What's Really Important A Time To Listen -- This Time!
For eight long years I’ve argued with many diehard Republicans about the wisdom of voting for George W Bush, not just once, but twice. I ended up being called a Bush hater and even worse, a “liberal,” and basically dismissed for my efforts. Actually a lot of people warned that the policies of George Bush would lead to serious problems for our nation, and guess what? They have! Besides all the families catastrophically effected by the war in Iraq, there are now millions facing the loss of jobs, their homes, and more recently the loss of their pensions, retirement benefits, and ultimately Social Security and Medicare benefits if another Republican Administration gets in office.
Now on the eve of the 2008 presidential election many of the same people, plus many renowned conservative Republicans are strongly warning against voting for John McCain, essentially for the same reasons – basically he offers more of the same, and the nation cannot afford it! Colin Powell and Christopher Buckley, son of the late conservative writer William F. Buckley Jr., just to name a couple, have actually endorsed Barack Obama because the alternative would be so bad for America.
To those who remain staunchly loyal to the Republican Party, and supported George Bush twice, I implore you to listen this time, and join all the others who are attempting to put political ideologies aside for the moment because they realize the grave danger that presently faces the nation. America desperately needs a change of course, not a continuation of the battle between parties and ideologies that has drastically divided the people, and so greatly weakened the country.
Don’t be fooled again. Most Republican candidates for office around the nation, as well as many of the conservative pundits, and the McCain campaign itself are presently running from George Bush and the Republican Party of the past eight years like a dog running from fleas. They know how their policies have failed the nation. John McCain can also run, but he can’t truly separate himself from this failure. He has been a part of it, and the continual attempts to change his image with speeches, and the Madison Avenue type PR creation of a new persona right before the election, won’t erase the image of the wolf under the sheep’s clothing.
We all know it is time for REAL change, and there are very few in their heart of hearts that actually believe John McCain represents real change. This is a man who himself bragged about voting with George Bush ninety percent of the time. This is the same man that said, “I am fundamentally a deregulator,” the same deregulation that has smashed our economy. If it had been up to Bush, McCain and other followers of this philosophy, who also believe social entitlements should be privatized, we just might have witnessed the demise of Social Security in the past two months. How many can actually afford to lose their Social Security benefits?
The time has come to give real change at least a chance and to actually put the nation first as a practical consideration, not just as a false campaign slogan. We are all aware of the political and ideological indoctrination and programming that has been created in the pursuit of votes and power. We have all witnessed its effects on the nation. The words, “united we stand, divided we fall,” have never rung truer, nor sounded more like a prophetic death knell that threatens our comfort and security.
A final word to those who fear change because they know it means embracing those they have been convinced are the enemy. Contrary to political extremist myth, liberals don’t actually hate America, religion, and the troops, don’t embrace socialism, and are not evil. They are people just like people anywhere. Many have some basic conservative foundations, but at the same time realize the world is changing, becoming smaller by way of global dependence, economically and socially. They also understand that the rift between the very rich and the very poor is larger than ever, and that too many people are suffering in this nation because private enterprise only cares about the bottom line, and that is money, not people, and that government has some responsibility to take up the slack.
This is worth considering before automatically assuming the worst, and voting as usual. In order for a nation to change, the hearts and minds of its citizens must risk change first!
Comments
Amen to that, Stephen!
I decided several weeks ago to try to respond calmly and factually to emails I received containing lies and misinformation about Obama. Up to that point I had simply ignored such messages.
Now, I hit the reply button and go through the message, paragraph by paragraph and, using a different colored text (usually blue – a calming color), answer the falsehoods with facts. No sharp retorts, no name calling, just the facts.
I have no idea if it does any good and sometimes it is time consuming to dig out the facts, but I just think of it as a contribution to Obama’s campaign. And I use the “Reply to All” button so the rebuttal goes to everyone who received the original message.
It is possible that these responses are not even read but it is just as possible that at least one person will read it and consider the idea that everything they hear about Obama may not be true. We have to start somewhere and that is one of the places I chose to start.
In order to put our country in order, we, as a society, must get back to civil discourse in place of the vitriolic exchanges that currently pass for communication. We cannot do that unless someone is willing to go first in refusing to continue such exchanges. To paraphrase – let there be civil discourse and let it start with me.
Posted by: Trish | October 28, 2008 02:28 PM
Amen, amen, amen, Stephen and Trish. Like Trish, I have started going through these emails item by item, answering with facts and/or links to facts. I have been careful to do "reply to all" replies so that all receivers will get my responses. If the emails are particularly odious, I send them to the Obama campaign, which has requested the people forward to them any smear emails they get.
Mostly, though, I am hoping that people will step back a bit this time, and realize, as Stephen said, that "liberals" are not evil people, that liberal citizens are just as patriotic as anyone else. In fact, I have come to start reminding people that the word "liberal" is not a noun; in fact, it's an adjective.
This country needs a new direction, big time. We need fresh ideas, new faces, hopeful thoughts, bright minds, and articulate diplomats. It's time for change.
Yes, we can!
Posted by: Renee G | October 28, 2008 05:22 PM
Obama has aleady demonstrated change. He has taken all the hits the right could throw at him and responded with intelligence and calm and has not reponded in kind. Although i and many others wished for a harder response, over time i saw that his calm command, sticking to the issues that effect Americans slowly won over the mass majority of Americans - McCain appeared petty, mean spirited and erratic while Obama appeared presidential. The smears and distractions one by one backfired. Bush and Cheney can remain hidden but everyday the results of their failed policies remind everyone that more of the same cannot be tolerated. Obama stuck to his message of change - a real change and the polls show that Americans know that a new direction is vital and trumps the doubts and differences they may have with Obama. I differ with Obama on many important issues but know his election will make life better in many ways for all of us. The vastly different campaigns are a clear indication of how each candidate would lead.
Posted by: heartfood | October 28, 2008 07:59 PM
We sure can!
And I suspect, Renee, that we are not the only people who have started replying in this way to the Obama smears. The ugliness has gotten so bad that many people, of different persuasions have reached the saturation point and are seeking other ways to respond.
We need to be able to agree to disagree without name calling, hatefulness, and anger. That does not preclude strong beliefs and passionate feelings. But it does require, along with those, tolerance and a willingness to acknowledge that in many areas it is possible to believe differently without either side being right or wrong.
As those who have been stirring the pot these past two decades begin to lose their power, hopefully, the fanaticism will begin to lose its grip and calmer heads will prevail.
Posted by: Trish | October 28, 2008 08:12 PM