Political Divide And Fairy Dust

***

There is nothing
left to say,

according to all
who think they’re right –

the right only care
what’s right

the left are far too
interested in what’s left –

I left it there.
It doesn’t feel right.

“Political Divide” by Simon Sweetman 2019

I watched the State of the Union address last night, as I always do. I even tune in when THE OTHER SIDE demands the spotlight for a few years. Here in the US, we don’t get a break, we live in a neverending election circus that already starts before the inauguration of a new President. The political artists perform for us -the tired audience- all year around, every year and they are merciless.

Certain rules seem to apply when a President addresses the nation at the United States Capitol. The political parties show their division while sitting in blocks, one to the right, the other to the left, making the so obvious divide in this nation even more noticeable.

The rules are rather simple. You only applaud the President if he happens to be YOUR President, and if not, then you stare blankly ahead of you, sit on your hands, and deny even a subject you applauded just a couple of years ago when the RIGHT person was making the same claim, had the same wish, or perhaps just shared a vision for the future.

No matter what, each subject and every topic is treated the same way. For the WRONG SIDE, even if it’s the RIGHT SIDE, eye-rolling, perhaps even booing is acceptable at all times, while the other side applauds or gives a standing ovation when the RIGHT President -even if he is from the left- speaks. However, there are exceptions.

Whenever America and its people, or all its poor average citizens are mentioned there has to be applause, sometimes even a standing ovation given by all. The same goes when victims of recent crimes or veterans are introduced. That’s the only time unity is required, after all, potential voters might be listening and watching.

Sometimes I wish the speaker (who is not the speaker but the President) would come to an end sooner. Sometimes I listen with joy -which is surprising because it means I am not as numb or dumb (yet) as I thought I would be.

Nowadays my time is limited and so is my patience. Like many of us, I am on a NEWS DIET too and I have strict restrictions, which require me to stay away from heavy loads of news that might lay in my tummy for too long. INTERMITTED NEWS FASTING we call it as of today. One hour a day 23/1. What’s the goal? To keep my sanity and my mood intact!

Sometimes I dream when I am not asleep. Daydreaming they call it, but it often happens when it’s dark.

Last night while watching the State of the Union Address, I wished for special powers. Fairylike perhaps! And in my dreams, I throw my fairy dust and rearrange the political circus quickly. I rock the boat heavily and forced them to take a stand, even a wobbly one.

Imagine a scene like we have seen at shows like THE VOICE, way back then when it was actually still about the artists and not the judges. The moment right before the contestant enters the stage and all the judges are turned around in their seats, facing away from the center stage for a short while.

Then the artist, or in my dreamworld, the politician enters the stage and starts talking. THE VOICE would be altered of course, and the sound we hear would be robotic, forcing us to pay attention to the message and not the messenger.

Who’s side is talking and do we like it?

If we like it, do we turn our seats and show not just our approval but also the desire to work with THE VOICE we just heard?

What if THE VOICE has tricked us and it’s the wrong side who said something that actually made sense?

Accidental bipartisanship?

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