Political woes...arg!

Well, it's that time of year. 

Normally, politics don't bother me much. I do my research on the candidates and go into the voting polls to do my part and vote and that's it.

However, when you have a family member running for office...things can get pretty ugly :(

I try to keep calm and stay out of things for the most part, but people can be quite cruel.

It doesn't bother me if people do or do not vote for my family member. It doesn't bother me when people discuss the issues and stances and agree or disagree with my family member. What gets me is when people start making it personal by taking personal attacks and jabs at not only my family member, but the rest of his immediate and extended family. Some people will use every opportunity to drag my family's name through the mud. THAT bothers me.

The funny thing, or should I say the sad thing is, they have to make up these accusations because they can't come up with anything factual. My family is not perfect by any means, nor do we claim to be, when we make mistakes, we own up to them, but I guess we just aren't scandalous enough for them to have any real dirt on, so they resort to making things up.

My family and I and our real friends know what the truth is, and knowing the false accusations are meaningless and untrue should be enough for us, but there is just something about it that gets under your skin. It's like those old school 'your momma' jokes. They can get your blood boiling and you want to shout out the truth to everyone or sometimes smack them upside the head...lol!

One thing is for sure though, you learn who your real friends are and I'm not just talking about the people who are voting for my brother. I have friends who are voting for my family member's opponent, and that is ok. They can vote for who they want, yet they don't take part in bashing, name calling, or dragging my family though the mud. 

Facebook and social media can be a very telling thing. Some of these people probably don't realize I see what they are writing and saying on various political pages (or maybe they do), although they'll be as sweet as pie to my face, behind my back they use every chance to say ugly things about my family. THOSE are the "friends" I am referring to.

THOSE are the "friends" I don't need in my life. Most things I try to let roll off my back especially when they are said by people who really don't rank in my life anyway. Not to be ugly or anything, but some people are more like acquaintances and an occasional run-in with them isn't earth shattering or anything. We smile and pass in the grocery store and that's it. Every once in a while though, I have to talk to someone about it. Especially if it's a person I have to see or come in to contact with...or *gasp* attend church with on a routine basis. It's not as simple as letting it roll off. I can't keep up a false friendship and pretend everything is ok when it is not. And let me tell you, THAT is hard. So, I approach the situation in the most loving and sincere way I can. Thank goodness it doesn't happen very often with a close "friend", because even just once is enough for me. Wether or not things end on a happy or not so happy note, the friendship usually ends up dwindling away and that is probably for the best in the end.