Politics and Me

I was asked today if I take a heavy interest in politics by a coworker. I never really think about it. Today I did. At first I thought, "NO!” I mean I don't go around picking political arguments, nor do I don candidate wear, nor do I protest much (my first protest was for Lake Michigan Cleanup), and I hardly ever divulge my political orientation which is somewhere between Ben Franklin, The Ghan, drink on Sunday German immigrants, Thai food, Iggy Pop, the Saturn V rocket, and KRS-1. I have no bumper sticker on my car for any party or platform though I do want one that says "Suck It" or "Why isn't after befive?" or "I hope your big SUV makes up for your tiny...” but those are another matter for another time.

BUT I AM very politically minded. Chloe and I always banter about politics. She has a great mind for political thought and our discussions never turn to argument but instead allow us to firm up our convictions and opinions and sometimes end in post conversational snogging. Since childhood (seriously, I was an odd one) I have been constantly concerned with the UN and UN legislation, our world view, the world's view of us, the general underdevelopment of Africa, the reasons why the typical American does not understand what the "Third World" is really about, Vaclav Havel and his coolness, the two party cistern, and socialism's bad rap.

Chloe was amazed that I thought I was not engaged politically. She said,

"Of course you are, you talk about politics all the time."

I guess I never noticed. Who knew?