Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Let me say this about that

Note to readers:  This is my soap box.  If you disagree with what I have to say, move on to the next blog.  (Easy Peasy) I do hope you'll come back, though.
First, let's go back in time to 2011.  It was the day after Thanksgiving and my friend and I were on the circle in downtown Indianapolis for the lighting of the Christmas tree. Some country band was performing.  When they started singing "Proud to be an American," everyone joined in.  Tears streamed down faces.
I am very proud to be an American.  Case in point:  when I went to Paris this past May and read that the French wore black shoes and if you wore anything other than black shoes, they would know you were an American.  What did I do?  I ran out and bought a pair of Paris pink tennis shoes! 
One reason I think America is great is that whenever we want someone to win - we genuinely believe they are going to win. High school basketball, Big Ten football, you name it - if we are cheering for someone, we believe they will win.
Same with this election.  If we are democrats, we can't imagine anyone would vote for Romney.  If you are Republican, you can't imagine anyone voting for Obama. I have an interesting, checkered political past. I was born and raised in Indiana.  In a small eastern-central Indiana town.  Everyone was Republican.  And I do mean everyone.  We cheered the Republicans in our small town parades. When it came time for me to vote at the tender age of eighteen, I registered as Republican.  Of course I did.
Then, my daughter started to show me the light.  I started to lean the other way.  I fell in love with Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton.  I remember being on a plane one time and this guy assumed I was a Republican.  (I think I'm an old hippie and I don't look like a Republican at all.) But this guy starts going off on Nancy Pelosi and how much he hated her and how she should keep her mouth shut.  I smiled and said "I love her."  He didn't speak to me the rest of the flight. Long after Hillary Clinton wasn't elected, my son informed me it was time to take my Hillary for President bumper sticker off my car.  It was tough for me to do.  I peeled it off and stuck it to the mirror in my bathroom where it is to this day.
Five years ago I moved to Bloomington.  If any town in Indiana is blue, it is Bloomington.  Don't get me wrong, we have our fair share of conservative Republicans.  It is almost divided.  But it is divided.  The rest of the state and all of the little towns about the state are red as blood.
I can't tell you exactly what year it was that I started to vote Democrat, but once I did, I didn't turn back.  I asked if I could change how I was registered.  The woman said "it doesn't matter, you can vote however you want." Well, it matters to me.

I am a woman.
My daughter and her wife are gay.
I have a granddaughter.
I believe a woman should have the say as to what she does with her body.
I am a woman and I don't want to be in a binder.
I can't imagine Romney having any of my interests in mind.  Or paying any attention to me.  I am middle-class or lower middle class.  Even though I qualified for "hand-outs" at one point in my life, I never took any.  But shouldn't it be the "Christian" thing to do?  To help those who are less fortunate than we are?  It doesn't seem this is Romney's point of view.  He has made his fortune by swallowing up small companies and putting people out of work.
Yes, I am so Democrat now I can't imagine being Republican.
Funny how that has worked out for me.
This seems to me to be one of the most important elections of my life time.
Do I think my guy will win?  I certainly hope so.
If he doesn't (and this in no way indicates a lack of confidence) I will have to move to Ireland.  Surrender my American status.  It is beautiful in Ireland.  No taxes.  Rain and fog, which I love.  They kind of speak English. Seems like a good idea to me. Plus, I can't stand the sound of Romney's voice and don't want to listen to that for the next four years.
I've already heard rumblings from my Republican relatives that if the Dems win, it is because we cheated somehow.  They haven't even lost yet and they are whining about the Dems cheating.  Please.
May the best man win.

5 comments:

farmlady said...

OK sweetie. I guess this is why the country is sooo divided. No one is willing to compromise. I don't recall the world coming to an end no matter who won the presidency.
Please reconsider moving if Romney wins.
It's still the greatest country in the world.

From the Kitchen said...

I believe the best man did just win!!!!!

Best,
Bonnie

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Gawd girl! I absolutely LOVE you!

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

While I agree with you that Romney was not the best choice now Obama is still in the same mess. The system used to elect a president and all the rest is totally out dated. If an election lasted just a month and candidates were selected a few months before and voting was done using face recognition and modern tech it would be the smartest country. Right now it is being weakened from the outside by dividing people on the inside. The issue of Iran and Israel should matter little in the US .But owrking with India and China should be on the top of the list along with both parties understanding that they must concede to each other in order to maintain internal power. It doesn't take much to incite a mob and begin a revolution. We have examples all the time. It does matter that the media starts being more aware of their impact. Just examine who owns and controls the large media and communication companies!
Glad you were flexible. Now encourage that in others.

Linda said...

Very well said! Excellent points. And....yes.....the best man DID win! So glad you can stay in the USA. Although I wouldn't mind moving to Ireland myself!!

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