Deep breath. Keep breathing.
Okay.
I started blogging because I thought it would be a good opportunity to read and write some reviews about movies, books, and theatre. I also was getting interested in the Internet itself, and in the communities that one can find and be a part of.
One of the things I was leery of was getting too political. Having just graduated with honours in Native and Cultural Studies from a university in Canada, I had spent a lot of time debating, reading, writing and researching the history and current thoughts in politics and critical theory. It was time for a break.
I like JoeUser because of the wide variety of opinions, interests, and forms of expression. I don't necessarily agree, and very often spend a lot of time trying to ignore what I have just read. I don't want to get too involved. I don't want to react too much. Since a lot of debate here seems to concern American politics, I don't get too worked up. I do have opinions, but feel that there are other good Americans out there who can and do express themselves quite well about the issues presented.
Talking about Native issues though, and watch out.
All anybody has to do to get me going is just express an opinion about Native rights that I disagree with and I am all over them like a dirty shirt. Nice, I don't know.
I am educated enough to feel qualified to offer some opinions. Some perspectives on certain issues. The one thing I deplore, however, is letting my anger get the better of me and attacking someone's character for having taken the opportunity to express an opinion. Right or wrong, we all have the right to our own say. It's hard, though to not get worked up and angry. And anger is often a good propellent to good discussion. Hopefully.