Truthfully, I’m tired of hearing about politics.  It gets exhausting after a while (unless John Oliver is doing the talking, in which case it’s usually pretty funny;  look him up on YouTube if you don’t know who I’m talking about).

At this time of year, I also get tired of hearing about football (yes, it can happen).  For me, the best part of football season is about week 6 or so, when you can watch a bunch of different games and play Fantasy Football or FanDuel or whatever; every play and every game matters to SOMEONE.  Now, with just one game left, it’s not so entertaining for me.  Especially this year, as my favorite team (STILL) is the once mighty Chicago Bears, who this year were slightly less awesome than expected (and much closer to awesomely pathetic).

With the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl (again, dammit), there’s lots of articles about Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and DeflateGate and how good they are and etc. etc. ad nauseum etc.  I absolutely hate the Patriots.  To me they are a bunch of whiny cheaters, and as a fan I’m entitled to my opinion.  To me, every article about a Patriot player or coach getting in trouble or cheating or even having a bad day goes right to the top of my “to read” list.  Because I hate them, I love hearing about them doing wrong or screwing up, and it’s easy for me to believe.

And here comes the parallel.  Watch as I magically re-write the above paragraph, with a few words changed…

With DONALD TRUMP in the WHITE HOUSE (dammit), there’s lots of articles about TRUMP and THE REPUBLICANS and how EVIL they are and etc. etc. ad nauseum etc.  I absolutely hate TRUMP.  To me HE IS A CRAZY LOOSE CANNON, and as a CITIZEN I’m entitled to my opinion.  To me, every article about TRUMP getting in trouble or cheating or even having a bad day goes right to the top of my “to read” list.  Because I hate HIM, I love hearing about HIM doing wrong or screwing up, and it’s easy for me to believe.

Now, how many of you know someone that could or should have written the above?

If Trump is not your favorite team, I get that; hopefully you are a thinking, rational citizen and you did some homework before you voted for whomever you voted.  But we need to get past all the anger and all the sharing of “What Donald Said This Time.”  If you have an issue, peacefully protest or write your legislators or run for office yourself.  Just don’t constantly share the latest recently raked mud with me and expect me to act outraged.  Like most of what’s on the internet, some of it’s true, lots is made up, and all of it is written for shock value.  It’s a lot like me jumping on another Belichick scandal article…to me he’s already a villain, and I want to read about more of his villainous behavior, but I’m not going to send it with you so we can argue about it.

More parallels.

I don’t like Trump.  I don’t like Hillary.  I don’t like the farcical circus that our system to which our system has devolved.

I don’t like the Falcons.  I HATE the Patriots.  I don’t like the farcical circus that is now the Championship game.

But in both cases I’m going to watch, and I’m going to hope, and I’m going to do my part and participate in the spectacle because I’m an American and an NFL fan and that’s what needs to be done right now.