‘Tis the season!
In the movie High Fidelity, the character Rob (played by John Cusack) reveals that he is reorganizing his record collection autobiographically. He says, “I can tell you how I got from Deep Purple to Howlin’ Wolf in just 25 moves.”
Similarly, consideration of how we evolved into the person we are today is an exercise that holds merit. Sounds comforting, doesn’t it?
In 2016, the American people once again face the prospect of electing a new President. Whether you are thrilled with one of the candidates, or plan to hold your nose and pull the lever for the least bad choice, or are going to conscientiously abstain, at the end of the day most of us are just hoping we can find something to agree on.
Especially in this unusual election year, many people are re-considering how their political orientation is expressed in terms of partisan identity and voting behavior. For those that are inclined towards introspection, election years are also useful barometers. The election brings an opportunity not just to take stock of who we are today, but also to consider how we got there. We think about your younger political selves, and wonder if they would be happy or horrified at the person we have become. Do we still share the same beliefs and opinions, or would they accuse us of abandoning those principles we once held dear?
We are pleased to announce the next Ordinary Times symposium, with the theme of “Political Autobiography.” We are calling for posts from editors, staff writers, readers and guests. Tell us the story of your politics, whatever that looks like. As always, the topic is not a rigid set of rules but a starting point for you to explore in any direction you wish to go.
We will begin accepting submissions immediately, and continue accepting them throughout the symposium. We will begin on August 16, and run thereafter for as long as necessary for us to share all of the submissions.
We’re looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
– The Editors
Looking forward to this! Now I have to figure out how to explain voting for Ralph Nader in 2000…Report
I’m trying to figure out the best excuse for supporting the Iraq War until 2004. Maybe we can compare notes.Report
Right there with you brother.Report
“Youthful naiveté” can cover a lot–particularly with a broad definition of “youthful”.Report
That’s definitely my excuse. I was 16 when the war started.Report
This is a wonderful idea. I’ve occasionally thought about writing something like this for myself, but the probability of my actually putting in the effort to wrangle my scattered thoughts and memories into a coherent whole in time to contribute to the symposium is barely distinguishable from zero. I’ll certainly enjoy reading about other people’s journeys though.Report
Notwithstanding that a girl I had this massive crush on called me a fascist while in college – we still remain friends a couple of decades after- I’ve always been a center right guy, which means I always vote for the center right party
In this case, I vote straight ticket Democratic, from assistant neighborhood dog catcher upwards. As I say, a faithful center right party guy, well to the right of the squishy British Tories or the populist Spanish Partido PopularReport