Thoughts on the election
So i find myself amazed and pleasantly surprised this year. It's a new experience for me to vote for the WINNING presidential candidate. I was eligible to vote in 2000, but couldn't get an absentee ballot in time. I would have voted Gore. And I voted for Kerry in 2004.
I find all of the "woe is me/our country" talk humorous and laughable. Most of it comes from Republicans, the same people who put Bush into office 8 years ago and then left him in there again 4 years ago to continue stirring the pot. I've never been a fan of W. I respected him in the weeks and months following 9/11 because that was the one time during his presidency I felt he exercised calm rationality and sound judgment, while we were all calling for blood out of anger and hurt. I never really supported the war in Iraq, but felt that the evidence presented at the time was worthy enough to remove Saddam from power (although I really wonder why we weren't focusing on Afghanistan more). I still don't support the war, but I refused to accept the cries of "bring our troops home now" when we're the ones responsible for complete upheaval in another country and until recently, had no major self-defense infrastructure in place. I feel Obama's presidency will see the end of this war, and will also return to using mediation as a means to achieve our goals instead of "preemptive counterstrikes".
I find it ironic and hilarious that the ones crying "welcome to Socialist America" are devout Christians, whom, by their own religious texts, are to be kind and generous to their neighbors, and to be their brother's keeper. Socialism shouldn't be a bad concept to them; it should be a way for their faith(s) to be realized on a larger, more effective scale. That's not to say that I believe an Obama presidency = socialism in America, but I digress.
In the time I've been a registered voter, an informed, educated member of society, I can say with all of my heart I have never been more proud to be an American citizen/voter. I am glad that America proved me wrong, as I believed racism would rear its ugly head, nullifying Obama's lead in the polls due to the Bradley effect.
And I find it very telling that strong Republican constituencies like Virginia, North Carolina, and New Mexico voted Democrat.
I just hope we find a way to bridge this ridiculous partisanship among our citizenry as we embark on this journey to restore honor and respect to the name United States of America on the global scale.
I find all of the "woe is me/our country" talk humorous and laughable. Most of it comes from Republicans, the same people who put Bush into office 8 years ago and then left him in there again 4 years ago to continue stirring the pot. I've never been a fan of W. I respected him in the weeks and months following 9/11 because that was the one time during his presidency I felt he exercised calm rationality and sound judgment, while we were all calling for blood out of anger and hurt. I never really supported the war in Iraq, but felt that the evidence presented at the time was worthy enough to remove Saddam from power (although I really wonder why we weren't focusing on Afghanistan more). I still don't support the war, but I refused to accept the cries of "bring our troops home now" when we're the ones responsible for complete upheaval in another country and until recently, had no major self-defense infrastructure in place. I feel Obama's presidency will see the end of this war, and will also return to using mediation as a means to achieve our goals instead of "preemptive counterstrikes".
I find it ironic and hilarious that the ones crying "welcome to Socialist America" are devout Christians, whom, by their own religious texts, are to be kind and generous to their neighbors, and to be their brother's keeper. Socialism shouldn't be a bad concept to them; it should be a way for their faith(s) to be realized on a larger, more effective scale. That's not to say that I believe an Obama presidency = socialism in America, but I digress.
In the time I've been a registered voter, an informed, educated member of society, I can say with all of my heart I have never been more proud to be an American citizen/voter. I am glad that America proved me wrong, as I believed racism would rear its ugly head, nullifying Obama's lead in the polls due to the Bradley effect.
And I find it very telling that strong Republican constituencies like Virginia, North Carolina, and New Mexico voted Democrat.
I just hope we find a way to bridge this ridiculous partisanship among our citizenry as we embark on this journey to restore honor and respect to the name United States of America on the global scale.