I hate the year prior to an election. All the mud-slinging begins so early anymore. It's kind of like going shopping in October when Christmas stuff is already on display. Every year, they start earlier and earlier.
Recently, a politician in our state who is running for a different office was embarrassed by some writings that were "unearthed."* His views in those writings were quite contrary to his publicly expressed views. Is he two-faced? Does he say one thing and then write another? I don't think so.
Those recently discovered "writings" were dug up from something he wrote as a college student. What the?
I know that some of you who read my posts are college-aged or in your mid- to late 20s. Others of you are closer to my age. Some of you might relate to what I'm writing here; others may not.
My point is I am SO different now than I was at 20 years old. I like to think I'm a better person now. Sure, I was fresh-faced, ready to change the world for better, and very much a global thinker back then. I'd like to say that I'm still those things to some degree... well, maybe not so fresh-faced. ;-)
I'm more tolerant now in some ways than I was in college. I understand life a little better, but I've had the advantage of time and experience, too.
I guess what I'm trying to say is this: I have grown up a lot since college. And I hope that no one would ever judge me NOW on something I said or wrote back THEN. That would be stupid. Really stupid. None of that takes into account anything I've learned or done since that time.
So, politicians? Please. Don't go looking for dirt on someone only to find something they wrote when they were younger, possibly more impressionable, and without much life experience. Because, if that's all you've got on a person, that's a pretty pathetic attempt to discredit all that someone might have done as an adult.
Thanks.
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On a completely unrelated note, for those who are interested... I went to the doctor today. Blood work was done, and an ultrasound of my innards is on the calendar. Should be very interesting. I get to see a picture of my gallbladder. Whoo-eee! :-)
*His opponent's camp is denying that they were a part of this mysterious find...
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14 comments:
Good luck with your test results. :)
Lots of luck with the tests - FYI, I gave you a shout-out in this week's podcast. And I made a prediction about when you'd probably hear it :-)
Excellent point. I am definitely not the same person I was at 18 (as evidenced by the uneasiness I feel when I remember how I voted that year!).
I hope the tests and such go well!
I am so glad you went to the Dr.
:)
Yeah, looking back on my college self from my current vantage point is very much like reading an old elementary school diary--embarrassing!
I hope your gall bladder is everything it should be--and nothing it shouldn't.
Here's wishing you a healthy balance of gall v bladder.
In high school i once suggested that we put all the koalas on a big boat and send them to the carribean on holiday (it was part of a debate on logging) - let's hope no one ever holds me to that.
Speaking of writing things in your youth - my blogging hiatus is (un)officially over!
Yeah, i'm excited too. Whoo.
If the person wrote something extremely bigoted, even at a young age, that could affect my vote. Otherwise, I don't really care.
Do you think you can post pictures of your gallbladder? =)
I hope you're ok!
And I hate political bashing. I would rather politicians talk about what they will do to help, rather than jsut insult each other. How is that helpful?
I have learned alot by the experiences I had in my 20's, but I would not want anyone to judge me by some of the things I wrote back then.
Political campaigning is just disgusting.
A bad gall bladder can be so painful. I hope you feel better soon.
Glad to hear you opted to see the doctor. I hope he just reassures you that you are healthy and will feel much better after all the stress goes away.
To a certain degree I believe you can determine the strength of a person's character by his past actions, even those from 10 or 20 years ago. However, I shudder to think what kind of judgments would be passed on me if someone read my thoughts from college. I had opinions, some of which were quite strong. Right was right; wrong was wrong. That was before I had the maturity or experience to understand how gray the world really was.
And, of course, we are all allowed to be just plain wrong sometimes. If we never made mistakes, said stupid stuff and learned from it, we wouldn't have the wisdom needed to run our own lives, let alone a city, state or country. Now that I think about it, I'm more wary of guys who seem to have no skeletons in their closets.
3car: thanks!
alyssa: thank you... and you were wrong. I listened to it yesterday. :-)
stefanie: Agreed. Deep down, most of my character is the same, but I sure said and wrote a lot of stupid things! Thanks!
paisley: I'm glad I went, too. At least I'll have some answers rather than simple guesses, right? Besides, I don't think I could have shown my face here after everyone told me to make an appointment! ;-)
lizgwiz: Ugh. I did read an old elementary diary a little while back. VERY embarrassing! As for my internal organs, we'll know more tomorrow! Woot!
wire: I'm sure there's a lot more gall in me than anything else. haha
What? You don't like the koalas? And yay for the end of blogging hiatus! Whoo WHOO!
-r-: I don't know... I wrote something really awful when I was 19, and now I wish I could take it all back. I just feel so differently now. In fact, I felt a lot different about that issue only a few years after that. Regarding the pictures: if they give me copies, I'll post them. hee hee
ludi: Thanks! And absolutely! How is tearing down your opponent going to tell me where YOU stand on the issues? Brilliant.
goldennib: I feel the same way you do... and congrats again on passing! I'm so happy for you!!
sparkling cipher: YES! Me, too!!! If a person claims no skeletons, it makes me a little wary of him/her.
Hope the test goes well, and that you're feeling better soon! :)
Good for you for going to the doc! Not like we hounded you or anything ;-)
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