(no subject)
Last night really surprised me. I never thought in a million years that the election would be called so early. We were really taken off-guard by it, but pleasantly so. Then, though, the disappointment set in. I literally felt like the bubble of exhileration I was floating in was popped by watching what was going on with Prop 8. It was kind of a mind-fuck. On one hand I was so excited and actually proud of the fact that our country was able to vote for the best candidate, regardless of race. On the other hand, I was so depressed and let down by the fact that the majority of Californians are willing to change the state CONSTITUTION to create a second-class group of citizens.So, we started looking on line and checking out the return percentages. The early lead seemed to be because the smaller, more rural, counties were returning first. Now, we're hoping for all of those absentee ballots to be counted to help swing it the correct way. I really hope it doesn't pass. The sense of disappointment I feel is so overwhelming as it is. That it would be so close. I don't understand people saying that allowing marriage between two people is special rights. I don't understand how you can classify it that way. This is a huge step backward. And although I do understand that there are cultural influences that account for Latinos and African-Americans voting the way they do, I don't understand how people can forget that not too long ago, they were forced constitutionally to be second-class citizens. But maybe that's what it comes down to is pecking order. That at least they can feel like they are better than someone else? I don't know. Obviously, identity politics are not my strong point-- I'm a white hetero girl from a ritzy suburb in Portland. Doesn't mean I can't be disappointed and sad and angry though.