Can a pacifist be an anarchist?

First off, thanks bunches SignGirl! Not making a killing, yet...maybe one day. And yes, my design. It's a shame I don't have a steady hand or I'd be tattooing the hell outta some poor souls willing to part with tons of their hard-earned dollars.

Y'all, I missed my calling. I missed my generation, actually. I was supposed to be a hippy. But the combined kind of hippy, ya know? I would have marched for certain ideals - and definately BURNED MY BRA! - but I'd also have been one of those really cool hippies who smoked pot (which I have been free of for about 2 months, now...don't congratulate me; it was not MY wish) a lot and looked forward to vividly colorful psychedelic trips. I would have worn all natural clothes and probably gone hairy and smelly like so many others did. I would have definately worn flowers in my hair. The hair on my head and maybe even on my legs and pits. To cover the smelly part.

Since I can't actually be a hippy (not cuz of the times, but because of legal ramifications and a responsibility to teach my kids more than just my hatred for "the system"), I can look like one. And I can still preach my opinions and disagree with others who disagree with me (they're wrong, of course, but freedom of speech is one of those things I'd march for). The dressing part is kinda fun, actually. I'm currently working on a psychedelic t-shirt that I'll share pictures of when it's done. Ummm, it's pretty and all, but it's also a bit thought (and perhaps argument-)provoking. You'll see.

The disagreement part, though, is beginning to stir up a little turmoil with a dear friend, though. It's rather disheartening. You see, he thinks "a vote for anyone BUT McCain is a vote for a non-American Muslim" (exact quote from my friend). Personally, I am so discontented with the whole thing, I'm choosing NOT to vote, this year. I believe this will be only the second time I haven't voted during a presidential year since I was old enough to vote. The first time was because we had moved to Michigan and I was not considered a "citizen" of the state, long enough, to vote in that state. Well, it was also a Bush year...

Lately, my friend has taken to sending me daily mass-emails (sometimes several a day) defiling Obama and singing praises of McCain. While he has every right to his own choices, he's beginning to go beyond just stating his opinion; instead, it's beginning to feel like harrassment. When I've asked him about some of my own key concerns regarding McCain (like this ridiculous war that seems neverending), he skirts that question and retorts with remarks about Obama and even other non-partisan candidates. Ummm, yeah, there are others. When I ask how he feels about some of McCain's remarks about "the wealthy", my friend looks at me all doe-eyed and says that [we're all wealthy when we have family and friends who love us...doesn't that mean more than wealthy being defined by how much money one makes?] (paraphrasing, there) He makes a good point, there, but it still doesn't excuse McCain's views on who is "wealthy" and who is middle-class. My friend's latest diatribe began by defending Palin. There are MANY reasons why I dislike Palin, but I've never talked trash about her. Why he feels the need to constantly defend her, in front of me, when I haven't even brought her name into a conversation, speaks volumes to me. Me thinks he doth protest too much.


I know I need to just tell my friend that we're going to have to abstain from any political discussions, lest we destroy a long-time and very dear friendship. I sincerely hope he'll listen and understand that harrassing me about his personal views will only establish a divide that may not be easily mended. At this point, I actually think the only way to get away from all this craziness (politics, in general) is to just move to another country!