A Wish

If I got the big end of the wishbone, and was selfless with my wish, I might ask for a run up to the 2012 election characterized by campaigns based on issues. I might ask for a year and a half of political discussions that feature conclusions based upon logical premises rather than peer pressure, insults, envy, anger, fear, or even too much wishful thinking. I might ask for this, but I probably wouldn’t get it. I can’t imagine a debate about marriage rights that didn’t involve scare tactics (homosexuality will infect your children!). I can’t imagine a national discussion of abortion that didn’t involve too much talk of baby killers and proponents of abortion (who is in favor of abortion?) and not enough of a focus on what happens to women and children if we outlaw abortions and what common ground we could find in the limiting of abortion through an attempt to target the factors that lead women to have abortions. I can’t imagine a discussion of Palestine that didn’t involve accusations of anti-Semitism. I can’t imagine an America without ignorant bumper stickers that refer to the President as an Ass or fellow Americans as un-American. I can’t imagine a political discussion of any kind that didn’t have someone calling someone else a radical, a liberal, an elitist, a socialist, a wacko, a … maybe I don’t have much of an imagination, although I once dreamed that I was marrying Rhea Perlman. Maybe my wish has no chance of coming true, but I don’t see the point of making wishes that have a good chance of coming true … why waste a wish on the possible? Besides, it’s my wishbone and my wish … so step off you right wing, socialist, fascist, nincompoop who is going to take jobs from real Americans and give them to Mexican Muslims who are seeking to burn flags and thoughtlessly destroy the ozone layer.