It is far better to be quiet and thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Dont Tread On MeI first began blogging in April 2004. At this point in history the 2004 presidential election was ramping up between Bush and Kerry who were both focused on November. We were already at war in Iraq and the varied sides of the maelstrom known as political pundits had their respective blue and red pedals to the metal. You could barely surf the internet without tripping over blog after blog about Bush, Kerry, Iraq, Social Security, etc… The two sides got further and further apart, more clearly defined and much nastier and disrespectful of each other.

All of this fallout from our “War on Terror” isn’t unique. This is how politics has always been. Even before there were American politics. Citizens fed up with the religious oppression forced on them by their government wound up seceding from the English nation and ended up founding and eventually fighting for our great USofA. Even before that, in the Bible of all places, the controversy caused by political forces is well documented. The tension was high between the high priests and Roman governors. They hated each other. The only subject that creates more controversy than Politics is Religion (yes, with a capital ‘R’).

I’m not opposed to politics. I’m not opposed to controversy. I think both are healthy exercises that will eventually lead to the greater good. However, I choose not to add to the mix via my blog. Not out of fear of controversy either. I’m more than capable of intelligently argueing my side of the arguement. I like to think I’m relatively intelligent and well informed. I keep my ears and eyes open. And, most importantly, I DO take a side. I DO have an opinion on almost every “issue” you could throw at me. I DO care deeply about where our country is headed and involved in globally.

I just don’t desire the readership/audience that a controversial political blog would draw. I’d rather keep my readership lower in numbers and let them have a lower expectation of what they are going to see on my blog – because if you want to see what the pressure of having to “perform” on a blog can lead to, check this out. I don’t want that kind of pressure. The pressure to come up with a post everyday better than the last. It will become a second full-time job with horrible pay and lousy benefits. I want to blog because I have something fun to share with you, or a story to tell, or an anecdote to relate – not because I feel like I have to.

So, I choose not to blog about politics because ultimately, it would make my blog not fun for me anymore. Besides, there is no shortage of controversial political blogs on the web. I’m certainly not denying anyone from getting their Bushism of the Day or anything. I just personally really wanted a break from all that mess. A mental break during the day where I can not have to think about those “turrists” out to get me, the fact that there will be no social security money for my retirement, the enevitable next Michael Moore movie, and lastly the fact that I’m going to soon vote in my state governor elections between a crazy extreme right wing candidate and an even crazier, self-serving extreme left wing candidate. I’m thinking of writing in “Jesus of Nazareth” instead… I think he might have a chance this year.

There are so many voices screaming over each other. I choose not to compete for their attention. There’s lots of gray areas in our lives to explore – not just in politics.