In 2000, when I was 16 and could not vote, I was fired up about the election. In 2001, after 9/11, it was even harder to keep emotion out of it when I argued with some of my classmates over whether or not the U.S. should turn the Middle East into a sheet of glass. In 2002, when I could finally vote, Fran Ulmer, one of the two most inspiring politicians I've ever witnessed, lost the Alaska gubernatorial race to Republican Frank Murkowski. She was a brilliant woman. She lost by 15%. It was crushing. Then, in 2004, I sent in my absentee ballot while living abroad in England, only to suffer through the shock, devastation and humiliation as George W. was re-elected.
There are so many things that should not even be on the radar of political discussion: 'links' to terrorists, shopping bills, religion, vice presidential candidates from Alaska. And yet, there they are. And here we sit, arguing over them. I feel like I'm beating my head into a wall, and am still torn between either walking away or trying to out-reason them. But I can't just let it go.
I'm an empathetic person, yet I'm still struggling to see the other side in many cases with this election. I really haven't heard anything solid from the opposition that didn't include bogus facts from an email forward or that didn't use catchy scare words like socialism, elitism or terrorism. Honestly though, I haven't really heard many arguments that also included civility and reason, which makes it quite a bit harder to respect someone's choices when they are different than mine. I'm using all my powers of logic and reasoning to try to understand why someone might not see what I am seeing, which is that Barack Obama is, far and away, the stronger, more intelligent, even-handed and capable candidate in this race. Obama is a politician with integrity. I'm saying that without a hint of irony. I'm saying that about a Presidential nominee. I'm saying that about someone running for President in a political climate that has become warped to the point of nonrecognition since 2000. Political monsters puppeteering ruthlessly ambitious figureheads have created a win-at-any-cost style of tactics, and We, the People, allowed this to happen. We have eaten up outright slander; we have forfeited our dignity and many personal freedoms. Its a small wonder that talking politics, which I cannot help but do, makes me feel ill. I've been cognizant of these things almost since the first year I was able to vote, and not only have I failed to do anything seemingly substantial, I have allowed it to nearly cripple me with cynicism. But no longer. I heard an acquaintance yesterday disparage people who felt righteous for voting, and who pointedly planned not to vote. It is a beautiful thing that we are allowed the choice to vote or not, and I find it condescending and ignorant to scoff at someone for reveling in their right to choose. In this instance, it also seems hypocritical, since the person obviously felt righteous in their choice NOT to choose.
Any respect I might have had for McCain, earned by the things he has accomplished during his career as a public servant, has been eroded by the bitter ugliness of his campaign, and by watching the lows to which he has stooped. How is it putting Country First by jeopardizing our safety by putting someone grossly underqualified to run this country one step away from the Presidency? At least the GOP lost their best argument against Obama and his lack of experience.
Part of me wants to pull up points as to why McCain is the wrong candidate, but I'm exhausted and am really just here to vent. I just know that the humiliation I felt in not being able to explain to my British friends and coworkers why Americans voted for Bush in 2004 will be nothing, NOTHING, compared to what I might feel if Obama loses today. Disappointment doesn't even begin to cover it. The mess that we are in, that we have been sliding into for the past 8... well, since Reagan, really... is deeper than it appears, and what our next President does determines so much. Our lives will change whether we desire it or not, not to mention our children's lives. We'll be paying for Bush's mistakes for the duration, no matter whose tax policies are implemented. I'm worried for our armed forces and how they will be treated abroad due to our torture and treatment of detainees. The year is 2008 and torture has been sanctioned! I'm concerned that our personal freedoms will continue to be curtailed.
I don't even like to acknowledge it, but one of the worst things about this election is the way it has revealed some of the ugliest things imaginable in people I had respected. Not only have I felt a blatant lack of civil dialogue, seen a blind pomposity that intentionally disregards anyone in opposition, and heard hateful, impassioned words too powerful to take back, I've found a malignant racism at the stripped down core of many windy arguments. And it breaks my heart. It really, really does.
I can't end this on that note, because I am full of hope. I've heard some extremely intelligent conservatives speak to points that resonate with me, which is more validating than anything I could have hoped to find in a room full of my politically like-minded peers. There are people, the true victims of Bush's cabinet, whose kids were Left Behind, who had to foreclose on their houses, who cannot afford health care, who haven't given up hope, either. There are people who make over $250,000 a year who can define socialism as a political agenda (and don't want it) who are still voting for Obama and who love America enough to acknowledge that this is the best option out there. And I, a socially liberal, fiscally moderate young American, am trying my 'doggone' hardest not to dismiss anyone else for their political beliefs, and it is not easy. At times I've been so filled with disgust I can hardly breathe. Because Obama, who isn't perfect, still believes in those who deride him, still listens to those who criticize him, and doesn't turn his back on those who hate him. And that is something I can believe in.
