Lonely on the Soapbox:)

[mrdreamjeans]

I spent two hours tonight on a post that was an answer to mncuddlecub's (Keith) request to know more about the political parties and voting. It started out as a couple of sentences and grew and grew to 7000 words. I lost it all when the computer and lights went out during an electrical storm, just before I hit the button to post it. That was verrrrrry discouraging, but probably best for live journal:)

In a much shorter version of this post, I suggest to Keith that he search the internet and read our Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Many people misquote and misuse them, as with the bible, and manipulate the spirit of them to buttress their prejudices.

You can download the speeches from the convention this week and next. Study those of Democrats Clinton, Bawrak Obama and John Kerry. They were effective political speeches and outline what is at stake in this election. In contrast, see what Bush and Cheney have to say next month. I would encourage you to read their policy statements online which will be free of the bias that verbal inflection can add.

In general there are not a lot of differences between the two parties, except for the social/cultural wars. As many young people voting in the 1970s for the first time, I parroted my parents' views until I saw that the vision of the Republican party did not provide a place for me unless I went into hiding from myself.

I voted Republican when it meant "less governmental interference in our lives"; unfortunately, now it has come to mean, "less governmental interference in our lives; unless, of course, we disagree with how you live your life." Be sure to research how the two parties plan to allow you to fully live your life. There is a big difference there....

I applaud you for trying to do the right thing. Make an informed decision and vote. Please don't be naive. There are folks out there who hate you just for who you are and what you represent. Many of them are folks in your church and community who, as good Christians, sit in judgment and use their faith as a weapon.

I am impressed that you are not giving up on them, but don't underestimate how much they dislike what you represent. As John Kerry reminded us in his speech tonight, it isn't important that God is on our side, it is important that we are on God's side. His words were borrowed from Abe Lincoln and I acknowledge that not everyone who might read this believes in the same God as you or me or even in God and that is American too.

It is important that you understand how our federal government and our courts are constructed to maintain a clever system of checks and balances. Our founders desired to protect the rights of all Americans and to keep one branch of government from running roughshod over another.

The constitutional amendment proposed by President Bush seeks to codify discrimination of an entire segment of our citizenship. If you don't believe me, download a copy of the proposed amendment and you will see that the threat is indeed real to folks just like you and me.

Patriotism is a heated and highly-debated issue right now. Disagree with the reasons for preemptive attacks on Iraq, point out that there has been no progress in catching Osama bin Laden, that Homeland Security hasn't made us any safer (the very term reeks of Nazi Germany) and you are labeled unpatriotic. I am tired of false patriots.

In recent research, I came across a statement made during the revolutionary war... in the late 1700s. To paraphrase its message - It IS patriotic to question your government when they do something that you disagree with; it is NOT patriotic to remain silent when you feel that what they are doing is unjust or wrong.

I don't want a war president (Bush), I want a war hero (Kerry). I want someone in charge who was under fire for real, not politicking in Alabama while thousands of Americans died. I don't want a false knight.

Kerry led men in battle in Viet Nam, but then had the same courage to come home and say that war was wrong. I admire both types of courage. I like a thinking, feeling leader.

Keith - However you choose to vote, it is most important to vote. As we saw clearly in 2000, every vote counts (well, except for some strategically hanging chads in Florida:). Regardless of the outcome, I want to see the next president elected, not selected by the courts and I want an America that includes me. I won't give up my rights without a fight!