Oh, my aching head

Between this head cold and the elections in Lebanon, my head feels like it's been stuffed full of something two sizes too big.

I'm still doing the one-sided sniffle and have been fighting the corresponding headache all day. I dragged myself out of bed to run to Sultan Center's Wholesale Center to do the weekly shopping. Baba was going to go with me but then the Peanuts were dawdling over breakfast {this surprised him?} so he told me I'd better go alone.

I didn't mind really...I listened to Issues, Etc. on the way and while I shopped. I'm really behind on my listening so it was a good chance to knock out a few segments. The A/C wasn't working too well so I was sweating by the time I was in line. But we now have milk and eggs and a bunch of other stuff so we're in good shape for a bit.

The Boss is through with his end of year exams so we're enjoying a weekend with no revision. Yeah! I'm surfing around and catching up on forums and blogs and being generally lazy.

Then for some reason I decided to check out the news from Lebanon. Bad idea. Bad, bad idea. If you think our elections are bad, just read up on the antics there. You think we sling mud? Oh, baby, just read about them! Apparently they even sling mud at their own constituents! One *Christian* guy was overheard on camera calling his constituents a bunch of dogs and threatened them if they raised any fists during the campaign weekend. Granted, it's good he wants them to behave themselves, but I'm not sure that speaking about them that way is quite the way to go about it. Personally it'd make me more likely to hit someone...probably him.

Considering the turn-out for this election, I'm glad we're not heading there for a couple more weeks. The streets are dangerous enough already {like in Q8, the main prerequisite for a license is the ability to turn off one's brain when behind the wheel of a car} and several thousand more people won't help things any.

The other day I read a quote from one of the movers and shakers said that we must forgive our enemies but only if they are sorry. He based this on what we Christians believe. Funny, but I don't think that's how my Bible puts it. But then again he's in the habit of choosing rather strange bedfellows and I'm sure he's confusing our Christ with their prophet.

I have to say that the more I'm exposed to the politics of my adopted country, the more I believe in the separation of church and state. As much as Republicans and Democrats and their antics can infuriate me, at least they're political parties. They're joined by individuals based upon political beliefs that may or may not be shaped by a person's religious beliefs. In Lebanon it's based upon religion first and then by party. {In the 2nd article it explains the make-up of Parliament and different offices.} Yes, there are different parties but they tend to be organized by religion first and politics second.

Well, I've had enough. I'm going to see if the next episodes of Issues, Etc. are ready to download yet and go do something less exasperating than trying to figure Lebanese politics.