Monday, November 3, 2008

This is a shout out for some Peace.


Tomorrow is the day. And even in my excitement and awe that our nation is so close to electing this man who has given hope to so many people, I can't let go of the nagging dread of what will follow. More hate, more emails, more false accusations. Threats. Fear. Anger. Hate. I have tried to be respectful throughout this whole process, and keep the tension down from my end, but it is hard not to be defensive. I am not a socialist, and I'm not brainwashed. I won't go through all the reasons why I voted (yep, I wimped out before the big day) for who I did, because I think by now we have all made our choices. I just want anyone who reads this, Democrat, Republican, black, white, stranger, friend, or frenemy to consider that no matter who wins, we have to somehow find a way to come together. We are still neighbors, friends and relatives. I don't mean to be going all kumbaya on y'all... I know that if my chosen candidate doesn't get elected, it will sting. And if he does, it will, in some people's minds, be terrible. For me, I will be dancing in my living room at 3 am, but I know there are many who will be in despair. All I have been hearing for the past 8 years is "you don't have to like our president, but you should respect him". The people who have said that most likely do not support my candidate, so I wonder if that will be the case should he be elected? Does that only apply if the current president is who you chose? If McCain is elected to become our next prez, okay, I will think it sucks. I won't be happy. I may make comments like that he is older than the bendy straw. And if Obama wins, you can make fun of his ears. But I will not go around spreading true hate and anger, I won't. Not even if I think it would feel good. A little sarcasm and snarkiness, maybe, but I won't hate on him. I won't make up stories about him having a love child with Liz Taylor. (Although, click here for that story!)
As if my nagging feeling weren't annoying enough, now I come home from a lovely dinner at my in-laws with more news. My mother in law, who works the polls, bless her, told me that some people are advising parents to keep their kids out of school on Wednesday. It seems that if Obama wins, the black kids are going to go ballistic. And if Obama loses, the black kids are going to go ballistic. Wow. We were both amazed that it's like that here. Some counties aren't letting kids bring book bags to school this week. I'm sorry, I know it's an extremely important time in our history, but really? Is it still this way, really? How very sad.
I guess this is it. Be excited for your candidate. Be disappointed, even pissed off for a while if they don't win. But then get over it and look at our President and say, "Okay, man. I didn't choose you, but here you are. What's it gonna be?" Because spreading hate and anger are not going to do anything positive for our country. They just won't. Think about these people. They all have families that love them, no matter if you agree with them or not. I have heard some scary things in the last few days, and I can't even type it. It makes me sick. I need someone to tell me, from both sides, that you are thinking this way, too. Someone who is not voting with me to meet me halfway and let me know that either way, we are sticking together. I love this country, and I want so much to feel like we are all connected. I don't want to be disillusioned by the negativity that we are facing. Let's just DO THIS THING.
So, who's with me? Anyone?

29 comments:

rebekah said...

I'm with you. My tummy's all butterflies.

Heather O'Pry said...

I'm with you girl. Although I do not agree with your choice for President :). As you said so what if who we choose does not win; suck it up and hope for the best for our country. It should not be a racial issue for anyone, we should all come together and unite. I'm a little worried about the outcome either way. We all just need to stand together and be in prayer that whomever is chosen as our next president will turn our economy around and serve the United States for all of the right reasons!

Kerry said...

We are with you!!!!!!!!!!

voted early this year

I am going to be a nervous wreck tomorrow!!!!

Rachel said...

I'm with ya on the peace! I happen to be voting with ya too;-)

Anonymous said...

I've seen things and heard things these past months that I didn't even realized people still thought or believed. It has really opened my mind to a lot of people. I would like to think at our age people have just grown up, expanded their minds, hearts,thoughts and beliefs but I have found just the opposite to be true. I don't disagree with political disagreements I disagree with the hate, fear, rascism, the HORRIBLE things I have seen in this campaign...it has really changed the way I see people as a whole right now. I hate to say it but I have lost a little faith in the intrinsic "goodness" of people in general. Not to add to the bad vibes about all this...it's just what I have seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears. So...here's to a new page in the book of life. I'm willing to turn it and start over again, though I don't think I can erase all the wrongs I have witnessed recently completely from my memory. I hope we make history tomorrow...I know my soul needs it to heal right now.

Christina said...

Ditto

Anonymous said...

I'm with you. Granted no I did not vote for the same person you did but I am ok with who ever gets it. No matter who gets it all we can do is hope for the best in everything and everyone. Lets stand together an try our best to make the place and people we love safe and peaceful. God Bless the USA and The ones fighthing for our freedom to be able to do what we are all going to do tomorrow or have already done in the past few weeks. Peace to everyone

Kristin said...

I stole your post....but at least I gave you credit for it!!!

Anonymous said...

Heather, you need to send that in to the newspaper....beautifully said. And I am sooooo with you!

Unknown said...

Very well said! I am so nervous and will not sleep tonight or tomorrow, but you are right, whatever happens, we need to come together! Thank you.

cathy said...

I'm half crying with anticipation and half crying for fear of the aftermath. Still, we will unite with the people in this country who have their heads on straight and, regardless of the outcome, press on and keep making this place better than it was yesterday.

Christina said...

Fabulous post, Heather. I'm with you, girl! I say, bring on tomorrow.

Finding Joy said...

Totally there with you, girl. I just posted something similar based on a couple of comments I got recently from people I'm fairly close to about my support for Obama. Either way, it's history for the White House. But I'd rather it be Obama history! :)

Unknown said...

So, my crystal ball says...oh that's right I don't have a crystal ball, otherwise I may not have voted to elect George WTF Bush! Anyway, I am at peace however the chips may fall. The only reason for violence on Wednesday would be if by some riff in the time space continuum, we wound up with 4 more years of W. I might have to destroy something myself.

M and M said...

Totally with you, on ALL matters! I can't wait to stand in line with my little boy and vote today. I'm ready, though, for a snide comment and/or a happy high ^5 for my little brown boy on the eve of this "new tomorrow." That said, no matter what, I'm going to "get along" - it's important, necessary, and the best model I can give my family.

Sprout's House said...

Agreed Heather! Great post!

Anonymous said...

Amen, sister. Just hoping I can make it to the polls and get my vote in. The lines were too long in 'early' voting. So today, we take it in shifts to see if we can both get our vote in.

I'm very sad too with the negativity. Give who ever wins a chance to make a difference. The respect due someone in that office.

Jan

Jess said...

I'm with you! I hope to be dancing in my living room at 3am too!

Ms. Fricknfrack said...

I had not heard about the "black kids going ballistic" thing. Makes me really sad.

I was really overcome with emotions while casting my ballot today and had a hard time holding back tears.

I won't say hatred things if Obama does not win but I will look at real estate in Montreal.

Erica Jo (mamasweetpea) said...

Took my sweet African daughter into the booth this am,and with a prayer for peace and change, voted Obama. Beautifully written post Miss Heather...thanks for sharing!

Julie said...

Heather for Peace Ambassador!!! I vote yes!!

J-Mac said...

I heard someone say that voting this election is going to be like choosing between coke and pepsi. Eleanor Roosevelt put it best,"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people."

Theresa said...

I'm with you too. I am so excited. Can't wait for the polls to close.

J-momma said...

found your blog via life in bakerville. good post. agree about coming together but happy about obama! so so sad what people are saying about the schools. and i'm getting a lot of crap from "friends" who don't agree with my choice. sucks.

Anonymous said...

I don't agree with more than about an inch of Obama's platform, so I didn't vote for him. But you are right about many things and you write so wonderfully that I think they should publish you in every paper in the country. I hope people can see how wonderful and historic this election actually was even for those of us who did not vote for him. For those that choose to spread hate because your choice did not win...what a blessing that you have that right. FORTUNATELY in a democracy majority rules and what a wonderful place we all call home.

Anonymous said...

Spreading truth is different than spreading hate. It is true that Obama supports Planned Parenthood; it is true that the founder of P.P. was a believer in eugenics and to this day a ridiculous amount of African Americans are killed by abortion each year. Pretty ironic for a black man to support genocide of his fellow Americans.
-Becca

whatever_heather said...

Genocide is the intentional murder of a specific race or group. Did I miss where it says only AA women are allowed abortions? Actually, if it was genocide, they would be forced abortions, right? I certainly don't think you can compare the two. If you are inspired to do something about that issue, then you should organize a fundraiser for Darfur, where there are living, breathing people being killed daily. But I don't think it's fair to say Obama supports genocide. I'm sure whomever the Dem candidate would have been, they most likely would have been pro-choice as well.
Like the last poster said, it IS a blessing that we have the right to disagree and express our opinions. I do so respectfully of yours.

Anonymous said...

OMG - the link you have for brainwashed just killed me, in a good way. I choked from laughing. Brilliance. You're one of a kind -- and that's a good thing.

Mark W said...

Perhaps genocide is not the best word for it, but black people seem to be especially "targeted" by Planned Parenthood and Margaret Sanger's writings are scary in regards to race. Also, those killed by abortion were just as alive as those in Darfur were. Here's to an end to ALL the killing, and like you say, Peace!
-Becca