Who's Side are You On?

 It is nearly impossible to be neutral about anything these days.  You HAVE to choose sides because everyone these days chooses sides.  A good example of this is Jay Leno who now says he used to make fun of both parties, but has decided now to remove political jokes from his comedy routine.  Bill Marher refuses to do college campuses any longer because as he says it seems college students have no sense of humor about anything.  And political comedy is the worst offender in their thinking.  No one finds humor in politics as they used to.  

Jimmy Fallon still pokes fun at both sides, but he is more rare than not.  It seems everyone takes their politics too seriously to be able to laugh at jokes made at the expense of their side.  No one laughs at themselves and everyone takes their side too seriously.  And it seems these days No one is neutral, being able to laugh at both sides.  

I am a rarity choosing not to take sides in politics or warfare.  But then I'm not a comedian.  I could be asked why I'm not on the side of Israel in the war there.  Frankly, I don't believe in warfare.  It's just legalized murder in my thinking., regardless of which side your on.  I've felt that way about war since Vietnam and my thoughts about war haven't changed since.  One can't takes sides when one thinks BOTH sides are wrong.  

So, it's the same with politics.  Winston Churchill once said all politics is corrupt.  It's just that Democracy is a little less corrupt than Communism.  So, a lot depends on your perspective.  I see any world order as corrupt.  I see the same things in this world that Winston Churchill saw.  I come from a family whose parents never voted.  And I've become just as they were.  I see so much anger and devisiveness in today's world and so much corruption in today's politics that I've simply refused to take sides.  I say all war is wrong and all political systems are corrupt.

Am I an outlier?  I just might be, not sure I care what anyone thinks.  BUT is that easier said than done?  My world view says I allow for ALL and most anything as long as what one values most is Human Life including that of one's own life.  That's all there is to it.  But why?  It's what I believe.  We live and we let live.  So, there is no room in my theology/philosophy for hatred and warfare.

Given the way I've thought for the last thirty years, my cardiologist said it's no wonder I had a heart attack.  So, I told my wife just the other day, that I used to think I had to be informed about everything, but now I wish to know little of what is happening in the world.  If ignorance is bliss, my bliss just might add a year ot two to my life.  I'm choosing now not to be informed.  And the least information I want right now is about politics.  I just don't care.  But not caring is a means of survival.  

As my wife said the other day, the only thing God asks of me is to live.  That's it.  This is ALL I HAVE to do.  I still can't avoid information, but I CAN avoid caring.  I do this mostly with a pipe.  I just don't care about what I either know or don't know.  Why?  As long as an individual can live with themselves, this is all that matters to me.  I AM able to live with myself because I DON'T take sides. I can't avoid information, but I simply stay informed and let God do the rest.  This is MY faith.  Today it is my Dunhill with some Captain Blqck Original.  I thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave