What I Voted For
Living in the deep south is difficult for me. Even working at an institution of higher education, I run into people whose minds are not even open the small fraction that mine is.
As a result of the last two days, I have a few things to say.
I voted for the issues I believe in, and I believe in hope, compassion, conversation, and being up front about the realities of getting things done, among other things.
I voted for someone who makes me want to believe in myself and this great nation of ours: that we *can* come together, and he will work so that we do. I voted for me, I voted for all "us" and no "them."
I voted for earned money, not the in-law's money.
Spin-off: I voted for people who can remember how many houses they own, because if you don't know how many houses you own, you can never pretend to know how to relate to me.
I voted for the calm, composed gentleman, not the cranky, red-faced old fart.
While my husband and I believe John McCain may have some good intentions, we also believe he is way too deeply infused into the Republican party to be a real maverick. And there are some issues I just don't compromise on.
If you think I made my decision based on emotions, then you are partially right: I don't vote for someone who can't make me feel.
If you think I based my decision on how well someone can come across as presidential: you're damn right. If I'm going to send someone to represent me across the borders and across the oceans I want him to command respect and attention, in his bearing, in his tone, and in the words he uses.
And if you think I didn't look things up for verification before I made this decision, then you don't know me.
And if you're a stupid white redneck who is scared because a black man won the white house: you should be. I'm hoping that this presidency will reveal the hidden -isms in us all, open up conversations that stopped happening some 30 odd years ago, and maybe we can make some real progress towards combating the racism and prejudice that still exists today, even as others would have you believe that this election proves it does not in the US.
Election ugliness: My 8-year old child came home from school one day thinking that if Barack Obama were elected, he was going to make all the whites slaves.
A mock election was held at her elementary school, and the ILP teacher had to send a full page letter explaining the *mock* election because apparently some parents got all bent out of shape. Our girl was chosen to participate as Sarah Palin - we were all for it! Of course, now she's upset because she didn't win the big election, although they won at school.
My husband's best friend from high school sent us a very offensive joke about first ladies, creation and evolution. If he were my friend, he'd get an earful, oh how he would! But I cannot reject my husband's friend for him. (my spouse does not have a working e-mail, in spite of the 2 or 3 I've set up for him, so his bud communicates through me).
As a result of the last two days, I have a few things to say.
I voted for the issues I believe in, and I believe in hope, compassion, conversation, and being up front about the realities of getting things done, among other things.
I voted for someone who makes me want to believe in myself and this great nation of ours: that we *can* come together, and he will work so that we do. I voted for me, I voted for all "us" and no "them."
I voted for earned money, not the in-law's money.
Spin-off: I voted for people who can remember how many houses they own, because if you don't know how many houses you own, you can never pretend to know how to relate to me.
I voted for the calm, composed gentleman, not the cranky, red-faced old fart.
While my husband and I believe John McCain may have some good intentions, we also believe he is way too deeply infused into the Republican party to be a real maverick. And there are some issues I just don't compromise on.
If you think I made my decision based on emotions, then you are partially right: I don't vote for someone who can't make me feel.
If you think I based my decision on how well someone can come across as presidential: you're damn right. If I'm going to send someone to represent me across the borders and across the oceans I want him to command respect and attention, in his bearing, in his tone, and in the words he uses.
And if you think I didn't look things up for verification before I made this decision, then you don't know me.
And if you're a stupid white redneck who is scared because a black man won the white house: you should be. I'm hoping that this presidency will reveal the hidden -isms in us all, open up conversations that stopped happening some 30 odd years ago, and maybe we can make some real progress towards combating the racism and prejudice that still exists today, even as others would have you believe that this election proves it does not in the US.
Election ugliness: My 8-year old child came home from school one day thinking that if Barack Obama were elected, he was going to make all the whites slaves.
A mock election was held at her elementary school, and the ILP teacher had to send a full page letter explaining the *mock* election because apparently some parents got all bent out of shape. Our girl was chosen to participate as Sarah Palin - we were all for it! Of course, now she's upset because she didn't win the big election, although they won at school.
My husband's best friend from high school sent us a very offensive joke about first ladies, creation and evolution. If he were my friend, he'd get an earful, oh how he would! But I cannot reject my husband's friend for him. (my spouse does not have a working e-mail, in spite of the 2 or 3 I've set up for him, so his bud communicates through me).