My momma wrote a beautiful blog post. It made me cry, so I wanted to share my thoughts and link you up to hers.
The person I respect and admire most in this world is my mom. She taught my brothers and I to live by one rule more than any other, “Live your life with humility. Think about how it feels to be in other peoples' shoes.” My brothers and I were never spanked, instead we were sat and talked to. My mom would explain that what we had done hurt other people (my brothers, her, my dad, etc.) and that worked. I didn't like to be hurt, so why would I want to hurt other people? I think it turned out well, I was never in trouble at school, haven't even thought about touching drugs or a cigarette, have never been drunk in my life, have a good job, a wonderful husband, and a home I am proud to be working to pay for. I am not perfect, but I believe my husband and I try to live our lives the way God would like us to.
I know I am young, and I've only voted for president once, but that doesn't make me ignorant. My husband and I try to be as open politically when it comes to researching what we are voting for as possible. We watched both conventions, have researched both presidential nominees' positions on everything from health care, to the war, to gay rights. Lately we've watched re-runs of Oprah about how our education system is failing, “An Inconvenient Truth” about how we are failing our world, and Michael Moore's “Sicko”, about how we are failing our people. When did it become ok to turn our backs on and forget about those who have less than us because we, personally, may be doing alright?
Most conservatives label themselves as Christian. I am Catholic (which is the first form of Christianity), and the one theme that is threaded though out the bible that stands out to me more than anything else is that Jesus loves everybody. I also learned through my religion that God gave us free-will. I believe that this means that he gives us the choice to make our own decisions, and undoubtedly would allow any woman to make a choice about her own body, or any person to love whomever they fall in love with. Not only does He love us, except us for who we are and the sins we make, but he is unconditionally forgiving. God would want the same opportunities given to the crack addict's son as the CFO's daughter. Where do we miss these key things in America? How is our whole nation “casting the first stone” at same-sex couples, Muslims, pro-choice American's, illegal immigrants, the homeless?
I, unlike my husband, take politics personally. I wish I could place everything into a neat little box and not let it hurt me because they are not speaking directly at me. But I feel like I am failing all these people because I can't stop my country from doing so. I hurt when the McCain camp disrespects Obama for being a “community organizer” who wants to raise our taxes. First of all, if I myself, had to pay $10 (or heck, even $100) more in taxes a year to ensure that everyone in America could have a quality education up through college, premium health care, a roof over their heads and a job to make them feel proud and productive, I would do so in a heart beat. Obama won't raise my taxes though. My husband and I are middle/working-class American's (and no, that's not under $5 million a year, McCain). Our taxes would be cut(along with 95% of Americans), so maybe we'd be able to put some money into savings for our future children.
That's just one of most of Obama's policies that I agree with. I don't think I can name one of McCain or Palin's that I would vote for. If God gave us free-will, where is it anyone else's place to take it away by over-turning Roe v. Wade or only teaching abstinence in schools or by changing the constitution to discriminate against same sex couples? Oh, and who's to say God didn't put the intelligent men and woman on this earth to become scientists to help us cure fatal diseases? How dare any one man stop medical research that could have saved millions of people in the 8 years he has been in office.
When I watched Obama's speech at the convention, I felt like I was watching my generation's Martin Luther King Jr. (and I would say that if Obama where white, purple, green, or black). I felt hope and pride in my country for the first time in a long while. Maybe I can do something for my not-so-lucky American brothers and sisters by voting this November. Maybe I can make our nation a better place.
16 comments:
Oh my! I am so very, very proud of you!!
I agree with you on that.....I am split and am not sure which way I will vote but.....my son gave me a quiz and I think my beliefs are very democratic.
Love yours and your moms posts
I'm no american citizen and I don't live in the States. Yet your elections have my interest too of course. The United States is a superpower, so their President will influence the world.
Your mother send me over here. I can understand why she is proud of you! I liked both your blogposts, not because if I could vote I would vote Obama too, but because both your blogposts are well thought over and reasonable. How could anyone with community sense ever vote for McCaine? Whatever the outcome you and your mother will vote with your hearts and take responsability. Let's hope that every American citizen does.
Your Mum is a good and fine person and she has raised you to be a good and fine young woman. Rachaelxo
YES, YES, and YES again. How did the McCain/Palin ticket get ahold of the whole family values thing? They so do not represent me or my family and our values. And we are a working class "regular" family struggling to make ends meet. Thanks to both you and your mom for putting it so well.
Obama/Biden in '08!!! YEAH!!!
Teresa
That is a beautiful post! Amen! and it gives me hope to know that there are young people like you and your husband who are smart and caring and responsible adding their votes in this very important election. God bless!
Smiles, Karen
Hi! I've not visited your blog before, but when your mom gives such raving reviews...well, I just HAD to come by!
I am grateful to hear a young person who has thought through the issues on her own and has arrived at her own conclusions, rather than parroting what parents, media, or anyone else thinks.
I have no clue who I'll vote for this election...but I too feel that regardless who becomes the next president, this country will have God to answer to...and we have been so richly blessed...truly God did not give us these blessings to bully other nations or squelch the rights (gay or otherwise) of one another?!?
I am reminded of the scripture, "To whom much is given much is required." We have all been given the privilege and blessing of being able to vote...we need to do so in an informed and intelligent manner.
Thanks so much for posting your heart and your position...you (and your generation) give me great hope for our country!
That was beautifully written! Your mom should be proud!
I'm glad you and your husband are intelligent, informed voters. It makes me sad to see people not voting because they don't think it matters, or because they don't want to be bothered with it. It especially bothers me to see women and black people not voting, after all the sacrifices their ancestors made to get them the right to vote. It's too valuable a right to waste.
I've been voting for 16 years now, and have always voted Democrat. I feel the Republicans have turned the gay marriage issue into a way to distract the public from the real issues affecting this country - the war, the economy, health insurance, the housing bust.
Gay people have existed since the beginning of time, and they're going to continue to exist (and live together like married couples) whether gay marriage is illegal or not.
And, how can anyone say gay people are "destroying the sanctity of marriage", when 50% of marriages ( heterosexual marriages, because gay marriages are for the most part illegal) end in divorce? A loving, solid gay couple who has been together for decades can't get married in most of the U.S., but people like Britney Spears can go to Las Vegas and get married and divorced (simply because she married a man) all within the course of a couple of days. Doesn't that seem screwed up?
P.S. I've never smoked, or gotten drunk either - glad to see I'm not so "weird", LOL! : )
Well written! Your mother has a right to be proud of you! She raised you with dignity and respect and it shows!
I came over from your Mom's blog. You very eloquently stated my feelings, too.
I've just hopped over from your Mums blog. What a lovely tribute to your Mum your first few lines are, she comes across as a lovely person, and you've just confirmed it!
I'm British, but while not directly involved with your politics, America and Britain being such close allies means the outcome of the election does impact us, and we follow it all very closely here.
In my opinion, Obama would be such a step forward for America!
Hi Martha, Just letting you know that I tagged you on my blog. The rules are on my Septembef 12th post. Don't feel obligated though. Just do it for the fun of it. I would love to learn more about you. Thanks.
This is a really great post. Any time I post politics on my blog, I tend to get angry and rant. So it's nice to see a different perspective; one of hope, compassion, and good will rather than the despair and fear that tend to overtake me when I think of what our country will be if McCain/Palin win. Thanks for giving me a bit of a lift today! BTW, I'm thankyoulocust on Ravelry. I'm in KFO too!
Thank you, thank you! Your words are truely inspirational and I also read your mother's. You both should be so very proud, very proud of each other. As I mentioned on your mother's blog ...I just can't understand why anyone would not vote for Obama. I would like to believe that in this age, in this time that we can put aside our petty beliefs and vote for someone who will carry this country into a new beginning. A new beginning that we deperately need. We need to look at one another, not with our differences; but as one human being to another. No one is gay, no one is white, no one is black. We are just all human beings voting for the best candidate, the best person to lead this country!
Very well written! I totally agree with you.Thanks, Lynn
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