Fellow humans,
As a child, teenager and young(er) adult, I was able to ignore politics with ease. Society appeared to have other concerns and interests. My peers and I seemingly never felt the need to have political discussions. We talked about music, told funny stories, and when we did have debates, the topics were nowhere near politics. Things have changed drastically since 2020.
I’ve been in college on and off since 2010, bouncing around different majors while using military benefits, and being in college means spending time interacting with the youngest adults. When I think about college in 2010 versus 2023, the narratives are much different. I could be misremembering, but I don’t remember hearing about politics in 2010. You can imagine things have changed.
Since January, I’ve forced myself to remember two quotes from two different people on campus. Number one, “everything is political,” and number two, “don’t talk about religion, it’s too political.” You don’t need context to see the flaws in these ways of thinking. Realistically, not everything is political, especially religion. Religion is about God’s laws, and politics is about human laws.
I don’t understand the psychological causes of these major societal shifts, so don’t expect me to explain much. However, if you’re seeking understanding, I’ll point you in Dr. Jordan Peterson’s direction. He might not have what you’re seeking, but he’s a solid starting point. I do understand something though — we’ve allowed politics to become too much of our personal identities.
In my opinion, too many people defend their political beliefs in the same way people defend their religious beliefs, maybe even more. Which brings me to my point — regarding personal identity, politics is meaningless. The whole point of policy is to best serve humanity, so whichever politician appears to care most about serving others, should receive the most support. Common sense, right?!
I’ve never submerged myself in political campaigns, but I’ve paid attention. Paying attention is our responsibility, right? You’ll notice when you hear someone say something that connects with you. For example, in 2016, Trump connected with our frustrations, calling people out for their flaws, especially the media and people of “the swamp.” However, living life frustrated is no bueno.
For me, there’s a better way, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is appealing to the better part of me, which is largely compassion and truth. When he speaks, I can sense his compassion for others. He seems like the type of person who’s literally willing to die in service of others, which is ironic because his Father and Uncle were assassinated. His character and intentions appear to be in the right place.
The upcoming Presidential election is another opportunity for Americans to vote for someone who best represents our deepest values. I’m not very concerned about things outside of my control. I don’t know if our individual votes matter. I’m concerned about my own actions and contributions. As I’ve briefly discussed in SALtoshi Podcast #1, our country might be on the wrong path.
Things are messy, and I believe much of the mess can be attributed to misleading information and censorship. We deserve the truth, the hard truth, whatever that may be. I don’t know about you, but I trust in my God-given abilities to be able to handle the truth. If something dangerous is happening around me, then I want to know. Mr. Kennedy seems to be the person for the job.
Until next time,
Salvatore Norge
P.S. — I am neither Republican nor Democrat.