But, more importantly, i watch shows like that, and listen to folks like that, because i hold a lot value on understanding the position and reasoning of those with whom i so vehemently disagree.

I think i might have learned a lot about the danger of heavily mixing Politics & Emotions when i lived in Israel (in a then kaytusha/hang-glider visited Hula Valley and a knife-stabbing-savvy East Jerusalem) and jaunting around Jordan and Egypt’s poorer more radical venues. I saw the bile and grief that emotion-laced politics brought upon those who dabbled in such, everything from bad relationships to (yes) trouble sleeping to poor businesses to classrooms that failed to teach.

The exchange of ideas, and thus learning, between polar opposites and even close political neighbors can’t very well happen when emotions are injected.

Still, a pretty flower can grow on poisoned ground.

I can tell you that I was surprised that I listened to a couple of episodes of Focus on the Family and that there was a lot of really practical, really useful parenting advice. (Of course, since I think Dobson is a child pyschologist, that shouldn’t surprise me, but it did.) For example: heard a show about how it’s important for kids to believe in things like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny- it’s important to developing a child’s imagination, etc. The importance of letting your kids vent their anger and frustration at you as a parent, as long as they do it in a respectful way. (In other words, let kids be angry at you – and say it- as long as they start with a “Dad, I’m really angry with you because of A, B, C, and that made me feel angry, etc etc”). How this teaches the importance of dialogue, venting strong feelings in a proper way, that they will be heard on concerns big and small etc.

Now, of course, there are the political and morality based shows, as well, but I had just assumed they were all focused on that.

Like a car wreck?

Please do continue to share, both of you, how enlightened and superior you are.

Unfortunately, that does not play out in reality.

Private charity is very important. In Judaism, it is an obligation. But likewise it depends on the good will of individuals to choose to part with their personal wealth to help others.

Instead, in the real world, to whom much is given, even more is demanded.” The “haves” are more interested in taking than giving back.

I’m a Republican, in brief, because I believe the private sector can generally do things better and more efficiently than the public sector. I believe that individuals, in general, should determine how their economic resources are best used. Of course, this is balanced out by a belief that “to whom much is given, much is expected” and I believe private charity is exceptionally important, but I also believe this is a Republican belief. I could go on. All of these things can, and should, be debated. But they are, at their core, personal beliefs. I wrote a long e-mail to a former social studies teacher in 2008 explaining why I was a Republican. I thought about reposting it, since it was longer and got into more depth. But this will suffice for now.

I think Rob Adams’ post was thoughtful as well. I had a temper until 9th grade, but the stress gave me so many stomach problems that I just stopped getting angry. My wife has never seen me angry- it’s like I’m not even capable of it. Of course, I still internalize far too much stress.

However, I think it is healthy to view the Democrats as your “team” because it brings you into that community. Being in an intellectual community, even though politics sometimes doesn’t seem like a community or intellectual, means that you engage the ideas, proposals, and issues of the day. That’s politics. And if you want your issues addressed, whatever they might be, you should root for your team. And I’ll root for mine. The best thing for the country is to have as many people as possible engaged in political discourse, even when it seems an uphill battle.

And I’ve never watched a whole segment of the 700 Club, but I have listened to entire episodes of “Focus on the Family” and they made me realize James Dobson is much more than a caricature. So that was interesting. And it would have been even better if I’d had a beer or two, and probably even MORE interesting if Rob Adams had been listening with me.

I’d lose sleep over being passed over for a promotion because of my being Jewish, gay, what-have-you. I’d get emotionally upset because they wouldn’t let me on the train during my morning commute because i was this or that nationality, belonged to a lower economic-strata, or didn’t have the right style jacket. But, over an election? an editorial? some talking-head at a round-table? … nope, no way.

Life is way too short for that type of mind-set or reaction.

Drink a few beers, or some a few bowls and do yourself a favor and sit down and watch a whole segment of the 700 Club and learn to be more fascinated, and less enraged.

Emotions can be a mind-killer if left unchecked.