I’ve been away for a time, totally consumed by election campaign news. I am trying not to be as anxious as I feel. I long for Wednesday (due to German time difference, we don’t get election results until the next day). First, I want to thank God for the technology that quickly disproved McCain/Palin rabid campaigner, Ms. Todd’s (aka “backwards B”) criminal assault claim. It was also used to uncover a racist duo’s plot to decapitate black children, and assassinate the Democratic candidate for president, Barack Obama.
It was overwhelming. I was reaching for any positive information that would signal this country’s willingness to unite in mutual respect and understanding. Agree to disagree, but do not say that we have no right to do so. There is a large, vocal constituency out there, that appears to be threatened by true equality. It saddens me to the core. Every so often, I’ve had to fight off twinges of bitterness when the media shines its light into the funky crevice of fear and ignorance. Just today, I opened Alice Parris’ blog, and her latest post really put words to the reality behind a degree of my angst:
http://aliceparris.wordpress.com/2008/11/01/race-reaction-post-11-04-08/
On this military base, most revelation of political opinions that I have been privy to are of the sporadic, whispered variety. While some confessions are good for the soul, I cannot rest in that. On Halloween, I took my daughter to the base chapel “Hallelujah party.” She was a princess, my son a Jedi, and I was a community organizer (except no one knew because I was too worried about offending anyone by taking off my jacket to reveal a large Obama/Biden button). I was reminded that a number of these fellow Christians still believe the “Obama as antichrist” smear.
Closet Rebel?
The boldest show of support I have made on base (excerpt from journal entry):
I wasn’t expecting that my frustration about being so far away from the US would compel an impulsive action… Of course, living on base comes with some restrictions. Mainly, we are discouraged from revealing visible signs of support for either party. One evening, with an urge to do SOMETHING, I grabbed my kid’s glow-in-the-dark sidewalk chalk, and wrote a huge “Obama for Change-Thank God!” at the outdoor basketball court outside behind our building. Upon returning, my husband then informed me that I could get in trouble for it. He warned me not to even go back outside to look at it. Man, I really wanted to…I wish I could have taken a picture, but I was too scared. The design stayed there for several days. I knew that it was on the way to the “dog park,” so there would be heavy traffic from people walking their dogs passing by. Then, the rain came, washing it away without a trace. Good while it lasted…
I will close with this:
PLEASE vote! Election Day is this Tuesday, November 4th. That is the LAST CHANCE to vote, despite many calculated attempts to spread alternative dates to registered Democrats. This is voter suppression-do not fall for it! Until then, whatever gesture of support you can make, no matter how small, is SO appreciated. I want to thank my mother in advance for her willingness to take off work that day to drive voters to the polls. I also want to thank my sister for devoting her legal expertise to make sure there are no irregularities in her precinct. On my last trip to Virginia, we happened to be at an Obama campaign office long enough to see an anonymous elderly woman dropping off homemade lunch to the staff and volunteers. Thank you, whoever you are. That was truly love in action.
We’ve got little time left, so whatever you can, do it with your whole heart-any little thing makes a difference.
Change instead of complain…
