Mitch's blog this past week tapped into something that has been rattling around in my mind.  My way has always been to try and fix things, to create discussion, to inquire when I am not sure about something, to present my ideas when I feel strongly about something.

From about 1992 when I graduated college until maybe about four years ago, I used to openly and comfortably talk politics with people.  I used to fearlessly engage in topical discussion, not worrying because I felt that I was always honest and always presented my ideas amicably and without venom.  On the rare occasion, someone else might get upset about the topic, I never reciprocated.  I would speak about things face-to-face, write essays about topics, e-mails, etc.  Sadly, I believe people are different.

I find it shocking the way people converse with others when they are protected by the unsavory shield that is their keyboard.  I am stunned at how quickly people attack each other personally and I don't understand it.  A lot of it may be Facebook or the Facebook culture, but if you've ever read the comments after any article on the internet...some of them about the most bland topics, it takes about 5-7 comments before people are calling each other names...just because they disagree.

I watch the news about Ferguson, MO and I see people on both sides so entrenched and emotionally invested in their opinions (commitments?) that they will never, ever budge.  I have this feeling in my gut that something really bad is going to come from this. It's over a thousand miles away, or is it?

Back to Mitch's blog, I'm sick of it.  Completely and thoroughly sick of it.  I have always felt the responsibility to try and be a change agent.  To never turn my cheek from something that might be wrong.  To try to shed light on the truth.  Trust me when I tell you I understand how much easier it is to stay out of the fray.  I do imagine that if I just started avoiding negativity, I might be happier.

I sometimes wonder how it could be everybody else, maybe it's me.  Then I realize that everybody isn't doing it to me, I just see it (and maybe internalize it too much).  If I backed away completely, would it go away?  Then how could it be all me?

That is what I'm contemplating now.  Just walking away from it.  Letting it go.  I'm sure there are plenty of liberals on here that would love that.  I have always looked at walking away as a shirking of personal responsibility to some extent (I'm sure Fred will call it quitting).  But maybe the time has come for me to just back out and place all of my energy and emotion into enjoying my family and my home, to set the load of bricks down.

It feels wrong, but I really am sick of it.  I am getting sick of people.  Yet, I always have this voice in the back of my mind saying..."what if everybody did that?"