Dear Friends,
Thank you for the emails you have been sending me that tell me Obama is a Muslim, a terrorist, a pal of unrepentant terrorists, a tax-and-spend-liberal, a Marxist, a socialist, a redistributor of wealth, person who would surrender our interests in Iraq, someone who doesn't support our troops, ineligible to be president because he was born in Kenya, a man whose cousin is living in a rundown shack in Kenya, or someone who will make our country blow up. Many of you have told me you are going to pray for our country if he gets elected.
Good idea. We should all be praying in our own ways. You will notice that I have not sent one single piece of mail saying anything about McCain, positive or negative, although I have linked on Twitter to the stories written by Rolling Stone, the Times, and the New Times — my liberal media. In fact, I have done little more than identify myself as an Obama supporter and try to correct your misinformation about Obama.
Here's why: on Wednesday, we will all have to get up and live with each other no matter who gets elected. We will have to feed our families, try to get or keep jobs, stay healthy, and stay in our homes.
Moreover, we will need each other. We will have to talk to each other and band together to get things done, because — face facts — government only impacts our lives at the margins in a democracy. On a day to day basis, we impact each other far more.
Last night I found myself hurt because a woman I respect, who I thought respected me, sent me her latest piece of scurrilous rumor about Obama as though if she just sent me one more piece of hate-filled rhetoric, I could finally be educated.
Instead, I'm hurt. I thought I tred very hard to honor her religion, when I am an agnostic. I tried very hard to honor her political positions, though she's a conservative and I'm not.
But she has not honored me. She must think I'm some sort of dumb ignorant schmuck because I support Obama. She must think I need help or training. She must think I am — WRONG, misinformed, dumb, or whatever. Otherwise why does she keep sending me stuff she knows I can read for myself since it's the common scum?
I can't wait for Wednesday, when we all have to be civil again.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Amen Francine! Lets hurry up and get to Wednesday, so we can all get on with our lives!
Wednesday’s sudden calm will *almost* make up for the brutal hangover I know I’m going to have after this: http://urbzen.com/2008/10/29/how-to-throw-a-sufficiently-classy-election-night-party/
I DO love me some mojitos, though…
Very interesting post indeed, Francine. I too have experienced this over the last few months on the converse side. My support of McCain apparently just horrifies some people and like you, they feel that if they send me just one more piece of email about how mine/his stingy ways will ruin the children of the future and surely the world – that I will change my mind. Regardless of anyone’s political stance, I find it odd that especially knowing you (and me) that no amount of email or mean spirited comments that seem to be quite personal, that people would think we would change our minds. We aren’t the type to make decisions or take stances lightly. I feel for the deluge of commentary you must have received and wonder if half the people that have sent goofy emails, made pleas, and snubbed you will actually spend as much time voting. Curious. Anyway, here’s a shout out from me to you. I may not be on the same side of the fence politically with you on this choice, but certainly I would never assume that your choice wasn’t well researched and considered, as you are one of the few business women that I look up to and consider exceptionally brilliant!
Thank you, Amanda. I feel exactly the same way. I know you and I can feel differently about taxes, war, experience — whatever the issues — but you at least give me the benefit of the doubt that I made a reasoned choice based on my beliefs. And I give you the same. Thanks, lady. You make me feel MUCH better.
You know what your post makes me think about? I was thinking early in the races when Guiliani was still around about putting a sign in my yard to show some support and maybe insight someone to go do some research. Then, I remember distinctly thinking, “no…better not do that because someone will egg my car/kill my trees/poison my dog.” That’s a really sad sentiment if you think about it. When did we turn into a society that can’t have mindful banter and differing opinions without violence or detriment? What happened to thoughtful heated discussions? Anyway, your post made me think of that.
I hope we can all live together peacefully!
None of us are as powerful as all of us.
:D
I am grateful that no one has sent me all that stuff, but I have definitely seen it online. I agree that it’s disrespectful. The far right seems to think they are absolutely right and we on the left are just so misinformed, immoral (yes, someone told me that on my blog), and willing to elect someone who will tear our country apart.
I’m not so sure that the right will be civil right away after the election. I suspect they will continue their tirade for awhile, claiming the election was rigged or whatever. Just as the PUMAs were bitter for a long time, I suspect the far right will be too. Hopefully, they will calm down with time and as they see the wonderful president Obama is going to be. I doubt they will ever admit it though.
Excellent post, Francine. There are moments when people feel so right and do not take into consideration who they are talking to.
There were some tense moments with French friends after our invasion of Iraq.
I hope your friend reads your blog and realizes how hurtful her email was.
Last night I decided to email the post to her. I think that will make her understand she hurt me.
In the mean time, thanks everybody. I even got a Facebook gift from a Republican friend from NGL. That’s how I think we should be during political campaigns. Agree to discuss, disagree, and then move on to the things we do have in common.