My Tiraid / Op-Ed by Perspective

Opinion Editorial by Perspective

So I get a call from a friend, a Major in the Army, who called me to tell me about an interaction she had with a White woman in her unit.  She went on to say how this soldier said she would never vote for Barack Obama, not because he is Black, but because he is a Muslim.  And she was so sure of this fact because she and her girlfriend went online and read it for themselves.  My friend told her that she had never heard anything like that and that she would have to check it out and get back to her. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I then went off (should have written this when I was really mad, but I was too busy practicing small town values like making dinner for my family). Anyway, I went nuts and gave her some of the reasons why I think America is a nation of dumbasses and then it hit me. She called me for confirmation that this chick was wrong.  And once I realized that I was even hotter.  I was pissed because I knew that she had no idea about his policies and therefore couldn’t counter anything ole girl had to say.  I knew that she is voting for him because he is Black and that pissed me off because that should be the last reason someone votes for him. Now let’s be clear.  I did not say that it should not be “uh” reason.  I said it should not be “the” reason. We can’t ignore race any more than we can gender so I’m not so upset if his blackness is “uh” reason. Moving on…I think most of us are too damn lazy to find out shit for ourselves.  We rely on those who think like we do to continually feed us the same ole bullshit. It makes us feel better because we don’t have to be challenged. We don’t have to think about one more damn thing. So that is why my co-worker thinks Fox news is the truth and I actually chuckle a bit when I see John Stewart and The Colbert Report.  Yes, I said chuckle. Call it elitist, but a pig in lipstick is still a pig_  I’m sorry; I meant, there is more than one way to convey the same message. You get the point.  So I challenge Democrats and Republicans to step outside of their comfort zones.  Talk to people who do not support your political view so that you can learn something.  You ever notice how Minister Farrakhan frequently references the Bible in his sermons. He took the time to understand someone else’s position and probably knows the Bible better than some who have been Christians all of their lives.  Like instead of mandating Latinos learn English, learn some Spanish your damn self and stop eating at Taco Bell and calling that authentic! Learn something new. 

Look, I am a Democrat and Obama supporter.  There is nothing short of an act of God that will get me to change my mind at this point.  I know Republicans who probably feel the same and I am not mad about that.  But I’m pissed by the rationales people are using to support their candidates.  I heard a woman say that she grew up in Idaho and likes to hunt and that she is voting for McCain because Sarah Palin and she have a lot in common.  Okay.  Sarah Palin is not running for President dear.  McCain is. Faulty logic.  And if one more person tells me that this woman has foreign policy experience because she can see Russia from her state, I’ll just have more fuel for my argument that America is a nation of dumbasses.  I’m looking at my neighbor’s house right now, but I am not an expert on how the husband treats his wife.  Dumbasses I tell you!  And Obama supporters, you are not off of the hook either.  Grow some balls and muzzle that pitbull!

And speak to the issues so that when a McCain supporter comes to you and says that Barack has no executive experience, remind them of what he has done and speak about it like you did it.  Don’t call me asking me if it’s true that he’s a Muslim.  Hell, most Blacks in America probably would have been another religion had we been left the hell alone!  That’s another blog topic and yes I know African tribe leaders captured fellow Africans and sold them into slavery.  I know my ancestors’ part in the problem, so I’m not a dumbass.  

I’ve decided that I’m not arguing with McCain/Palin fans anymore.  I will have a conversation or two with a Republican though.  Someone who can tell me that they think that Palin is not ready, but that he or she loves the ideals of their party so much, they must support the ticket. I can respect that.  But if you tell me how ready she is and how McCain is going to offer change, well then, I’d have to say, I’m done wasting my good sense on you. If you say that you are voting for Sarah because she represents working moms then I know that your decision is emotional and not based on the issues. First of all, she is not the one running for president.  I’m a working mom and I don’t need anyone to show me that I can be president someday. While I think that example is important, I need to know what it is the president is going to do about the No Child Left Behind Law that is kicking educators’ asses and making me hate my job!  And if you are a teacher you know what I’m talking about.  If you are not, you might say I’m a whiner.  Well, those who care the most about healthcare are those without any.  I believe people only care about the things that impact them.  That’s why there is such a high level of misunderstanding on both sides.  I am also not fooling with Obama fans either. If you are caught up in the history of it all, then I just can’t talk to you.  Get a clue and learn the issues!

I truly believe that at his core, McCain is a cool dude, but that he thinks in order to get the diamond, he has to shit on the miners.   I also think that Barack has lots to learn about this level of the game, but it is a chance that I am willing to take.  I’ve been depressed since Bush has been in office and while I like Xanax, he needs to go so that I can stop taking it!  

Finally, I would just like to say that I think the solider that prompted this whole tirade doesn’t want to vote for Barack because he is Black. I think that because she said it wasn’t the reason and because her rationale was so completely off base that only someone who didn’t want to appear racist would say it aloud.  It’s okay though.  Most Black people know that it’s part of the reason. You can say it.  We won’t be mad.  The honesty would be refreshing for a change instead of basing your dislike for him on the fact he doesn’t always wear a lapel pin (McCain didn’t wear one for his big speech by the way-Barack wore his though).  That’s why I like Fox news. They don’t try to hide their dislikes for Blacks and I respect that about them.  But I’m not saying some of them aren’t dumbass material though.  

T

The Republican Project...

For a while, like most Obama supporters, I've been playing Monday Morning Quarterback about how he should respond to the senseless attacks against him. A few months ago, I stopped and took about 3 steps back and tried to see the "forest" instead of the "trees".  I think I'm a pretty smart guy (a trait of MOST bloggers) but I must admit that I think that Barack is probably a wee bit smarter than I am.  And, when I started to consider this, I stopped trying to think of what he ought to do to win this election, and started thinking of why is he doing what he's doing?  I mean, he gotten this far with out calling me once and asking for any advice. So, let's dissect what he IS doing...

• He's not fighting fire with fire.  (in practical terms, water tends to work better any way.)  When the Repubs accused him of calling Palin a pig...he doused those flames with the issues.
• When the Repubs unleashed more false TV ads and campaign lies, he stuck to the issues.
• When racism rears it's ugly head from around the country, he smacks that head with his positions on the issues.

Hmmm.  What a novel concept.  We've all heard the parable "never argue with a fool because onlookers may not be able to tell who's the fool."  I can't think of a more applicable situation than this one to use it's logic.  

Now, I must admit that I do think that Obama is giving the general voting populous more credit than it may deserve.  But, maybe not.  See, it's hard to stop "second-guessing" him isn't it?

I have a republican friend (a white woman of the middle-class).  Last week, I decided to have a political discussion with her.  Keep in mind, this if AFTER I began to realize that Obama is smarter than I am.  So, I decided to follow his lead and only talk about the issues instead of doing what I would want him to do on the stump.  I didn't bring up the names of the candidates at all (unless she brings them up first)...only policy.  I've been amazed.  She really doesn't know any of either candidates positions on any of the policies.  She can only repeat what she's heard from other republicans.  So, I've been educating her of what the policies are and where she can find out about them and read up on them for herself.  She came to work one day last week and told me that she tried to watch some "politcal tv programs" but couldn't stomach to watch it for long because they didn't talk about the "issues" like me and her had been discussing.  She actually WANTS to here about them...and she's a republican!

I did start this conversation off with her by asking her what she thought of Sarah Palin.  She began to tell me how she "liked her and how she was against government spending. blah, blah, blah..."  I informed her that Sarah hired a lobbyist when she was mayor of Wasilla and had gotten $27 million in "ear-marks".  After hearing this she asked me, "where did you hear that?"  I told her that I read it on the Internet.  I told her that it was public knowledge.  She again asked, "but who told you that?"  I then told her that, "About 85% of all the black people that are voting for Obama maybe doing it just because he's black....I'm not one of them though.  I'm an informed voter."

She's been emailing me about politics and watching TV more closely because she too would like to be an informed voter.  The more educated she becomes on the issues the more she doesn't want to be an uninformed voter.  The more educated she becomes on the issues, the more she must face the fact that she has NO GOOD REASON NOT TO VOTE FOR OBAMA!  She, like so many other Americans, is an uninformed voter.  I can see the wheels turning when she talks to me now.  I've never been mean.  I've never said one negative thing about McCain or Palin (I have, however, cleared up a few lies they've told).  I've only educated her on the issues and she's starting to question everything she thought she knew.  

Why is Obama doing what he's doing?  Because he's smarter than most of us.  He told us how to win this election.  "We are who we've been waiting on!"  Remember hearing that?  He's leading by example.  He can't talk to every American, but "we" can.  Yes we can.  We've got to educate ourselves on the issues.  Not just on our positions, but McCain/Palin positions too.  I subscribe to John McCain's web site.  I've read his plan for America.  I've probably read more in the last few months than I have my entire life (I know, sad but true)!  Each one teach one should be "our" motto.  If a republican knows, what the issues are, what each candidate is proposing to do to fix America, and they STILL are voting against their own best interests and judgement, then they are probably not voting for Obama only because he is black.  If we can help educate more voters we'll either get more repubs to vote for Obama, or more repubs to realize that they are probably a racist.  I call it...The Republican Project.

What Ya'll Think?/Sarah Palin ABC Interview...

Here's what Matt Damon thought...

9/11 Remembered...

As I sit down and start this entry, I'd like to thank roshelle for inspiring me to write what follows.  I wasn't about to but, after I checked my twitter page and read her blog...I felt compelled to write what follows...

  It's September 11th.  I, like so many other of us remember what I was doing 7 years ago today.  I remember getting the call @ school from a friend of mine.  I remember him telling me, "they flew a plane into the World Trade Center!"  I told him to "quit playing, I'm busy teaching."  He continued and told me to get to a TV and see for myself.  I walked down the hall to our school's library and turned on the TV.  I stood there with my mouth wide open as we watched, the 2nd plane hit the towers.  I rushed back to my classroom and pulled up a news website to try and get some understanding about what could possibly be going on.  It was just 6 days before my son's 2nd birthday, and life as I knew it was great!  I found it almost impossible to comprehend what I was reading on the computer and what they were reporting on the news.

It's September 11th.  I, like so many others of us have become engulfed in what has been arguably the most intense and exciting presidential campaign in American history.  Because of how "connected" many of us have become, I've heard all day about  "lipstick on a pig."  It's the day before the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on US soil and all the news media is analyzing, commentating, dissecting, and re-contorting what exactly putting make-up on a pork chop has to do with the price of tea in China...or more accurately, the price of oil in Iraq. 

It's September 10th.  I'm watching Count Down with Keith Olbermann and he ends his program with the most stunning and clear picture of John McCain I myself have truly wished could not possibly be true.  And yet, as I've been watching and listening to the news all day, and thinking about "why" we've been talking about "lip-stick on a pig" I am reminded of Occam's Razor and am saddened.  Below is his initial response.