Maybe I'm one of the youngest people on here (being 16) , maybe I'm not - but I know for a fact that most, if not all, of you have heard of Facebook and maybe you know how it runs.

Well, for those of you who don't know much about this insanely popular (and effective) social networking site - I'll explain real quick what the status feature is.

The status feature is used to let your friends know what you are doing or how you are feeling, it appears under your name to everybody through something called a mini-feed.

Last night, after Sen. Barack Obama was elected, I instantly jumped on my computer - logged onto Facebook and put in my status bar: "CAN'T BELIEVE IT - THERE IS A GOD!! WAY TO GO OBAMA/BIDEN!"

And almost as instantly - I was attacked by one of the most prejudicial, ignorant and idiotic person I have ever had the displeasure of knowing. A former classmate who was known for being a particularly large bigot left a message calling me:

Anti-American
Racist
Ignorant
Liberal Hippie
Waste Of Humanity
Bitch
Hooked Nose Jew
C*nt
N*gger lover
Slimeball
Terrorist Lover
and, last but not least: Socialist

Now, I understand that some Conservatives and Republicans are going to be bitter about the election of Sen. Obama, I expected to be hounded - being one of only a handful of openly liberal and democratic students at my ultra conservative high school in northwest Iowa (that, and after listening to McCain's supporters boo at the mere mention of Sen. Obama's name) - and I have been critized by almost everyone I know (my own family being the harshest and most conservative - although, I did manage to convert THE most conservative of the family into voting for Obama!).

I'm used to it - at least, used to having to defend my politics by peaceful discussion and healthy debate - but what I am not used to is this kind of attack on my own person, my ethics and morals.

He brought up the standard GOP propaganda: that Sen. Obama is a socialist, terrorist loving, anti-American, Muslim who secretly works for Iran and will hand over our country to the Arab nations, tree-hugging moron.

And I corrected him, defending the outstanding character of our new president by merely telling him that Sen. Obama is neither of those things and perhaps he should stop watching Faux News and get caught up with reality.

And then it happened.

He posted it where everyone could see it - and brought in one of his friends to help back him up (although he quickly quieted when I began to point out the flaws of past Republicans that he cited in a couple of his comments).

As a woman, I was offended when he told me that because of my gender I would never succeed in the world and that I didn't have the intellegence to hold my own in anything.

As a democrat, I was offended when he called my politics into question and began making slanderous accusations against the man I support.

But I was most offended as an American, at seeing such unbridled hatred so publicly displayed.

Last night was supposed to be one of the greatest events in American history - change had been made, conservatism had been brought down and the push for freedom, equality and justice for all was again put on the table as the values that America stands for - but this boy, for no one who attacks me in that way can ever be considered a real man, just made me realize just how much we have left to do.

I couldn't believe after these two years that people just couldn't get over their racist and ignorant ways, that they couldn't just keep it to themselves and realize how stupid they sound when they spout off their comments.

I sincerely hope that Sen. Obama will wake up America more than he already has - I want for this country to be enlightened, to gain strength by uniting - forget about sexuality, gender, race, ethnicity or social standing and just stand united, as our founding fathers would have wanted.

Until then, I will continue to defend him - defend my politics and defend my country, with the pride only an American can have.  

Virgil Goode.

You probably have all heard his name thoughout today and will probably hear his name thoughout the rest of this week (and on other blogs)

It's become synonomis with the words Islamophobia and Xenophobia as of right now - and it's all thanks to his big mouth, and a little letter.

After reciving 'thousands' of letters about D-Minn Keith Ellison's request to use the Koran (Qu'ran) durring his inaguration into Congress, Virgina statesmen Virgil Goode answered these worried citizens.

And inserted his foot into his mouth.

In this letter - Goode addressed the immigration of Muslims into the United States and can be quoted as saying: "If American citizens don't wake up and adopt the Vigil Goode position on immigration... there will likely be many more Muslims electedto office and demanding the use of the Qu'ran.. I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States."

*Ding* Hear that? A fresh load of hypocrisy fresh out of yet another xenophobic/anti-islamic political bakery.

This man was absolutely halarious to listen to this morning on the news as he 'defended his stance' on what he said. Well, at least he's sticking by his word - as racist and ignorant as they were.

And what does Rep Ellison - the Nation's first Muslim-American electee to Congress have to say about all of this?

"They are our nurses, doctors, husbands, wives, kids, who just want to live and prosper in the American way," Ellison, D-Minn., said on CNN. "And that there's really nothing to fear. And that all of us are steadfastly opposed to the same people he's opposed to, which is terrorists, and so there's nothing for him to be afraid of."

:D You go Ellison.

Maybe Goode needs to be educated on something: Ellison requested to use the Qu'ran in his CEREMONIAL swearing in - emphasis on CEREMONIAL. Yeah, it's sort of tradition to swear on the Bible - but, you can swear on any dang book you want to - it's your choice. It's just something to go in the history books: Ellison, like all other elected officals - takes in a mass offical swearing in ceremony when the new Congress steps in.

(And, thanks to our handy-dandy Constitution that Mr. Goode seems to have misplaced, the First Amendment grants Rep Ellison this right: it prohibits Congress from establishing a religion or prohibiting the free xercise therof)

His choice just so happened to be a book that's a part of a religion that many American's fear (somewhat unjustly, I must add)

Why should it matter anyways what Mr. Ellison believes in? He's not using his religion to dictate as to what decisions he will make based on the good of the people - that's not what he signed up for when he entered Congress.

His faith doesn't define his citizenship and Goode needs to get that though his biggoted head.

Wasn't America founded to be a free country - in which you could believe what you want - without fear?

Goode has no right to say that Ellison's request is un-American - Ellison was born in Detroit and attened law school in Minnesota; he loves his country and enjoys the same freedoms and follows our laws.

If he's not an American - than please, somebody explain to me what American is?

Goode needs to go brush up on what the true traditions of America are - maybe he can take that hypocrite Prager with him as well (Oh yes, everybody's favourite hypocrite is also in on this as well...)