Categotry Archives: Current Events

Well, here we are.  It has been a week since the election. It’s been a week since many of us feel that life as we know it has changed.  I think at this point the shock is starting to wear off.  I think the anger is starting to give way to thoughtfulness and ideas on how to make changes in our country.  But we still have a long road.

I won’t lie.  When I found out that he had won the next morning, I cried.  I cried for myself and other women who may have their reproductive rights  put in jeopardy.

I cried for my girls because I am afraid that men who look up to him will now feel they have a free pass to touch any female they want.

I cried for those he feels should be forced out of the country that for many is the only home they have ever known.  And for those he feels should be banned from ever setting foot here.

I cried for those who are atheist/agnostic who may now have religion forced on them in places where they should feel safe.

I cried for those who have been victims of or have lost loved ones to gun violence because there is no way that the people in the pockets of the NRA will bring forth any change to gun laws.

I cried for the LGBT community who fear that their rights may be taken away.

I cried for our country because it feels like we have been set back at least 50 years, if not more.

But I’m not crying anymore.  I’m angry at the choices he has made already and the backlash the election has caused. Now it’s time to take action.  And it can even be something little…paying it forward in a drive-thru.  Or letting someone who may be targeted know you are on their side.  Or making a donation to Planned Parenthood. Or reminding your girls that they can shatter the glass ceiling and that no male ever has a right to lay a hand on them if they do not want them to.   And in the longer run, VOTE.  Vote in every election. Change who our politicians are.  If you’re so inclined, run for office. Every little bit HELPS.

Although the  origin of this quote is disputed, I feel it’s extremely appropriate.  “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” And there is no time like now.

I try to stay away from posting anything political on here but something happened yesterday that has prompted me to write about gay rights and doing your homewok before voting.

I was raised to accept everyone.  My parents opened their home to all of our friends regardless of race, ethnicity, etc.  I’ll admit, I didn’t really know any gay people growing up or at least, not anyone I KNEW was gay.  Obviously, this is not the case anymore and honestly, it’s not even something I think about.  My friends are my friends regardless of their sexual orientation…it just doesn’t MATTER to me.  I will never be able to fathom why ANYONE would think a gay couple should have different rights that a heterosexual one.  It just boggles my mind.

Yesterday, a friend posted this video on Facebook (And can I say that I LOVE this guy!).  After she posted it, a friend of hers pretty much said he didn’t understand the point of adding gays to the list of minorities that cannot be discriminated against because “everyone is protected from discrimination already, why is adding more words to specify another group necessary?”  The fact that he even had to ask that question kind of scared me.  So he and I went back and forth a bit about it and we were both polite about it.  My friend let me know privately that this guy is a strict Republican which I had already pretty much figured out.  My friend jumped in a bit too even though she said she knew better and then the conversation took a turn toward gay marriage.  This guy actually asked what rights gay couples don’t have that married, heterosexual couples do.  I…WAS….SPEECHLESS.  And so was my friend who said her head pretty much exploded at that point.  So, we enlisted the help of a mutual friend who is a lesbian.  We knew if anyone could put this guy in his place, she could.  And she did.  She gave him just SOME of the rights she and her partner do not have because they are gay.  Not to be outdone, the assclown asked her what SHE was doing to change any of this.  Again, I kind of had to hold back myself..  Nothing bugs me more than people who assume that someone is all talk and no action.  And he couldn’t be more wrong about my friend…she is PASSIONATE about gay rights and she isn’t the type to just sit by and wait for things to happen…she’s a DOER.  So, she let him know exactly what she has been doing in her fight for equal rights and I can guarantee it’s more than this guy is doing for anything he believes in.  I could hear several people applauding her at their computers and so far, that has been the end of the conversation but I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes back.

But, this whole thing makes me wonder about some people in our country.  As my lesbian friend pointed out, if HE had to ask what rights gay couples don’t have, that means there are A LOT more people out there who also don’t know and that’s scary.  These are the people who are voting and if they don’t know what rights a certain group DON’T have, how can they make an informed decision?  And what is even scarier is that many of these people don’t care to LEARN.  They listen to their candidate and just blindly follow without researching whether or not what said candidate wants is fair or even makes sense.

So PLEASE, if you plan to vote, do your homework.  Don’t be a blind follower.  Look into your candidate’s position on things, check any of the numerous, unbiased fact checking sites and make an INFORMED decision.  Our future and the future of our children depends on it.