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Banned from RedState

By: Wayne (Diary)  |  February 16th, 2011 at 08:01 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

While this may not have a specific relevancy to current and important political events, I believe it’s relevant simply because it is symptomatic of a broader physiological vacuum that exist in the minds of our society as a whole and manifest in a very tangible way recently for me.

Because of my activities with the Tea Party and other conservative activist groups, my tendency to pull every day conversations to relevant economic and political events, I have been banned from RedState by my family (actually all political websites including watching or reading the news).

It would be funny if it weren’t so tragic.  Actually, it is pretty funny considering I had a good laugh at the idea that there was some authority that could prevent me from being engaged in the most important political awaking and events of our times.  But, being the diplomatic and responsible person I am, I have agreed to do the following for the next 30 days, beginning 2 weeks ago:

  1. Stay off of political websites.
  2. Refrain from engaging people in political discussions.
  3. Take weekends off (from work).
The third condition was established so that I could get some rest and recuperation from a daily grind that is a direct result of the continual economic decline in my life.
Why do I consider this relevant to our current economic and political times?  I believe my family is representative of the broader American culture at this writing.  Only activists seem to be engaged.  But of course we all know here that is not entirely true.
While I admit that I can at times be a bit aggressive when expressing my views (particularly when I’m talking to an idiot), I am never disrespectful, haughty or arrogant in my demeanor.  But, none-the-less, my family thinks it is a serious enough problem to to ban me from what they consider as something bad for me.
Whether or not, I actually honor their wishes, I can’t help but believe that there is some critical element missing in their paradigm of current events that prevents them from facing reality.  And, it may just be that I have (though my hard work and efforts to shelter them from an ever declining economic environment) enabled them to think as they do.
It’s a microcosm of what’s been going on in this country from one generation to the next.  It may take a crisis of unparalleled proportions to wake the stubbornly slumbering.
All that said, I do know the importance of balance in all things.  And, I’m sure they draw a parallel between me and chicken little.  However, I do believe that this is not a time for passive behavior.
I’d appreciate any thoughts on the subject that might help me to illuminate reality to them.
My two cents…
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  • http://theminorityreportblog.com Repair_Man_Jack

    Your family will mind this behavior less if you are finding time to stay engaged with them. They want a certain number of your hours. If they take your work hours, they are afraid you will fail professionally. That’s lose/lose for all involved. THus, they go after your “play” or recuperation hours instead.

    • rbdwiggins

      For the same period of time that you are ‘banned’ from Redstate, your family is banned from watching TV, 24/7. That includes cable TV, network TV, DVR’s, DVD’s, Netflix, Blue Ray, video cassettes and video games. With only two exceptions: Your family is allowed to watch Fox News Channel or Fox Business Network during the hours of 5-11 PM weekdays.

      For those who don’t want to watch FNC or FBN, place copies of the Federalist Papers and Democracy in America on the coffee-table for their enlightenment.

      Without all of the Liberal/Progressive clutter, clap-trap and obfuscation present in their daily lives, they may begin to realize your sense of urgency regarding the serious fiscal crisis, national security failures and regulatory overreach that threaten our Republic.

    • Wayne

      I think they just want to shut me up! I haven’t had a nice sit down and enjoy your company “visit” with any family member in years. Everyone’s just too busy. We did sit down and watch an interesting documentary on the Amish last night. Made me pine for a simpler life!

  • Wayne

    None of us are big commercial television watchers, so it’s not realistic to ban them from television 24/7. There are days that go by without hte television being turned on. So, I don’t think that’s necessarily a problem. We’re a pretty conservative family, but they think I’ve gone off the deep end. They already watch FOX, O’Reilly, Beck, ent. al.

    They just don’t take it a serious as I do. I don’t think I could live in a house with a Democrat or progressive. My mind would explode.

    • Common_Cents

      Those that read beyond the headlines and see some very ominous things happening behind the scenes look like radicals when sounding the alarm to the rest who are naive, uninformed or just plain willfully ignoring things.

      Heck even those who are aware of problems do not want to acknowledge them, extend and pretend is easier in the short run.

      Your passion and urgency can be taken as know it all, bitterness, fringe etc…to others. It happens to me too. Just gotta present the facts. Take some time off for yourself and get your blood pressure checked ;) I’m sure everyone as RS is in the same position as you.

      I just returned from a 7 day eastern caribbean cruise where I watched 10min of news a day. I came back refreshed and relaxed ready to do battle a bit more efficiently and healthily(is that a word?).

  • bcb1

    A couple years ago, my wife and I took several weeks and did a bunch of things on our bucket list. Mexico, Costa Rica, and a cruise. Definitely gave us an appreciation for their culture, and as an unintended benefit, it also unplugged us from every bit of our normal lifestyle and routine.

    It was awesome. We both left our Blackberries at home. No email or facebook or other obsessive internet habits, lol. We woke up every day and had coffee, did our morning run, either hit the beach or just relaxed and read, went diving about 10 times during those few weeks, had dinner each evening together.

    And when we got home, I had a startling observation: the world went on just fine without me. I mean really, we could go back tomorrow and I seriously doubt anyone would miss us (well, except for our dogs and our daughter when her tuition is due, lol).

    So taking a step back and getting a bit of perspective is really not a bad thing at all.

    • Wayne

      I’ll try to smell the roses more… thanks for the perspective..

      • rightwingmom52
      • conservativemusician

        But I’m the same way at times just like a lot of us can be. Definitely go smell the roses…just watch out for the thorns :-) Family is more important than politics, so go spend some time with them instead.

  • idahoboy

    that nothing is really as bad as it seems, just like nothing is as good as it seems. Step back for awhile. I had the same problem, was irritable with my family, everything was negative. Stepped back for awhile and realized that it wasnt quite as bad as has been made out. Remember the 24hr media’s job is not necessarily to “air” the news, but to make money.

  • Tbone

    LOL