Concerning Politics, Religion and Pizza

Conventional wisdom says you can talk about anything except politics and religion. Why is this? Why do people get all riled up if you say you like this or that guy running for some do-nothing seat in the senate, but barely raise an eyebrow if you prefer pineapple-anchovy-cauliflower pizza, when the pizza preference is even more an indication of one's true nature?

As for religion, arguing about it is just plain silly, since it's all guesswork and conjecture and nobody knows anything about it for sure. Yet wars are fought, people die and cities burn over one's chosen fantasy concerning how we got here and where we're going next. Things are nutty and about to get nuttier, what with the presidential election in November coming at us with a vengeance and one of the likely contenders a lifelong member of a noisy and growing religious cult. (Oh calm down, all religions are cults: A particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies.)

So before it's too late, I'd like to go on record as saying that I believe anchovy pizza is hands-down the very best, followed by an all-white pizza with lots of ricotta. Black olive and mushroom is also nice. I do think there is a "higher power," but I don't think any of the people dressed in robes or funny hats or standing on pulpits or quoting the Bible, or the Bible itself, have anything to do with it. (Personally I think the Ocean is God, but as far as I know the only person who also thinks this was my mother, and she died in 1981.) I hope Obama is not re-elected in November, not because he's a bad guy--a tad humorless perhaps-- but things have not gone well for the country since he took over, so let's give someone else a chance.