Ignore the Noise

It probably is not a shock to any of you that I am an Obama supporter and have been since the early days of Iowa and before. I have been inspired, moved, and encouraged by this man. I have also been skeptical, disappointed, and unsure of him. It comes with the territory. Nobody is perfect—especially in this period of our country where there are more pressing issues than secondary issues.

I hit a wall a few days ago with the current presidential race, which, as we all know, is in such a TIZZY since Sarah Palin’s entrance. I feel like I hear more about her than anything else on this campaign trail. I feel like every time I see McCain slip in there my first reaction is: “Oh is he still here? Isn’t it Palin and Palin in ’08 now?” If she’s challenged, I hear the outcry that the Liberal Press is being unfair or sexist or bullying. If she’s cooed and pawed over, I should remember that the Conservatives own the polls and the newspapers. I have found everyone and their MOTHER discussing every strategy there could be: The Republicans’ strategy in nominating her, the strategy she had in Alaska, the strategy that she is running now, the strategy in planning her strategy. I have gotten caught up in it and FLIPPED OUT every time I hear yet ANOTHER story about her that just makes me SQUEAMISH. Finally it hit me:

NONE OF THIS MEANS A DANG THING.

It’s like the drama in the office when everyone is flipped out about what someone might or might not have said or done and throughout the day, everyone is talking about it and milking it and the steam gets bigger and bigger until the event has taken on LARGE PROPORTIONS and rides on waves of OUTRAGE and DISMAY. But it’s only drama and drama is never the real issue. The real issue is that people in the office feel under-appreciated and put upon and gossiping and regurgitating moments over and over again is how they deal with it. Drama is the smoke not the fire.

The truth is we are all flipped out, Republicans and Democrats. Republicans are flipped out that they are going to lose their hold on things. Democrats are flipped out that we will have to deal with MORE of the same. The good news for the Republicans is that nobody is focusing on Obama and Biden. Not even the Democrats. We’re all so focused on what Palin represents, that who cares about the ACTUAL race. Fear is very powerful and the Republicans are doing very well by it right now. The focus is on them and a bright and shiny face.

I am a strong believer that we create what we believe. Whatever we focus on comes true. The more I focus on the Republicans and their antics, the less my party and all its beliefs gets attention focus and energy. The more afraid I am, being caught up in this presidential player and what she is and isn't about, the less hope I feel for what I believe is the best future.

Well, I am done.

I have decided to stop trying to convince people that Palin is no Obama. I have decided to stop arguing that it’s just not responsible for a party to nominate a person that just got their first passport a few years ago, when we are in the midst of one of the largest International relational messes in recent memory. I have decided to stop reading about why she won’t work and why she will. I am going to focus on Obama and what he is saying and the very REAL ISSUES at hand. As my friend Vitali once said to me, “Ignore the noise, ignore the noise!” Enough of the drama. It’s time to get some work done.