I was a concerned citizen, albeit a Canadian one, in 2000. At that time, at around age 25, I was somewhat interested in the election. The stakes at the time seemed relatively low. But the real psychological turmoil started in 2004.
I was passionately against the Iraq war, and it was extremely obvious to me that Bush was a madman. We needed Kerry, badly. I remember the night I read and watched the news about the bin Laden video coming out--I believe it was the Friday before election Tuesday.
I flipped. I became so angry, so incensed, so anxiety ridden. I was so pissed off at bin Laden--for tipping the election in Bush's favor.
:::more below
I feel like, on a psychological level, I nearly wrecked myself that night. The Dick's Deluxe burgers (Seattle) me and my then girlfriend (now wife) woofed down did little too assuage the nagging feeling in my gut that, with this new video's release, Bush had bagged the election.
But a deeper wisdom seemed to peak through all of the fear: why did I need to take all of this so seriously? Why did I need to reify everything that was said, each blow-by-blow exchange of the war of words between Kerry and Bush, and the war of events that neither contender in the election had control over?
After the storm was over, I tried to form some kind of a commitment not to get too sucked in the next time. Who is in the White House is important, and it makes a big difference to the world on many levels. But life is bigger than politics, and bigger than who is in the White House. I can't let contests like this, which often degenerate into pure adolescent-style competition, destroy my spirit.
And it turns out I've had the chance to enjoy some happy moments here and there, and some equilibrium too, neither aided nor hindered by the goings on of Washington (thought the 06 elections were a definite pick-me-up).
But now we're getting geared up again. And this time it's about the Dems nomination process. Now, I'm not even going to say who I'm supporting, because I want you all to feel equally included in this. But yet again, I'm drawn into the drama. X said this! Oh no! C'mon, Y, say this! Say it! SAY IT! What? X did that? What are the ramifications? What if Y doesn't win! What if Y wins by F wins on the Republican side? F will take all the independents!
And on, and on, and on. Anxiety. It makes me want to just not open my web browser at all.
There must be a middle path! Any suggestions?