Poorly-Considered Political Maneuvers

[evilhippo]

Lately, as this political season is finally coming to its end and the rancor among my coworkers becomes evermore biting and sarcastic, I've been finding myself more and more tempted to break with my "Silent Bob" approach to the workplace. This is, in part, because I've found myself tagged as a sort of one-dimensional character who somehow represents the whole of liberal thinking. No doubt my silent resolve to grit my teeth and get through the day with as little drama as possible is seen as some kind of carebear "Love everyone, even those who take advantage of your work ethic" mentality. I managed to stop myself from dressing up on Halloween as "Me, as you imagine me" with hippie pigtails, birkenstocks (I've been meaning to get a pair anyway), and a petition to rename Michigan Ave "Barack Obama", explaining that 1) I wouldn't ask them otherwise, but my signatures were due on November 1 so we could rename it before inauguration, 2) I was working for ACORN and would be paid by the signature, and 3) "And isn't it cool that we're just going to name it 'Barack Obama'? Really, we think that the word Obama will come to mean a path toward hope and the future, so it doesn't even need to be a street or avenue. It can just be an Obama." Thankfully I realized that the glee I would derive from them believing me, though wonderful, would quickly be followed by despair at them believing me. And then one of them would probably get me fired.

So now I'm sitting here with a bag of arugula in my fridge, and thinking "Wouldn't it be a great idea to bring it in to work on Tuesday and offer some to everyone?" I'd already planned it as my victory arugula, but I keep thinking that I need to get that jab in against them, just to prove that I've been listening to their nonsense and am perfectly prepared to counter with some of my own (and I think it's about to go bad so the sooner I use it the better). It's just... irony. Victory arugula is ironic, especially on Tuesday (I can't let myself have confidence yet, it'll jinx things). And there are approximately two people in the back office that would understand. So what do I do? Do I make the joke that gets me antagonized more as it sails over their heads? Or do I just sit quietly and continue to be the one-dimensional hippie Obama-worshiping liberal? (... I mean, truth is the only word that doesn't technically apply there is "worshiping." I think I'm just offended that they think I've put so little thought into my decision, and so my response to social adversity, as it always is, is to make fun of myself and them.)

Dear 2008 Election,

I WANT MY WEDNESDAY ARUGULA TO BE VICTORY ARUGULA!

♥
evilhippo

P.S. Even if I fail to be ironic at work, I am wearing some of the arugula in my hat when I go to the rally Tuesday night, and nothing is stopping me. Except maybe security, if they find leafy vegetables suspicious.

Comments

[zolac-no-miko.livejournal.com]

Hey, at least your state is a real state. Mine is too exotic to be a real state, and doesn't share core American values with the rest of the country. ...Presumably "winter" is a core American value.

Yeah, I know. I mean, I'll always take Democrats over Republicans, but they're not perfect. I'd like to have options. ...They should have a two-vote system. Like, vote for your top two candidates. It would through everything out of balance and allow other parties to have a fighting chance, and I feel like more people would be happy with the candidate that won. Anyway, ha, I beat the system, 'cause my Mom's a hardcore Democrat, and my Dad's a hardcore Republican... I had to choose! (I didn't really beat the system. I've lived with my Mom since my parents got divorced, and I'm much closer to her family than to his. I'm as much a product of the machine as anyone.)

Oh right. The internet. Well, you can't believe anything you read on the internet anyway. INCLUDING THIS.