, my sexual orientation or who I choose to share that part of myself with is no one’s business but mine. If I’m open and honest, and communicate with my partner, then that’s all that should be necessary. And things like my personal medical choices, where I choose to live, what I choose to do with my time, my religious beliefs, and so many other things are no one’s business but MINE. So why the hell are people so up in arms about something that has nothing to do with them? Control.
NOT EVERY ISSUE IN THE WORLD IS POLITICAL or some dividing line we need to take an opposing stance on.
And another thing, while I’m on this soapbox spouting platitudes about what should and shouldn’t even be a topic for discussion because it’s very much part of my entire point. Why are we arguing that climate change isn’t a thing and therefore shouldn’t be something to worry about, and if you think it is, you’ve ‘gone woke’? It’s very much a scientifically demonstrated fact (even if the term ‘global warming’ isn’t precisely accurate) that the Earth is very much on the verge of catastrophe, and there is evidence to suggest we probably aren’t coming back from it at this point(an entire other thing that pisses me off, so we won’t go there right now). And why are we saying that there are people (no matter their political affiliation, race, gender--assigned or otherwise--medical issues/info, religion, etc.) who should not exist peaceably with basic human rights and comfort of life as anyone else? What does this have to do with politics? Nothing. At. All. It’s basic human decency. We’re not deciding on an alignment in a fantasy world where we can play something cool to try it out and change the rules of reality and then go back to life in the real world. This IS life. Some of these assenine decisions cost people their lives. A life everyone should be entitled to, and people shouldn’t stand in the way when it has nothing to do with them personally.
Look, I get that, especially right now, tempers are high. People are struggling, many have been for the entirety of their lives. There are a lot of reasons for that, and yes, some of them are political. But they aren’t all. Yes, in our democracy, the government is meant to be the entity that looks out for those that can’t, helps provide assistance where able, and oversees the lawful governance of the state as a whole. But a large portion of the crap people argue about has nothing to do with that. It’s only about control and how much control you think your opinions should have over another’s life. The answer, by the way, is zero!
Like it or not, there isn’t anywhere you can go where someone isn’t trying to exert their control over another. Whether it’s someone spouting hateful/hurtful rhetoric online, companies doing their level best to erase and abandon the policies they are supposed to protect, or simply denying someone being allowed to exist as themselves in what they hoped was a safe space. The world sucks. All most people are trying to do is survive and live their life the way they want. That’s it. But when every single time you turn around, you have to wonder if tomorrow the tide will turn and your existence is just… gone, it’s hard to turn a blind eye to ‘politics.’ It’s everywhere because we’ve made it so, and I hate it.
And I don’t talk about it too much online. I hate politics and try not to go too far into it. As an empath, my heart already bleeds for everything happening in the world. I already went down a depression spiral in 2020. Between Covid shutting the world down, attrocious behavior exibited by those sworn to protect citizens, and a leader who shouln't have been elected in the first place, I was in a really bad space mentally. It was really bad. I can’t do that again. But at the same time, I want my space to be a safe place for others. A place where you can talk about your loves, your desires, dreams, projects you’re passionate about, your whole true self (whatever that means for you), and leave reality behind while you immerse yourself in the fantastical place of imagination. Trust me, I want that as well. But I will be dammed if I stand by and let hate win. If something needs to be said, and I have a platform to say it on, I’m going to if I can. It’s not political. It’s personal. If I stand by and let people bring that hate and control into my space, then I’m no better than those spouting that hate.
They come for people they think they can control in the name of politics or religion. That last one pisses me off more than most. If people who spout religious passages actually bothered to read them all and hold true to their messages, they’d understand how absolutely fucking hypocritical they are being most of the time. I can’t even go down that road. It’s a nightmare I don’t wish to engage in.
Here’s the thing.
I am a bi woman in a hetero presenting relationship, a witch, and a smut writer from a small, rural town in a swing state in the US. I will not be controlled in the name of anything. I will stand for what I believe in and lift those around me because that is my desire. That is my legacy. I will get political, because they have forced that on me, but I won’t make anyone conform to my beliefs. They are just that. My beliefs. I just want to be me, in a safe, inclusive environment, where I’m not persecuted for existing and can help others be their best selves. It’s not political, and I wish the hell people would stop making it so. Because while we are arguing about lines, party systems, this vs that, who should have rights, and what people are allowed to do with their own bodies… Our world is burning. Natural disasters are getting worse and killing millions. Groups of people are being killed for just existing or because they live where someone else believes they shouldn’t. Children are dying from preventable massacres. Lives are being lost for stupid reasons while the rich and powerful argue petty semantics over things that don’t have any impact on them as individuals. All in the name of control, disguised in a red vs. blue wrapper. I’m sick of it. Leave the politics at the door. It cannot and should not be the root of every part of our existence.
I know I climbed pretty high on that soapbox, but it needs to be said. I will not apologize for wanting everyone to have a voice and live safely as their true selves. Too much of the world wants to strip that away, and I will never be okay with that. What are your thoughts? Have we gone too far with politics? Is there even a way to separate it from basic life at this point? I’m not sure there is, but I'm curious what you think.
