The following poem entitled “First they came…” is inscribed at the Boston Holocaust Memorial. Those who believe that Obama's election is the end of the world would be well served to think about this.
First they came…
They came first for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time no one was left to speak up.
We could change those words from Communist to Gays, from Jews to Blacks, from Protestant to Catholic - the point is still the same - we are our brother's keeper, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, love each other. If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything. What do you really, really believe in? What do you keep close to your heart that someone/some group wants to take away? Is it your right to marry whomever you want? Your right to give a child a home even though someone thinks two men or two women don't have the love in them to be good parents? Your right to have a partner in your life that you can say is your wife or your husband - that you can visit in the hospital as FAMILY, AS A SPOUSE. Is your love for money greater than your love for yourself and what you believe in? When they come for you, who will stand up for you after we are gone?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Election
The end must be truly near for the McCain campaign. They are throwing out so much garbage, so much s--- right now in the grand hopes that some of it will stick - no matter what the extended consequences.
They have shown highlights of several speeches by Gov. Pain in the Ass and John McPlain. People in the crowd are yelling that Obama is a traitor, that he is a terrorist, that he should be killed. Is this election really worth pumping people up with so much manure that some "Lee Harvey" or "James EarlRay" or "Byron De La Beckwith" decides it's his duty to save America from the dangerous radical black man? Does anyone have to win so badly that common sense and decency are the sacrifices that have to be made?
It is a sad thought that in 2008, there are still those people out there that hold on to the beliefs that the color of a person's skin dictates the strength of their character, their level of intelligence, their patriotism, how they think, how they love, what's they feel is right or wrong. Even to the point of voting against their own interests - some people will still cling to that evaluation system. And it's even sadder to think that a politician will ratchet up that kind of thinking, play to that level of emotion and potentially create an environment where someone thinks they are doing the right thing by doing a devastating thing with far ranging repercussions beyond the election of a president. Do they want the job that bad that it's worth it to sell their soul and to go against everything they have stood for their entire life? Apparently so..... and that one fact should tell us all that the choice is clear on who should occupy that White House for the next 4 years.
Now, as to what has been said. Gov. Palin suggests that it shows bad judgement for Barack because he had an association with Bill Ayers (as did several republicans) on an education council when he first started his political life. Never mind that Mr. Ayers crime occurred before Barack even thought about politics - like say when he was barely a toddler! Mr. Ayers previous activities had no bearing whatsoever on the reason that he and Senator Obama found themselves working together 20 YEARS LATER. But what is Sarah Palins excuse for her husband being a member of the Alaskan Independence Party (up until 2002) which advocated the succession of Alaska from the United States? A party that she once told (and I quote) to "keep up the good work". A party whose leader (Joe Vogler) once remarked "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for American or her damned institutions"! A man who was sponsored by Iran in the United Nations so that he could be allowed to speak at the UN on the very issue of Alaskan Independence. Yes Governor, you're right - we should be looking at associations, judgement and character - YOURS! Your own family (husband) was part of a "domestic terror" organization that advocated separation from the United States and you had the gall to tell them "keep up the good work"! And least we forgot, Governor, when we talk about associations - your choices leave a lot to be desired as well. Remember the time in your church when you had a man that you credited with helping guide you in your political life - to put you on the path (as you said)? Remember Pastor Muthee? You know, the guy that in his native Kenya actually charged some random woman with being a witch and being responsible for the problems of her local town? You know, the guy who ran her out of town after gathering a couple of hundred locals together to make her see the errors of her ways and renounce witchcraft? Yes, you have exercised great judgement indeed.
As for Senator McCain. He continuously hits Obama about the surge....about judgement. How he won't admit that he was wrong about the surge. Well you know what Senator - when will you admit that we wouldn't be discussing the surge if you guys hadn't put us into the wrong war in the first place. This is like saying well, I know you didn't commit the crime, but now that we've arrested you, we have to find you guilty of something! The gall of these people to just continue to say that - yes, we were wrong about going there, but since we are there - we might as well do some cleaning up. Now we are almost 7 years into this mess - with debt up to the ceiling and almost 4000 dead and thousands injured - and they have the nerve to tell us to trust them. They have NO credibility to ask for trust in their judgement period. It's the definition of insanity to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. We can't afford that mentality for another 4 years. And before I forget, McCains luck with religious icons that have endorsed him, should make us all think twice, i.e. Pastor Hagee or Pat Robertson.
And as far as him understanding our pain - how the heck does he know anything about the suffering of the average American? At least Barack has seen life on the lower end of the economic spectrum so he can understand what a lot of people are experiencing. He can understand about making choices about the basics of life, i.e. food, shelter, etc... Neither one of them have to worry about groceries, housing, gas.... but Barack and his family did at one time. If you've ever been in that situation (like I have), and seen your parent have to make those choices (I too was raised by a single parent) - then you never, NEVER forget. And before you talk about McCain being in the military, the prison camp, etc...... my father was killed in Vietnam. I don't think there was anything about that war that justified him sacrificing his life for it. But, he chose to serve and that's the only thing that matters to me. He gave his life for his comrades, sacrificing his life to save his buddies - as his commendation states. So, I understand the sacrifices our country asks of us. McCain doesn't own the monopoly on patriotism and honor. That experience doesn't make him qualified for the presidency of the United States, but it does make him a man worthy of respect.
So, at the end of my little rant - what do we say? I hope America makes a choice for it's future based on who these men really are, what they stand for and what they will do for us all. If we don't choose a leader to inspire us to greatness, to see beyond our selfish interests, to think and really believe that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one - then we will truly get what we deserve.
They have shown highlights of several speeches by Gov. Pain in the Ass and John McPlain. People in the crowd are yelling that Obama is a traitor, that he is a terrorist, that he should be killed. Is this election really worth pumping people up with so much manure that some "Lee Harvey" or "James EarlRay" or "Byron De La Beckwith" decides it's his duty to save America from the dangerous radical black man? Does anyone have to win so badly that common sense and decency are the sacrifices that have to be made?
It is a sad thought that in 2008, there are still those people out there that hold on to the beliefs that the color of a person's skin dictates the strength of their character, their level of intelligence, their patriotism, how they think, how they love, what's they feel is right or wrong. Even to the point of voting against their own interests - some people will still cling to that evaluation system. And it's even sadder to think that a politician will ratchet up that kind of thinking, play to that level of emotion and potentially create an environment where someone thinks they are doing the right thing by doing a devastating thing with far ranging repercussions beyond the election of a president. Do they want the job that bad that it's worth it to sell their soul and to go against everything they have stood for their entire life? Apparently so..... and that one fact should tell us all that the choice is clear on who should occupy that White House for the next 4 years.
Now, as to what has been said. Gov. Palin suggests that it shows bad judgement for Barack because he had an association with Bill Ayers (as did several republicans) on an education council when he first started his political life. Never mind that Mr. Ayers crime occurred before Barack even thought about politics - like say when he was barely a toddler! Mr. Ayers previous activities had no bearing whatsoever on the reason that he and Senator Obama found themselves working together 20 YEARS LATER. But what is Sarah Palins excuse for her husband being a member of the Alaskan Independence Party (up until 2002) which advocated the succession of Alaska from the United States? A party that she once told (and I quote) to "keep up the good work". A party whose leader (Joe Vogler) once remarked "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for American or her damned institutions"! A man who was sponsored by Iran in the United Nations so that he could be allowed to speak at the UN on the very issue of Alaskan Independence. Yes Governor, you're right - we should be looking at associations, judgement and character - YOURS! Your own family (husband) was part of a "domestic terror" organization that advocated separation from the United States and you had the gall to tell them "keep up the good work"! And least we forgot, Governor, when we talk about associations - your choices leave a lot to be desired as well. Remember the time in your church when you had a man that you credited with helping guide you in your political life - to put you on the path (as you said)? Remember Pastor Muthee? You know, the guy that in his native Kenya actually charged some random woman with being a witch and being responsible for the problems of her local town? You know, the guy who ran her out of town after gathering a couple of hundred locals together to make her see the errors of her ways and renounce witchcraft? Yes, you have exercised great judgement indeed.
As for Senator McCain. He continuously hits Obama about the surge....about judgement. How he won't admit that he was wrong about the surge. Well you know what Senator - when will you admit that we wouldn't be discussing the surge if you guys hadn't put us into the wrong war in the first place. This is like saying well, I know you didn't commit the crime, but now that we've arrested you, we have to find you guilty of something! The gall of these people to just continue to say that - yes, we were wrong about going there, but since we are there - we might as well do some cleaning up. Now we are almost 7 years into this mess - with debt up to the ceiling and almost 4000 dead and thousands injured - and they have the nerve to tell us to trust them. They have NO credibility to ask for trust in their judgement period. It's the definition of insanity to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. We can't afford that mentality for another 4 years. And before I forget, McCains luck with religious icons that have endorsed him, should make us all think twice, i.e. Pastor Hagee or Pat Robertson.
And as far as him understanding our pain - how the heck does he know anything about the suffering of the average American? At least Barack has seen life on the lower end of the economic spectrum so he can understand what a lot of people are experiencing. He can understand about making choices about the basics of life, i.e. food, shelter, etc... Neither one of them have to worry about groceries, housing, gas.... but Barack and his family did at one time. If you've ever been in that situation (like I have), and seen your parent have to make those choices (I too was raised by a single parent) - then you never, NEVER forget. And before you talk about McCain being in the military, the prison camp, etc...... my father was killed in Vietnam. I don't think there was anything about that war that justified him sacrificing his life for it. But, he chose to serve and that's the only thing that matters to me. He gave his life for his comrades, sacrificing his life to save his buddies - as his commendation states. So, I understand the sacrifices our country asks of us. McCain doesn't own the monopoly on patriotism and honor. That experience doesn't make him qualified for the presidency of the United States, but it does make him a man worthy of respect.
So, at the end of my little rant - what do we say? I hope America makes a choice for it's future based on who these men really are, what they stand for and what they will do for us all. If we don't choose a leader to inspire us to greatness, to see beyond our selfish interests, to think and really believe that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one - then we will truly get what we deserve.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Voters
You know, I don't care who you vote for - as long as you participate in the process. Whenever I hear someone bemoaning this politician or that policy - I sometimes ask, "Who did you vote for"? If the answer is anyone - we can continue the conversation. If they say they didn't vote - the conversation is over.
My journey into politics has been a rocky one. I didn't vote - at one time - because I was too busy enjoying the fruits of the labors of those that came before me (namely my aunts, uncles - and especially my mother and father). As time has marched on - however - I've come to realize that these gifts aren't eternal. There are those who think the choices we have, the freedoms we enjoy, the lifestyle that we cherish are there forever - never to disappear or be in jeopardy. However, there are those that think that we are still unequal, inferior, unintelligent and just plain ignorant - and therefore we need to be ruled, set aside, put in our place.
It is for that primary reason that we need to continue the fight for equality, to challenge misconceptions and push for the rights we currently enjoy to continue. Voting is not the only way to do it - but it is a powerful tool to use in the fight.
My journey into politics has been a rocky one. I didn't vote - at one time - because I was too busy enjoying the fruits of the labors of those that came before me (namely my aunts, uncles - and especially my mother and father). As time has marched on - however - I've come to realize that these gifts aren't eternal. There are those who think the choices we have, the freedoms we enjoy, the lifestyle that we cherish are there forever - never to disappear or be in jeopardy. However, there are those that think that we are still unequal, inferior, unintelligent and just plain ignorant - and therefore we need to be ruled, set aside, put in our place.
It is for that primary reason that we need to continue the fight for equality, to challenge misconceptions and push for the rights we currently enjoy to continue. Voting is not the only way to do it - but it is a powerful tool to use in the fight.
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