I NEED A POLITICAL BREAK

By Rachel Sokol/Greenwich Village Gazette

was a senior in college during the last presidential election. Excuse me, I was a senior at a college in BOSTON, of all places, in November 2000. I remember watching CNN with my roommate, who went to BU, and we watched that big map of the US on screen light up in colors. Gore was in the lead, adrenaline was pumping, and my roommate and I were sitting on the floor our of Mass Ave apartment watching history unfold. When it was 11pm and New York, California, New Mexico and Florida had yet to clock in their votes, I said to my roommate, "I'm going to bed. When I wake up, I'm sure Gore will be president." Neither of us cared TOO much about politics, but of course we were going to watch all those electoral votes add up.

But the next morning, Gore wasn't president. We didn't HAVE a president yet because the U.S. was waiting for Florida's votes to come in. Huh? I wanted to watch the news on TV, but I had to get to class, so I raced out the door and thought it was odd-and really humiliating-that this country couldn't even vote right. I voted absentee ballot for the state of New York, feeling completely proud of myself for being an out-of-New-York-State-er and voting as a college student. I proved that not every college student was apathetic because I VOTED, dammit. I ruled; go me.

I was a journalism major in college, and two of my professors were former CNN employees and hard-core Democrats, even though they insisted that they weren't. In other words, I was going to have viewpoints thrown in my face right until graduation. And the media, oh, god bless the media, um, let's not get into that. During election heyday, I question my job as a 'journalist.' Or, the role of a journalist in general, 

In class we watched "Absence of Malice" and "All the President's Men" until we knew every single word. I read and re-read Jay McInerney's "Bright Lights, Big City" recently and I constantly asked myself, "Why the heck am I majoring in journalism? Am I crazy?!!! It's so political!" While I watched the Elephant versus Donkey fights erupt all over Boston in 2000, I kept reminding myself I wanted to be a glossy magazine writer, entertainment, fashion, beauty, health,  anything but politics.

In all my classes, all my professors and peers talked about were Ben Bradley, Al Gore, John McCain and George Bush. We were forced to watch hours of "Hardball." And "Meet the Press" and attend lectures about law at Harvard and MIT.

In the throes of political chaos, all I remember thinking was, "I'm not political! Why do I have to write about George W. Bush? Can't I write about Hollywood instead?" But no, this was senior year, this was an ELECTION year and I was a print journalism major and a communication law minor and that was that.

Politics or Fail. I was a good student. I chose politics.

My peers and I had our work cut out for us that year. I was taking a Journalism and Legal Issues class, and for our senior thesis, we all had to do a 50-page write-up on the 2000 presidential campaign. I was not only freaking out because I had a magazine internship and three final papers to complete that year, but because I was-AM-not a political person. I mean, I watch the news and I follow (very loosely) politicians, but in all honesty, I'm a registered "No Party."

But I survived the 2000 election. I kept all my political opinions to myself.

I kept all my friends because they never knew what I was thinking--Gore this and Bush that. And now it's Kerry this and Bush that and all I'm thinking is, "Get me out of here."

I've SEEN how politics can rip friends-and family-apart. This is why I stay "Switzerland" and rarely talk with others about my political viewpoints; not even my best friends. It's just not worth the hassles. And I find most people don't know ENOUGH about the topic they're talking about, and start blabbing about complete BS they heard from ANOTHER friend, .that just sounded good. I hate all fights, especially political ones. You think what you want. And I'll think what I want-and I won't tell you what I am thinking.

I know, I'm a rareity-a journalist who really keeps her mouth shut. I just think silence is golden. I don't know enough about politics to launch into some huge debate with you. I'm really afraid that if I TALK politics with you; we are going to get into a huge fight. What's the point?

I hate taking sides and forcing people to 'hate' another group of people.

Want my opinion on the election? I'd like to pack up my stuff and go to Cabo or Madrid during election week-just to avoid the media frenzy and the endless Kerry/Bush chatter for just ONE week.

But then I'd get letters from people who knew I didn't vote because I wasn't 'here.' I'd rather not have any enemies. So, if you're going to talk politics, that's cool with me. You can talk about whatever you want, but I advise you to keep your opinions to yourself, and don't expect me to join in on your conversation.

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