The United States presidential campaign continues to dominate the headlines -- not just in the United States of America, but around the world.  I'm sure there is yet much drama to be played out, many debates to be had, much mud left to be slung... But I've already made an important decision regarding my positioning in this year's election:

I am pulling for the winner.

No, I'm not trying to be cute, or wishy-washy, or non-commital in saying this.  Neither am I claiming to be a prophet or assuming a cocky, arrogant "assurance" of a particular candidate's chances.  But I am saying that I desperately want to move beyond partisan political bickering.  I want to ditch the catastrophizing rhetoric.  I want to avoid becoming a sore loser.  And quite to the contrary of the overly-optimlistic, semi-utopian idealist who thinks that all of America's problems could be solved with the "right" candidate or coalition, I want to just accept the inherrent imperfections of the American political system (which cannot help but copy the pattern of any and every other human institution) and try my best to live my life as contentedly as possible.

I can't tell you the number of times that I've listened to various individuals and groups belittle, back-bite, and bad-mouth a particular administration.  These days, of course, it's very fashionable to pick on George W. Bush.  His "failed economic policies."  His "oil-hungry war-mongering."  His "arrogant imperialism."  And his perceived "general stupidity and simple-mindedness."  It's ridiculous to realize how quickly and with such broad strokes those of the more liberally-inclined population will denounce the President.  Yet at the same time, I can recall many a rant by conservatives against former president Bill Clinton.  It wasn't that long ago that he was the butt of everyone's jokes.  His "philandering, womanizing, immorality."  His "slick political scheming."  His own "military aggression and world-savior complex."  And all that stuff.  The same hyperbole, the same globalization, the same prejudice, the same black-and-whiteism... just a different constituency.

It's politics, polarization, pride, and prejudice at its worst.

For whatever reason, we feel the need to automatically position ourselves against anything or anyone that is not exactly in line with those things which we consider ourselves for.  If you are for Barack Obama, then you are against John McCain.  If you are for John McCain, then you are against Barack Obama.  It's just that simple, isn't it?

Well, I would certainly hope not.  One thing that living abroad has taught me is that the President of the United States of America is my friend (not on a personal basis, of course, but you know what I mean!).  I may or may not have voted for him.  I may or may not agree with his decisions and directives.  His policies may make my life incrementally easier or more difficult.  But at the end of the day, as a citizen of the United States of America, the President of the United States of America -- whoever he or she may be -- is more or less "on my side," serving as the Chief Executive of the government that issues my family's passports, that forges treaties and alliances with the Netherlands (among other countries), and that backs a good portion of my money (not to mention the world economy).  And whatever differences I may have with the politics of the President, the responsibilities of that office demand my respect (again, I'm talking here as a citizen -- though I realize that a great many of people who follow this blog do not fall into the same category).  And while it's true that a good democracy leaves plenty of room for criticism and outspoken opposition, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's always fruitful to mock, gripe, and incite animosity toward "the other side."

At the end of the day, American Republicans and American Democrats are not nearly as far apart ideologically as they might be portrayed to be.  This fall's election is not a choice of good versus evil (however you might want to spin that dial).  Judging from some of the e-mail forwards that get passed around, I know this may be hard for some to believe.  But as for me, I've made up my mind:  I'm going to be on the winning side.