Political

 Since I'm limiting any social media posts to pictures from this trip and keeping my opinions out of that spotlight, I thought I'd offer an observation here. One that no one will likely read.

Those who complain about a person being "too political," or being political at all, are almost universally complaining more truthfully about ideas being expressed that challenge or run contrary to their own. They are saying that such expressions force them to consider or reflect upon their own ideas, maybe even reconsider them. This becomes internalized as criticism. What if they're wrong? Are they being told they're wrong? This puts them on the defensive, suggesting that they might be wrong and another right when they themselves believe themselves to be correct and the speaker in question is wrong. It would be more honest to say, "I don't like having my beliefs/ideas challenged by those who express different or opposing beliefs and ideas." Of course, that sounds close-minded, which it is. So instead they insist that everyone who doesn't agree with them or share the same ideas should make them more comfortable by keeping what they think to themselves. It's an ultimately self-centered and largely narcissistic way of being in the world.