Posts Tagged ‘obama’

I’m a socialist

// November 18th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // politics, relatives

Today’s letters to the editor include more redistribution of wealth will bring ruin of nation anxiety from Knoxvillians. Because I am a trouble maker, I am going to send the author of that letter the cartoon below. Because I don’t want to continue that trouble if the children are in the room, when the extended family gathers for Thanksgiving dinner this year, there will LOTS of subject changing to avoid discussing politics.

one quick political story

// October 31st, 2008 // No Comments » // people, politics

I know I should only be talking about Halloween, but this afternoon I had to make a last minute purchase at the big party store. While standing in line, I watched a teenage girl put on a pair of ridiculously oversized sunglasses and do a little dance. “My President will be a black man. My President will be a black man.” Her joy was contagious. I smiled from earlobe to earlobe. Not only is this the year that people who have felt ignored realize that they matter, this is the beginning of the end of it mattering at all. The teenager wandered off to a different area of the store and a woman in line behind me growled about completely inappropriate behavior in public. If I hadn’t turned around, I wouldn’t have known that the woman was my age, but her skin was the same color as the teenager’s. The woman’s concern was sobering and I felt sad that she knew too much about the hate in this world to celebrate. We can do better. We have to do better.

26 Days

// October 9th, 2008 // 4 Comments » // flickr, politics

our front yard
Shine your light.

you-know-where froze over this week

// July 24th, 2008 // 4 Comments » // politics, relatives

Grandaddy: “Obama WILL be our next president.”

Have you met my father? He is unapologetically as conservative, Republican and Southern Baptist as humanly possible. He also believes every bad thing ever said about Obama. It’s getting weird out there.

And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo-bee

// July 5th, 2008 // No Comments » // people, politics

Me: “Which presidential candidate do you like right now?”
Sarah: “Not the old guy.”
Me: “Why?”
Sarah: “Because he’s OLD.”
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And, the comments that ended a conversation when I had to bite my tongue. Hard.
“I’m surrounded by bleeding heart liberals. If I could vote for GW again, I would in a heartbeat. The good people in this country are not going to vote for a black man.”
- – - – - – -
Sarah’s comment is stupid, but forgivable, because contrary to what she thinks, she is a child. Age doesn’t make a person unfit. If she wants a president who is physically healthy, she should question which candidate is a smoker. The other comments, well . . . I apologize for offending a relative, but that was racist and I believe that the GOOD people in this country can see beyond skin color and gender. A few of the women who are still having a tantrum because Hillary isn’t the candidate are letting their misandry show. I don’t believe that men need to step back and let women have their turn. I have sons AND daughters. I want them all to be treated fairly. Instead of refusing to vote and helping nobody, how about channeling that energy into something that would do good? There are really just two candidates in the presidential race now. Don’t sit back and demand that they convince you who to vote for in this election. Every word and action of the candidates is recorded somewhere. Decide for yourself. I hate seeing politicians pandering to groups in bowling alleys, bars and wrestling matches. The presidential candidates do not “feel” what it’s like to be a middle class American. They are wealthy, educated, well-traveled and socially connected. I want to know how they will lead this country, not how they like their bbq cooked. With the constant media and blogosphere attention, candidates shouldn’t be wasting all that money on ads and attacks on the other candidates. They should raise money and show Americans how they spend it. McCain should be buying body armor for the troops and campaigning for better military benefits. Obama should be building energy efficient schools and campaigning for environmental reform. Wouldn’t it be nice if campaigns did good? “I am no better and neither are you. We are the same whatever we do.”

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