I first saw Barack Obama on Oprah three plus years ago. I had never heard of him before but I listened to what he had to say. He was not running for President then, so what he was saying wasn't for votes, he was just talking to Oprah. He said that he was a person who liked to bring people together, that our country isn't one made up of red states and blue states, but of Americans. He was very humble, low key and what he said made a lot of sense. Of course, I am also a person of mixed races who can see many sides of an issue, and I am all about bringing people together, so it wasn't much of a stretch for me. I had the show taped and asked my dh to come in and listen to it. After watching it, he said, "If that guy would ever run for President, I'd vote for him."
I can't say that I have ever been a person who votes down party lines. I (and most of my family) can't be described as true to the party platforms. I guess I follow my Christian beliefs - and by my definition that means loving one another as He loved us. To me that means that showing discrimination and hatred toward gays is not what God wants us to do..it also means that I am pro-life...so I am somewhere in the middle. I do believe that we are all here to help each other and I try to live that.
This time, I have followed the primaries, watched George Stephenaopolis every week - I have watched all the debates - listened to all the commentaries - read all the stories. I have never, ever been more engaged. My dh registered to vote for the first time in his life.
So...when election day came and Barack Obama won I was beyond elated. I took Wednesday after the election off - had some errands - but also knew that I would be up late on Tuesday - and I knew that I'd be either sad or very happy and I really didn't want to listen to what I was sure would be a lot of negative talk at work. I watched tv - and shed a ton of tears - happy tears that our country has come so far. It felt like all I have worked for for these years has come to pass!
But - after I talked to my dh and my ds and dd about what they had heard at work and school - I was very upset. I know that people here are mostly Republican, and I do not begrudge them their political beliefs, but much of what we have heard was so hateful - some racial remarks, some assasination jokes, horrible stuff. There has been some editorials that have made me sick.
So..it seems that "all that work" I did, has not made much of a difference. Not where I live. Honestly, I have been so disappointed - heartbroken really - that I've seriously considered moving.
Who knows, maybe that is the direction God wants me to take - maybe He is preparing for that - and all this will help me not to feel badly about moving. Or - maybe I'm meant to stay and fight the good fight - you know the one about how God created us all and how we're all His children and we're supposed to love one another - why oh why is that so hard for people to get?
So...I've been a bit manic depressive these days - alternating between elation and deep depression.
It's taken me almost two weeks to write this. I've been holding it in - better to get it out, right?
We'll see.
Lisa
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