Being Apolitical is A Political Statement, or is It? A Conversation About Complicity, Reality & Giving Each Other Grace

Have you ever pondered the luxury of staying on the sidelines of political conversation? In our first episode of 2024, we unravel the intricacies of political engagement. In a world where the personal is political, we dissect a viral social media post that claims one cannot be non-political, sparking a debate that explores the privilege inherent in disengagement, specifically when human rights are involved. Our candid dialogue promises to enlighten and challenge your perspective on what it means to be a part of the democratic process, and why stepping into the arena, no matter how small your first step, can be a journey worth taking.

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Sources Mentioned
@feminist Instagram account

This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:

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Transcript

Ashley: 0:00

For sure, for sure. In some cases it is an absolute privilege to not care about politics or to purposely not pay attention. There are people out there who lived very privileged lives, who can do that and they do do that, and that is a privilege. But for many, many cases, most Americans are just trying to survive Caring about politics, engaging in it, being informed, fighting for issues or candidates you care about. This takes time or it takes money, or it takes both. Welcome back to the United Cheesands Podcast, the show that brings kindness and women into politics. I'm Ashley.

Sara: 0:37

And I'm Sarah, and we're two women from Ohio who are here to become more educated about American politics and build a community so we can all get involved and make an impact together.

Ashley: 0:47

We hope we'll inspire and empower you along the way. All right, welcome back to the United Cheesands Podcast. It's our first new episode of the new year. Today we are going to dive into the topic of being apolitical or non-political. Is that a political statement in itself? Is it a privilege to be apolitical? Is it fair to expect everyone to be engaged or involved with politics or current events? So many questions.

Sara: 1:18

So many hard questions, ash, I know, but before we talk about it, of course we're going to talk about what we're drinking. Of course, of course. What are we drinking? You have the can over there. I do have the can.

Ashley: 1:28

We are drinking a scenic West by Bow and Arrow Brewing. It's a hazy IPA. It's a new Mexico beer.

Sara: 1:34

Honestly where I'd rather be right now.

Ashley: 1:36

No offense of Ohio, this was picked up back a whole way in January of 2023, when we were out West and the Bow and Arrow Brewing is a Native American women-owned brewery. I love it, it's really cool. So I had to obviously throw that out there, shout out, shout out. All right, so let's set the stage for this episode. There was a post from the account Feminist, with the handle on Instagram at feminist, that we shared to our Instagram stories back in the beginning of November and it really is the reason for this entire episode.

Ashley: 2:06

So the post was a carousel post that started with a slide that said a beginner's guide to I'm just not that into politics. Then it walked through a few slides, basically saying that if you're not actively choosing to engage in politics or you're apolitical which is what that means then you are making a political statement in that way. The idea here is that basically, there's no way to be apolitical, and trying to do so or being able to think that you can do so is really a privilege. So Sarah shared this post to our stories and I immediately sort of hated it. Oh, wow, and it's funny because backstory here you shared it a little bit before the election and then we hung out on election night and of course we were like going around to breweries drinking, celebrating election wins, and I told Sarah I was like don't hate me, but I hated your post. And she was like, no, say more. So then we were like, okay, let's do an episode on this, because we thought it would be like a really cool topic.

Sara: 2:57

Yeah, it was a good experience for us because we obviously share the Instagram account and so obviously, like we're like business partners in this, basically, and just partners in general. So I just love the fact that actually was like hey, don't love this and here's why, and then now we have an episode about it, so and we're being on communication, so it wasn't like it was weird, it was just for sure yeah.

Ashley: 3:19

So, but yeah, so, even like I, I hate it in a way that was like oh, what the fuck? Like I just, you know, not like, not like what the fuck, why would you share that? But like I just don't like the general messaging. Yeah, um, and it's more because it's just like such a black and white statement where I think, like some people could feel shame around it and that's more why I don't love it. So we're going to get into the details of it today, but really that's what led us to today's episode and we'll reflect on that post.

Ashley: 3:43

So we'll walk through kind of each of the slides, because each of the slides kind of made like a different point on on this whole stance, um, and we'll kind of discuss each point and then reflect back on them. I love it. Are you ready? I'm so ready, let's do it, okay. So the first slide, after you know, a guide to being I'm just not that into politics, like you slide to the left and the first slide said caring about human rights is not political, and I'll kind of go first on this one and then Sarah can chime in. So the post, that's kind of like the headline and there was like some subtext and I think the subtext said like you know, we may disagree about how to solve a human rights issue, but we should all be able to agree that it needs solved. And while I generically and like personally, believe that's true, I think the statement like caring about human rights is not political is falls under. For me, the camp more of like mostly true, with a little bit of false.

Ashley: 4:34

And here's why the human rights are just like great the freedoms and rights that every individual deserves, no matter their identity or their beliefs or their morals. We should all really want to see human suffering and we should all want to ensure people have these rights and privileges. And this, this part of the statement like totally agree with. I believe in that as well, but unfortunately, what I just think is not so black and white is like at the end of the day.

Ashley: 5:00

these basic human rights that some of us believe are basic human rights, and we'll do is reproductive freedom as an example, like it's just not necessarily the case that it's true that we're like oh yes, every single person need things. X needs solved, because there's just a group of people that don't think that. Like, unfortunately, whether we agree that or not, you know what I mean. So I guess I get where the statement saying, like these should just be the truth, people should do this. But it's like, but we're not actually at that point where we're all like hey, this problem needs solved. So I think that's why, like, I just struggle with that slide in general, just a little bit, but mostly that slide I'm like yeah, check, check mark like that's my checks out to me.

Sara: 5:34

No, I appreciate your viewpoint because I think you're looking at it as like from a very, very, very realistic standpoint, like, whereas me, like I'm like well, of course, like obviously, like everyone should care about this, like human rights are, you know, for everyone, and especially when it comes to reproductive freedom we all know I'm super passionate about that and like I know that people don't think that everyone deserves reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy. But like, still in my mind I'm like, well, you're wrong, Like blah, blah, blah, blah, and like that doesn't count, and like, okay, like I just feel, like I love your realistic piece to it. I'm I feel like I'm not like there. Yet I'm not like there and like my like political maturity where I can like fully, like sleep well at night, knowing that some people aren't for some human, basic, basic human rights.

Ashley: 6:21

You know what I mean. No, and I like that's the thing is I totally see that side too because, like my belief is, yes, this is just a basic right, but I think where, where my head comes into it, and because this is a topic especially obviously, we had so many conversations around what you know, back in November of 2023, we got to vote on this in Ohio and so, like I talked to the family, I talked to friends about this and, like I truly felt, like I was able to see their point, and then what I was able to do was like help them be informed and help them get educated. And then, guess what, my many of the people who I would have never thought would vote for the reproductive freedom amendment voted yes for that reproductive freedom amendment because they were more informed.

Ashley: 7:01

So for me it's like you're right, it shouldn't be political, but there's misinformation out there.

Ashley: 7:06

There's all this stuff out there. That does unfortunately make some of the stuff political, and so there's an effort that needs to be had around awareness, information, like. And so that's where it's like to your point. I feel like I'm maybe well, first of all, I think you're probably more passionate about the topic than I am. Like I definitely obviously care about it, but so I think that's probably why it might be a little bit harder. But because I feel that way about guns, I'm like how the fuck can anyone even think right, like we should have automatic rifles or whatever weapons? But yeah, so I think that's more. For me it's like do I agree that it should be political? No, but do I get why it is?

Sara: 7:42

Right, yeah, that's. That's a great way to sum it up, and I think, like I love this statement that caring about human rights is not political because everyone should have their basic human rights. That is accurate and a vacuum. Yes, if everyone has the same amount of correct information. Yeah, and you know what I mean. Like, that is that is in a perfect world, which, of course, we all know we don't live in. Yeah, so that is why it is political, because we're not in that beautiful, perfect vacuum.

Ashley: 8:12

But I do think in general that statement I don't think anybody would bucket that.

Sara: 8:14

Yeah, right, yeah, people be like yeah everyone should have rights.

Ashley: 8:17

That's for sure, for sure. Agreed right, that's like a pretty agreeable statement, yeah, okay. So let's move on to the next one. Yes, because this is the one.

Sara: 8:24

I feel more strongly about yeah, I'm pumped, just get out of here.

Ashley: 8:28

So the second slide of that post said being able to not care about politics is a privilege, and this is not the first post that we've seen that. So is that? I mean, this is like flies all over the internet. We've talked about this before, like through our own posts, through different episodes, but this is the one I hate and this is probably what really, when I like looked at the overall post, like this was the one, I was like I can't stand that part.

Ashley: 8:48

Like that part to me is what is too black and white, right For sure for sure. In some cases it is an absolute privilege to not care about politics or to purposely not pay attention. There are people out there who lived very privileged lives, who can do that and they do do that, and that is a privilege. But for many, many cases, most Americans are just trying to survive Caring about politics, engaging in it, being informed, fighting for issues or candidates you care about.

Sara: 9:16

This takes time, or it takes money or it takes both, as we have both realized so over the past year and a half during this podcast and that is just not something everyone has and that's not even fair to expect everyone to have that.

Ashley: 9:28

So, you know, I just always think back to, like the single mom, the individual on their own struggling with mental health, like a hardworking person who maybe has multiple jobs just to pay their bills.

Ashley: 9:38

Like is it really fair for us to say, oh hey, you single mom over there who's literally doing like everything you can to pay your bills, raise your kids, put food on the table, barely has two seconds to herself before bedtime.

Ashley: 9:51

Like is it really fair to say you're so privileged because you don't say up to date on news or you don't care about politics? Like I just think that's so extremely out of touch. Like and you know, and like I'm fortunate I am privileged, I'm not in that situation, but like I can empathize and think about the people that are, and I just think that's just such an unfair thing to say. So I don't know. Like I said, I think there are definitely cases where this is true for so many people, especially like probably like middle class, upper middle class, you know, upper class but it's just such an unfair statement and such a black and white, non nuanced view of something that it really kind of triggers me for some reason, I'm not even sure why it triggers me because, like I said, I'm not like in that situation, but I just think it's so unfair.

Ashley: 10:31

I think is what it comes down to.

Sara: 10:32

Yeah, no, I. I admire this a lot about you, ash, because I feel like you take a more holistic view and like everything, and it is absolutely showing here. Like I read this statement and immediately, like I am we know I'm a passionate person. We know I get fired up about things and when that happens I don't take a lot of time to think through the statement, what it's saying, what, like you know the ifs, the, the butts and all that come with it. So, like I read a statement like, oh yeah, being able to not care about politics is a privilege.

Ashley: 11:07

Hell, yeah, like, oh, my God, you know what I mean. Yeah, everyone care about this. Which I mean like, honestly, that is that passion is good, Like it is, it's a good thing. Sure, you know, and like, especially for like some things, like we just talked about reproductive freedom like oh, my God, yeah, you wipe out, you don't care about my body.

Sara: 11:22

or like you want to control it even though you have no idea, like what I go through on a monthly basis, like sure, but like I love that single mom example. Like I grew up with a single mom and that's she had three jobs at some point and like you better believe she wasn't keeping up on everything that was going on, because that's an unfair ask, yeah, um, and so I just think that's such a great like counterpoint to this, because I mean, and I think a lot of people that I know would read that statement and be like yeah like it's a privilege.

Sara: 11:53

Oh, and it's great that we're able to recognize, especially in your well, when this drops it'll be 2024. But it's really great to just the recognition that our society has been able to have our own privilege. But I mean, there's a, there's a lot of counterpoints around it and I absolutely agree with everything you said.

Ashley: 12:14

I think, too, like this. This is also something. I didn't kind of write this down for our notes for the episode, but this is something I kind of thought about even as I was like typing all this stuff out and just trying to like organize my thoughts on it, the I think this has something to do with social media culture as well. Right, like you can't just you can't talk about these really nuanced topics in a short, like a short media platform, like something that requires you to be succinct in 30 seconds or 60 seconds, something that, like you know, a follower, someone's gonna swipe right by if it's like too lengthy or too complicated. So I think that's part of the issue of talking about these really complex things on social media. But social media has a lot of benefits, too, for political purposes.

Ashley: 12:57

So, I mean, I get it. I think there's a balance, but that's why I think topics like these and like the just anything that has a lot of nuance, like it should be talked about in more long-term formats like a podcast or yes, you know, maybe a lengthier video, a YouTube video, something that like, where you can actually kind of get into the details.

Ashley: 13:13

I think part of this just comes down to like social media culture right, you need to make it in five slides that are gonna fit on a carousel. Your description can't, you know, your post comments or whatever caption can't be more than two paragraphs, like right, it all kind of comes down into that, but I think that's why part of the reason we see these like very black and white statements on social media.

Sara: 13:35

No, that's. That's such a fair point, and I think that ties directly to cancel culture, and that's one of my points for one of the other slides here. But I also think like this is used as a guilt tactic. Oh for sure, you know what I mean.

Ashley: 13:49

And I don't love that. I think that's my point around shame earlier, like I think it causes some shame.

Sara: 13:55

Yes, exactly, and so and I think this is what I was feeling prior to this podcast and getting into politics and, you know, feeling comfortable, taking like it bite-sized, you know, just a little bit at a time because, like like pre-podcast era, would read this and be like yeah, like totally agree with this, but like I don't have a stance on X, y and Z. And now I feel all this pressure and to go out and do this research where I don't feel like I have time or the or the, or just don't know how to do. It's intimidating, it's overwhelming. But now I feel like shit, because I feel like I should have a stance on this and this Instagram post is telling me that I have privilege, which I know I have a lot of but like it is just like it's encouraging people to get into politics, which is great, but also in a shameful way, which shame is like the shame and guilt, like the worst fucking emotions you can feel yeah, and I think it's like very reactionary yeah you know?

Ashley: 14:52

so it's just yeah, so anyway, this, you know, this slide was triggered for me, so I have a couple of reports on this slide, so go for it. The second reason that I just don't love this statement is because, even if you're a very engaged person, which I would like to think at this point well, we are, you know, we say, up to date on current news. You give to a few orgs you care about which I know we both do we volunteer our time, a ton of it, to produce and research for this podcast. Like you know, just taking us as an example, but I think basic human rights crisis is especially the current events like the war in Gaza. They come along and even with as engaged we are and as read up as we are, like we feel zero percent informed about this whole situation. I don't feel informed enough at all to make a statement.

Ashley: 15:37

We, as a USS podcast is an Instagram account Like we have not made a single statement on this. We've shared a few general things on, like obviously, we think the loss of human life is like abhorrent, things that are happening to these people are awful, you know, just in general, like humans should not be suffering. Like that's the general, I think, extent of kind of what we shared. But you know, I just like, obviously we wish the fighting would stop, we wish this would stop.

Ashley: 16:04

But I think we have a responsibility being a political account where people come and they get information from us Like they do. I mean, we have followers we know use us as, like you know the way that they're learning or the way that they're consuming kind of current or local news. Like we have a responsibility to not share misinformation. We have a responsibility to not, I think, give an opinion on a topic we're not, you know, informed enough about or educated about. And so for me, at this point, like I feel that we are being more responsible by not making a statement than by we would be by making a statement, and I don't feel like that's a privilege, I feel like that's being a good citizen. Like we are not the experts on this topic. There are other people who are, and I'm so thankful for them, and people should get their information from them, not from us.

Sara: 16:48

Right. Like we recognize every topic Right, we recognize that we don't feel like we have enough information to make a statement. We don't feel comfortable making a statement. We don't feel comfortable with people coming to us and asking our opinion and therefore adopting, potentially, our opinion on this crisis.

Ashley: 17:07

And it's not because, like, we don't want to, it's just because we have spent our past year, year and a half like looking at things like democracy, reform or reproductive freedom or local government. Like we are not foreign policy experts, we don't know anything about the history of Israel and Palestine, like, so I just think it's unfair for every account out there, every human out there, every single individual, to have to make a statement or be engaged on a topic Like I think that's an unfair statement to be like you're privileged for not saying anything. No, I'm not informed.

Sara: 17:38

Yeah, yeah, and you're trying to be informed, like that's the thing. Yeah, it's not like we haven't tried. How much have you read up on this?

Ashley: 17:44

Because I've looked at a ton of stuff, I've read a ton of stuff and at the end of the day, I've come back to the same thing. I just want people to stop being like, dying and killed. I want people to stop being, yes, killed. I want people to stop living in like literally, like fear, terror, like with disease and no water and no food, like you want human suffering to end, right, but that's like the extent of my statement.

Sara: 18:05

Yeah, yeah. I think this Gaza example is so perfect for this example or for this episode, because I have felt so much guilt about the Gaza thing and not saying a statement anywhere. But I mean, like you said, like I just straight up don't feel comfortable and I've been reading so much, I've been listening to podcasts about it and I still come out like like I literally listened to an episode where Hillary Clinton, who was like very I don't even remember the title, but she was so involved.

Ashley: 18:32

She was Secretary of.

Sara: 18:32

State, yes, so involved in foreign affairs. And you watched, madam Secretary.

Ashley: 18:36

Oh, she was Secretary of State.

Sara: 18:39

She makes a guest appearance on Madam Secretary.

Ashley: 18:41

Oh, that's cool. One more inside of her freedom watcher. Oh my gosh, it is on my list it is on my list.

Sara: 18:45

I watched Scandal, which we'll do a debrief episode on that. Yes, yeah, we do, we do a Scandal episode. But I literally just like she's even like this is complex. Hillary Clinton, yeah, who ran for president. She's like this is complex, yeah, and I was listening to and I'm just like, oh my God, I need to like pause every 10 seconds and look up these terms, look up these like different parts of the world, and it's so much.

Sara: 19:08

And back to like our previous point from the last slide, like it's not a totally fair ask for everyone to be totally informed about literally everything. And I feel like social media has made me feel guilty because I'm like I feel like we should say something, but like all I have to say right now is like I don't want innocent people to be dying, yeah, and I just want this all to stop and that is all I feel comfortable putting out into the world, yep exactly, and I think, and I think that's so fair, like I think it's unfair and that's why I hate this statement so much of like it's a privilege, like I just oh, there are a lot of privileges, we have a lot of privileges.

Ashley: 19:44

Absolutely, I don't think choosing to not take a stance on an issue or being apolitical about something is always a privilege. I think that's just such a yeah, unfair statement.

Sara: 19:54

And I also think this is like the exact reason why I've been scared of politics my whole entire life. You know what I mean? Because I feel like I like have had so much guilt and shame and I just didn't think I was like smart enough to understand this, and kind of the cause of thing is like proving that I mean I know I'm smart and intelligent, but like it's just so complex and I just always felt like well, I don't want to say the wrong thing, so I'm not going to say it at all. And that was my stance for like 25 years of my life.

Ashley: 20:19

And think about this. People study, like the Middle East, form policy in that area, like they study that, like for a long time they make careers out of just understanding that those dynamics, those situations like it is just so unfair to like expect average Americans who have day jobs and kids and families and a life to like also have a stance on certain things.

Sara: 20:40

Now I think if you don't go out and vote about reproductive freedom in Ohio and because you're a male who just doesn't have to worry about it, that's privilege Agreed.

Ashley: 20:52

Yes, your local politics that impact you. Like you don't have to be super informed, but you know an election's coming up. Just the general like right, Single mom can at least say, okay, I need to go out and stay. And I say that I mean I know there's nuances to that too, because you're working maybe on the sitter, Like there are absolutely things that barriers to vote into. But you know, I think if you can try to make a plan and whatever, yes, being informed or making a stance or having an opinion on wars that are overseas, I just I just think that's so unfair to say that's a privilege, yeah, so okay, Do you want to move on to the next slide?

Sara: 21:25

Let's do it All right, that was the real controversy.

Ashley: 21:27

Yeah, yeah, the rest of these are kind of a breeze. Okay, so the third slide said being a political is a political statement, which I don't feel like we have to go super deep on this, because for me it's just. Like you know see my notes from above, right, like you know it's, it comes down the same thing as like is it a privilege, is it a political statement? I think it's just if it's someone out there surviving, like, it's not necessarily a political statement. They're just living their lives. So I won't go down there. I have a whole again.

Sara: 21:53

but yeah, I have a very relevant story for this point. One of my very best friends has a new significant other and I recently met him and I was so excited to meet him and at one point the podcast got brought up and obviously like say, it's a political podcast and he's going to kind of just hold your breath and hope for the best from there. I'm like no, I knew it was going to be a fine conversation, but my friend significant other was like oh, so what do you think about your friend being a political? And I was like, well, immediately my friend was like I'm not a political. Blah, blah, blah, blah which I agree with.

Sara: 22:32

I don't think they're a political, but my exact response was well, they care about things when it comes to like, human rights, and that's what matters most to me. Yeah, I know this person is, you know, pro abortion, you know, all for reproductive freedom or all for LGBTQ plus rights, all for trans rights, like things that I view as human rights, and I don't I mean, I think that I can guarantee you my friend wants the innocent killing of people, and just killing of people in Gaza and Israel and power everywhere to stop Right, and I don't know what they want their tax rate to be, probably lower, Like you know what I mean.

Ashley: 23:11

Maybe they don't give a shit about economic policy, but they do care about certain things Exactly, and it was.

Sara: 23:19

It was the perfect story. It literally just happened a few weeks ago and so, yeah, it was funny. Like our whole kind of synopsis of this episode is it depends, yeah, and so my friend checks the boxes of what I want the people that I surround myself with to care about. Yeah, and like that, that's fine from there.

Ashley: 23:38

And just back to that point like as a human we can't solve or care about every single one of these issues. Like he has a certain things you know he would care about he would go vote for. Like to me that's not being a political, he's at least engaged in the things that he cares about. Like I think that is a very fair thing for people to like be involved in. Yeah, I agree. Okay, last one here before we kind of wrap this. So the last slide said but I don't post political stuff to social media.

Ashley: 24:05

I love this one. So this one is so interesting to me because I think I looked at it from like a individual, like just a normal human who like posts, their you know, their dog, and like their kid or whatever they have at home like their pet their beer.

Sara: 24:19

They drink whatever. It's so funny that you said dog, because you have cats and you just immediately went to dog.

Ashley: 24:24

I don't post nobody posts about their cats. I post about dogs.

Sara: 24:27

I feel like let's be real. Okay, there's definitely more dog. Yeah, oh my God.

Ashley: 24:32

But whatever. So I pictured that, but then what I really want to you was like nobody cares, like I'm not nobody, like I shouldn't say nobody cares. What I really want to was like I feel like this to me hits more home for, like people who have followings, influencers, business accounts, like stuff where maybe the public expects you to make a statement. Yeah, so where my head went was like what really is the responsibility of an influencer or someone with a large following, like, do they have a responsibility? In some of these cases, I think I think it goes back to the same thing we felt about, like the war in Gaza. I think not posting about it or making a statement like can be the responsible move.

Sara: 25:08

Mm-hmm.

Ashley: 25:09

I think words and information matter, that if we haven't learned that in the last Six years, I don't know what we've learned right. Um, but back to my point. Just, I think, like if there's someone out there with a following who's not like educated or informed, I think they're better off not speaking on it.

Sara: 25:24

Yep, you know. Yep, so, and I alluded to cancel culture earlier like I think the cancel culture feels fuels this so much. Yes, and really forces people to feel like they have to make a statement on everything, which I get in some cases, but not everything. Like that's a lot of pressure and a lot to ask of people, but like I totally respect and Encourage, like famous people with followings, like I know, kerry Washington is like always trying to get people to vote. That's amazing. We love Kerry. I was gonna say. Does you think we should ask Kerry to come on the pot?

Sara: 25:59

Oh my god, I would die.

Ashley: 26:03

We'll put her on her wish list.

Sara: 26:04

Oh my god, we made it 2024 wish list we did for guests currently adding Kerry Washington BRB, but I know also for, like the 2020 election. There were so many famous people that were like taking pictures with their voting stickers and like, hey, get out and vote. And I think that's Wonderful. I think famous people should use their platform on things that they feel comfortable sharing about, informed enough to share about, and that's great. But I think it does create the cancel culture, creates this pressure and expectation to do it for everything when, like to your point, not everyone may feel comfortable doing so and then if they say one wrong thing, blown up, and then what they were trying to avoid, they're canceled anyway. Yeah, you know what I mean and, like we're all just human and sure, I have definitely canceled people, you know, have you know, bought into council cancel culture? But it's usually like more extreme black and white cases to me where, like you know, like people don't think I should have bodily autonomy, that I'm like, oh, screw you know.

Ashley: 27:02

I'm like literally they're charged like criminally or like me. I'm extreme, yeah, yeah, I think, and I think that's a good example. I think like it's so different to be like pro-democracy Go, go, vote, call your legislature like right. Those are totally different public statements than coming out on like the war on Gaza or you know, even like even some of the I don't know I'm. I can't think of like a good hot button issue but, like you know, or even endorsing a candidate.

Ashley: 27:30

Maybe like as a huge platform with three million followers, and then you don't want to endorse a candidate, that's fine. Yeah, if you want to encourage people to do their research and vote that's great, you know like.

Ashley: 27:39

I just think that's like totally different and I do think I think you're right. I think that is like a very Easy thing for people to do. I don't, I don't. I think it kind of is a I'm going back to what the slide says. What's the slide say? Like I don't post political stuff to social media. I think to me that's not political. That comes back to like the statement I think being like Pro for voters, like pro, like that's not political, like engaging in democracy is not political to me. So you know, post that stuff. But I think posting chili political stuff, I just don't think it's everyone's responsibility.

Sara: 28:09

Yeah, yeah you know for sure, it's fair.

Ashley: 28:11

I think we can all care about the issues we care about. Like somebody has to Out there fighting for those. We can't do it all. We talked about that. Every, every Person who's come on here who's been like an advocate for something, what have they told us? Pick your one issue. Yeah, you know like it's not fair for everyone to have to pick 20. You can't. You can't make change or make an impact if you care about 20 issues.

Ashley: 28:30

I mean, maybe you can if you have no other job yeah yeah, but, like for the most part, pick your one issue and, like, make that impact. I just think it's very unfair to always assume that it's a privilege or whatever it comes down to with.

Sara: 28:44

And especially like with social media. I think like there are definitely some people that, or there's definitely a lot of cases where people are like Okay, I'm passionate about this, I agree with this political stance. I'm not gonna post it because X, y and Z family member follows me or you know, like just you have no idea what's going on in people's lives.

Sara: 29:02

Or maybe they deleted their instagram app trying to get off social media and you just don't see them post for a while like, oh, why are they posting about this? There's a billion and 10 reasons for why people can't be posting, so we can't just Assume and get pissed about they are. Get pissed at people for not posting about, like, something political happening in the world. Yeah, I tell you on social media.

Ashley: 29:23

I totally agree. And I'll just wrap this by saying I think, like the other thing with this is so this is like such a funny thing that I think about all the time. Nobody knows if you're not posting, nobody cares. Yes, so shitty to say, but everyone is focused on their lives, on what they're doing. If you never make a political statement from your personal account, like Most people in the world will never know, they won't even think about it, they won't even realize it. If you do make a statement, then it probably carries some weight. So back to like you should be informed, you should be educated and if you are, then great and you found, when you want to make that statement, make that statement right. But I just think this pressure to make the statement like I just I don't think I should be there.

Ashley: 29:59

I agree, totally agree, all right. So Sarah and I agreed we would summarize this in a few sentences, this whole discussion, all right. So here's my thoughts in two sentences. I think being a political or non-political Can be a political statement, but I don't think it intentionally is. For many people it's so nuanced, it's not black and white and, like most things in politics, it depends which Sarah has deemed our sub tagline under bringing women and kindness into politics.

Sara: 30:30

You know that she stands bringing women and kindness into politics. It depends.

Ashley: 30:36

Well, it's kind of like uh, pancy politics always says like it's nuanced. Yeah, yeah, keep it nuanced, y'all.

Sara: 30:40

Yeah, yeah, that's it. I love it. Yep, that's my, that's my, uh, overall statement as well. I'm I'm so back and forth, because every statement I could make a different argument based on what issue we're talking about. Um, so, yeah, it depends.

Ashley: 30:56

And I think that's it. Thank you, guys for tuning in. We hope you enjoyed the first episode back and we'll catch you next week. Happy 2024.

Sara: 31:08

Thanks for joining us for today's episode. We really appreciate the support.

Ashley: 31:12

We would also really appreciate it if you hit the follow button and share this episode with anyone you think would enjoy it.

Sara: 31:17

And we'd like to thank kevin tanner, who edited this episode. If you're interested in learning more about him and his services, his website and instagram are in the show notes.

Ashley: 31:25

With that, we'll see you next week. Are we ready? Yeah, all right, so look, we're ready.

Sara: 31:47

Happy 24, 2024. That is Happy 24, guys. Happy 24th birthday to the. What is it century? Is that 100 years To the century of 2000.

Ashley: 32:04

Well, 2024 is bc, so after christ, so I believe is actually what we're talking about Today. We are gonna dive into the topic.

Sara: 32:17

Okay, I just Sorry, I threw us off.

Ashley: 32:22

All right. Anyway, guys, today we are gonna dive into the topic of being a political. Why is that weird? So, sarah, share this. Um, so share it. Share, kevin. We've only had half a beer, I swear literally half.

Sara: 32:45

Oh my god, that's so funny. You moved the h that doesn't exist in my name. No, I moved the share because it was shared after.

Ashley: 32:54

So I moved that to share. So share, share and just crushed. It's like when you just share it, you shared it. You're just trying to be a fish that's gonna be cool, okay, okay, under brie witness witness, I just combined women and kindness. Oh, fuck me.