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...But This Election Is Not About That
I wrote this as a response to womanofacertainage's beautiful post, In Which I Finally Get It. As I post this, it is currently the most recommended blog entry on the site, deservedly so. I encourage all those who have not read it to do so immediately.
I was encouraged to post this as a blog entry in and of itself, and so here it is, exactly as it was originally posted.
You know, it's interesting to hear you speak about people my age (I'm 20) in such a way, because the first thing I thought when I read what you wrote was, "She gets it. She understands why I am not some angry hysterical liberal whose only goal in this world is to see Bush and Cheney destroyed. She gets that, perhaps there are more important things, and more important goals to set our eyes on."
Even though I am 20, I have been angry in the same way you have, for years. In 2000, at the age of 12, I burst into tears when it finally came down that Bush had won instead of Gore. I had, at such a young age, invested so much of myself into the election. I had invested so much hope that Gore would win. I didn't truly know how frightening Bush was, but I think my tears were partly a harbinger to the next four years, when again, I would cry at Bush's second "victory".
I would love nothing more than to see Bush, Cheney, Rove and all their buddies behind bars for the crimes they've committed. But that is not what this election is about. This election is about the betterment of our country. It is about the betterment of myself, and of all the others I love and care about. And to achieve those ends, I do not see how continuous negativity, and continuous onslaughts of hatred will progress us anywhere.
We've gone through the past eight years in a continuous cycle of hatred, depression, hurt, fear and general negativity. I do not want to go into the next four with the same mentality. Obama does not want to give me, or you, or anyone else, that kind of mandate, as was given in 2000 and 2004. And for that, I respect and admire him.
Comments (9)
When do the children become the parents? You are wise, Chrono, wiser than many of us have been, or are now.
August 9, 2008 12:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Heh. You're too kind. As always. Greatly appreciated.
August 9, 2008 12:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
From the mouths of babes! May you tribe increase -- but come to think of it, it already has, whcih is why Obama will be our next President.
August 9, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know lots of liberals. Many are angry, some so angry that I suppose one could call them hysterical. Yet not one of them has as their, "only goal in this world is to see Bush and Cheney destroyed." All of them have many more important goals and many other important things in their lives.
These people that I know vote. Everyone of them voted for the betterment of this country, their friends and family, and those who are suffering in our country and the world. I don't know a single person who voted for revenge or to destroy someone. Even those who desire that Bush, Cheney, and in earlier times, Nixon be held accountable for what they believe are crimes don't hold that view out of a desire to destroy but because they believe it would be for the betterment of this country.
I can't recall any politician running on a platform that had as its central plank getting some previous politician and destroying him. I don't recall Gore or Kerry running on that. So these people you know who are voting to destroy someone as their most important goal, who were they voting for?
Who exactly gave people the mandate to go through a continuous cycle of hatred, depression, hurt, fear and general negativity in 2000 and 2004? Was it Gore or Kerry, the candidates I voted for? Or was it Bush? How could Bush give liberals who surely didn't vote for him a mandate to go through a continuous cycle of hatred, depression, hurt, fear and general negativity? I haven't a clue what you mean by "mandate" in this context.
August 9, 2008 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not very surprising to hear you express such opinions, based on your original response to womanofacertainage's original post.
Let me just ask: you prescribe to a doctrine of strict literalism, don't you? Because that would really explain a lot.
Thanks for the response nonetheless.
August 9, 2008 6:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
That doesn't really answer my questions. Did you post to discuss/defend you views or just to get some pats on the back? I don't have any problem moving on so you have room on the stage for your ego and to take bows.
August 9, 2008 7:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Defend my views? I don't see any reason to defend my experiences and points of view on this. Discuss? Sure. But your post, with all due respect, was quite hostile. You obviously disliked the post which inspired this one, so I guess I understand why you would choose to respond to mine with the same kind of mentality.
Perhaps if I felt your questions were really in any way relevant to the point and/or message of my post, I'd respond with enthusiasm, no matter how negative. As it stands, your post merely looks to attack my views and experiences rather than constructively analyze them.
But as I said, negative or not, I appreciate the comment, oceankat. =)
August 9, 2008 8:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Way to go! Don't attempt to reason with the demented.
August 9, 2008 9:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a parent it has been very challenging raising my daughter and hearing her pain and frustration with the 'f*@ced up' world she has grown up in.
I have always been an activist an tried to do what I can.
When she gets into the deep well of pain, feeling that the leadership and people with money and power in our world are completely cold, stupid, and insane...
I remind her 'you came here to make this world a better place'. She listens to those words... calms herself down... and for some reason this helps her to refocus on what matters now, what she can do now, what is within her reach and she finds peace in those words. Her feelings of anger and frustration transform into motivation to 'make this world a better place'.
August 9, 2008 6:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
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