It’s unreal, I know, yet tomorrow will mark my one year anniversary as an Evening Sun columnist, a fact I find hard to believe considering just how quickly the time seems to have flown by. Over the course of that year, I’ve managed to keep things lively, if you ask me, seeing as I’ve opined on everything from alien invasions (back in October of 2010) to the political arena (every other week or so), text messaging and cell phones, Hollywood’s lack of originality and – when the mood strikes me – my own, personal life experience.
I’ve seemingly “run the gamut,” so to speak, and as Jerry Garcia and his fellow bandmates would’ve said ... what a long, strange trip it’s been.
It’s also been a hell of a lot of fun ... and that’s the honest truth.
In fact, about the only topic I haven’t covered in detail (unbelievably) is the probability of the upcoming zombie apocalypse which, of course, you know I’m going to have to tackle in the (very) near future.
Today, however, I’m simply going to vent for a bit on America’s current state of affairs, which seems more and more depressing as the days, weeks and months go passing by.
First on my list ... the political circus, what with our commander-in-chief’s apparent lack of, how shall I say, putting some muscle where his mouth is. Not that our present-day mess is all his fault, when the Republican political body as a whole seems content just to sit back, refusing any sort of compromise and yet it still, remarkably, comes out on the other side looking squeaky clean (thanks to a certain “news” network I won’t name here). From top to bottom, it seems our political system is on the verge of breaking down (if it hasn’t already) and that, my friends, is not a good thing.
Consider, if you will, the complete and utter failure of our government when it comes to the rights and liberties of same-sex couples. For the ignorant, “inalienable rights” have been (and probably always will be) a matter of convenience. Sad to say, you can’t have it both ways, people. And no, this isn’t (and should never have been) a religious issue. Bringing religion into a controversial topic such as same-sex marriage is not only idiotic and pointless, it is, in and of itself, unconstitutional. As Americans, each and every citizen of the United States has a right to equal treatment, no matter their faith, sexual orientation, race, color or creed. As for those who continue to argue the case for same-sex couples and their rights, I’d love to see you take an hour out of your busy day, pick up a copy of the Constitution and – paying particular attention to the Bill of Rights – read it ... all the way through.
Then maybe we can talk.
As for the upcoming presidential election, all I can say is this ... can you believe we still have over a year of this nonsense to listen to on a daily (if not hourly) basis no less? I certainly don’t know if I have the stamina to suffer through it, yet suffer I will. Palin running (or not running) for president? Who in their right mind really cares? Michele Bachmann loves God more than Mitt Romney or Rick Perry? Again, I could really give a damn. Obama’s a Muslim, African-born, devil-worshipping, sacrifices-chickens-and-goats-behind-closed-doors kind of guy who landed on Earth in the early 18th century with plans for world domination? Sorry, been there, heard that one already last election.
It’s funny when you get right down to it. I can honestly say I’ve changed quite a bit since that first column 364 days ago. And it’s not that I’m bitter ... really, it’s not. In fact, I find our current state of affairs more than a little ironic, in a somewhat cynical, and we wonder why the rest of the world laughs at us kind of way.
It kind of reminds me of the old adage ... the more things change ... well, you know what I mean.

Follow me on Twitter ... @evesunbrian.