liptonrm_backup | Line in the Sand (Reply)

Here's an amusing tidbit, apparently I am my brother's wife. At least, that's what the saleswoman at a department store assumed last night when the Big Lug and I went to get him some back-to-school clothes. It was kind of weird, kind of embarrassing and mostly hillarious. The baseless assumptions people will jump to, really. *head shake*

Watched Bush's speech at the Republican National Convention and after a week of Republican posturing I have made some observations.

First, a little rant. I am so sick and tired of hearing the Republicans blithely propose and assume that they are the only political party for the truly religious. It's even more offensive then the people who try and tell me that I'm not a true American just because I don't support the war in Iraq. Well, news flash bucko, not only do the majority of the people I know not support the war in Iraq, but a good number of those people are easily just as religious as any party line spouting uber-conservative Republican that I've ever heard from. Don't even pretend to corner the market on faith and the American Way because, frankly, if that were the case then I would start questioning my own faith, promptly move to Canada and deny that I ever had anything to do with the USofA.

Last night, Bush spoke as if things are getting better, more hopeful, while completely ignoring the thread of quiet desperation that has been growing increasingly more vibrant in the country during his presidency. He talks about defeating terror in the world and yet, there is less security in the world then there has ever been. He has the gall to say that America has to 'save' the world when he ignores the bulk of it and offends those he deigns to acknowledge. He talks about finding ways to insure that we are no longer dependant on Middle Eastern oil, and yet I fear that simply means that he wants to begin searching and drilling for oil in national parks and wildernesses rather then finding new and innovative substitutes.

And let's not forget September 11th, because the Republicans sure as hell haven't. They reopened that still tender wound time and time again during the convention, not with any desire to heal it, but rather with the desire to exploit the fear and desperation resulting from it. They use that national tragedy because it is the only even that can be considered anything like a success for the current administration. Do I mean that I think Bush was in anyway involved with the actual terrorism? No. However, he has no trouble with exploiting it in order to achieve his own ends.

I am voting for Kerry because he acknowledges the dissatisfaction of a large number of the American populace. I am voting for John Kerry because he views the other nations in the world as equal rather then subservient and he is willing to work with the world rather then against it. When I watched the Democratic National Convention they spoke of the commonality that exists between conservatives and liberals, they spoke as if their opponents were opponents rather then enemies, their rhetoric did not take advantage of the fear and doubt and desperation of the American voter, but rather strove to give us hope, they tried to unify and not divide.

I don't want to say that Republicans are hate-mongers, but that is how they've come across in the past couple of days. Bush is charismatic though, I have to give him that. I can see why people say that they want to sit down and have a beer with him because he has obviously worked very hard to assume the sort of persona that would make people think he is one of them. It's definitely obvious that he has been groomed to political office for his entire life. It makes me wonder about the dip in popularity that Dick Cheney has suffered and whether that is only based on Cheney's own hatefulness or whether some of that comes from Cheney taking on a large bulk of the public hatred that should be lodged firmly at Dubya's door.

And, finally, just to set the record straight, I don't hate Republicans. Truthfully, extremists on both sides scare the snot out of me but if we don't elect a president who is willing to compromise, is willing to work with people of opposing viewpoints rather then against them, is capable of seeing the grey as well as the black and white and is able to unite rather then divide then I fear for the future of my home. I love my country but I fear what it's becoming.

Oy, that was long. I suppose that's been building for a while;-). Please, to all Americans out there, go and vote in November. I can't overemphasize how vital this election is. We can't be heard if we don't speak.

In other, happier news, am going to see Zeke in Wicker Park with