I will 're-follow' you on Nov. 9, I promise

If I haven’t “liked” your photo of breakfast pancakes or given you the “smiley emoji” for a silly cat video on Facebook in awhile, chances are I have unfollowed you on social media.

Now, don’t worry. We are still Facebook “friends.” But if I haven’t commented on your post in the past few months, more than likely I got tired of your political rants, un-fact checked stats and out and out lies.

And guess what?

I am allowed to do so.

There is a popular meme floating around social media of late that reads:

“I will respect you regardless of who you support in this election. I don’t unfriend people due to political views. That degrades democracy and free thinking.”

I agree with most of the sentiment declared there. I am all for democracy and freethinking. I have changed my views following a good conversation with a chum who has different political views than myself (it doesn’t happen often, but it has happened.) And I will respect you regardless of who you support in this election, no problem there.

The reason I have been “unfollowing” friends of late is that my decision on most matters on this year’s ballot – see page 3B in this week’s PCN – have been made and a gluttony of false, Photoshop-altered pictures with political “facts” pasted over the front of them isn’t going to change my mind. I see many people I know arguing on social media with friends and family over something they posted and when I say these arguments are heated, that is being kind.

While the United States of America, the best country in the world, is a democracy, my Facebook page is not. In fact, my Facebook page is a dictatorship and I often view it while wearing green army fatigues and smoking a Cuban cigar. Does that make me childish? Maybe. Do I care? Not at all.

The last 18 months have been fastidious, finicky and fractious. It feels like it was four years ago when the Republicans gave us over a dozen candidates to pick from and the Democrats gave us nearly none. On November 8 we will pick a leader of this great country as well as in Helena and locally. Hearts will be broken, naysayers will predict the end of times and winners will rub it in.

Regardless of my choices winning or not, I will support those who capture victory. I love this country too much not to and I am proud to cast my ballot. I don’t have to be happy with the election results, but I will accept them because I don’t think they are rigged.

On November 9, I hope the political split in this country can come to an end and we can work together to make this wonderful country even more so. On November 9 I will also restart “following” those of you that I had unchecked off my list. It wasn’t personal and I did miss your pancake picture and cat videos.

Get out and vote and Aloha.