yeahimadork.com

This morning, I saw that someone left a comment on my blog. And that made me think, hey, I have a blog! Where I go! And write stuff! About my life! I should update that thing!

So here I am.

Hi, internet!

I have a question. I know that there are people who are fairly apathetic politically, so if you’re one of those people, ignore this question. But could you, as a seriously-minded person with strong political views, be romantically involved with someone whose views diverge from your own? Seriously diverge? Because I don’t think I can, and I’ve recently been told I’m “narrow-minded and intolerant” because I didn’t want to date someone who is a lifetime member of the NRA and thought hunting was cool and that John McCain and Sarah Palin would be good for America.

Now, I don’t think those views make him a bad person (ok, yes I do), I just think they make him someone I don’t want to be (and wouldn’t be) in relationship with. I think that when you feel very strongly one way or another, it says a lot about your character. And that’s not bad, it’s just what I think. I know plenty of people who think very differently than I do (I even like some of them!), and there are people reading this very blog who think very differently than I do. But shouldn’t the person you commit yourself to share the same ideals that you do? Am I out on a limb here?

Here’s the conversation:

Him: Hahahaha.
Me: What?
Him: I just read this comment Sarah Palin made about [something I don’t remember]. It’s awesome. She kicks ass.
Me.: Oh. Um.
Him: What?
Me: Maybe we shouldn’t discuss politics.
Him: Why not?
Me: Because I’m pretty sure I’m going to disagree with everything that comes out of your mouth.
Him: Why are you so sure?
Me: Um, because of that last thing you just said.
Him: You don’t agree with me?
Me: Uh, no.
Him: So, can you be with someone whose political views you disagree with?
Me: Probably not. I mean, I guess it depends on how far leaning they are.
Him: Well, I’ll tell you this: I was raised in a republican household. I’m a lifetime member of the NRA. I believe in the constitution. Especially the 2nd amendment.
Me: Oh…. uh, ok.
Him: What?
Me: Yeah, I’m not really into guns. And to be honest, I don’t understand peoples’ fanatical need to be able to have them, and to be so proud that they own them. I understand it’s their right, but I’m just saying I don’t understand it. I don’t like guns.
Him: Don’t you care about protecting yourself??
Me: Protecting myself from what? I live in Torrance, not south central.
Him: Yeah, well, I’ve had people try to carjack me three times, and I’ve been shot at. I need to defend myself.
Me: See, the difference is, I don’t hang around places where people walk right up and try to shoot me and take my car from me. REPEATEDLY. I’m not trying to fight with you. I just don’t like guns. I’m allowed to not like them.
Him: You’ve never USED ONE.
Me: Do you hunt?
Him: Yes, I have.
Me: And you don’t have a problem with that? You don’t think it’s barbaric to go out and kill an animal in 2008 when food is so readily available?
Him: There was a time when people HAD to hunt.
Me: IT’S 2008!! You don’t shit in a bucket outside the house or get around on a horse anymore, either.
Him: You’re so typical.
Me: Ok, see, this is why I said we shouldn’t discuss politics.

Him: I’m the kind of person that wants to be around people who don’t always agree with me, and who can discuss things intelligently. The thing I don’t understand about fucking liberals is that they’re always preaching tolerance, but they’re more intolerant than anyone.

Me: Yeah. You’re TOTALLY RIGHT.
Him: So, I guess you don’t like me then.

Me: What do you think?