THE POLITICS OF KARAOKE

For many years on most fridays, we would mark the start of the weekend by repairing to a dark,dingy and only semi-clean bar to partake in karaoke. We didn't particularly like the place,the owner wasn't very likable and the glasses were only partially clean. But we enjoyed karaoke and we sung and we laughed and we drank and we supported our friend,who ran the festivities each Friday. There were many times when we didn't feel like going. Maybe it was rainy,maybe way cold...but we went because our karaoke guy has helped us in our charity ventures and had been kind enough to cart karaoke equipment to our private parties and events,no charge. We wanted to make sure he had singers and an audience,as this bar was more like a tavern with the same clientele,far from a swinging place that attracted the attractive night life seekers. In the process we got to know the names and idiosyncrasies of the patrons and it became that storied place "where everybody knows your name."

    Our friend who ran the karaoke and the family member with him weekly were very ardent right wingers and we were not. But our political exchanges,rare though they were,were generally good natured and didn't get in the way of friendship or support.

     One day our karaoke guy posted something fictional about a candidate we supported(and he opposed) on the page of a friend. That friend rebuked him and pointed out his error. On my own page,away from this thread,I congratulated that facebook friend for striking a blow against what I termed "republican foolishness" because that's what it was. In very quick order I got a Facebook message made up of the same 2 words that are the title of Ce Lo Green's hit record. I thought it a joke as I didn't see any reason for such an extreme reaction.

        Days later, comments about me were all over Facebook terming me ungrateful and unappreciative and all sorts of other descriptions. Shocked at this over reaction I wrote messages to both the karaoke guy and his relative and told them I didn't understand the reaction and hoped they would attend our upcoming BBQ where no politics would be discussed. I got no response. In fact,the messages became more extreme and I was called names I cannot repeat here. Both these people have extreme hateful Facebook pages that should be on an FBI Watch List yet the relative called to complain about a post on MY FB page that was mild and unassuming ....they were monitoring my page.

      As their moods continued to darken and their actions more unbalanced, I cut the ties and the friendship is no more. We have found a new karaoke place full of light and life with a genial host and clean glasses. We go because we WANT to go,not out of a sense of obligation.

       The owner of the old karaoke place asked one of our number why we've stopped coming. Our friend told the owner of his karaoke host's behavior and that we had found a new place.

 "That's too bad," said the owner.
 And it is too bad. Too bad that a difference in philosophies,thought and what's right for a country we all love ruined what we thought was a friendship.  

     In this election year remember that in our differences,we are united. No matter who we will vote for in November,we will do it for one purpose...for the good of a country we all love.

      As one pal put it, "Politicians come and go but friends are forever."

       Usually.