(no subject)

[tabaqui]

Maybe this seems redundant, but... I DID vote, and i'm glad. No, 'my guy' didn't win. NONE of the people i voted for won. Right at this moment i have nothing but disgust for my state and my country.
It will pass, because hey! I don't have to wear a burka or be terrified of someone seeing my ankle of be terrified of contracting HIV/AiDS and NEVER getting treatment or living in fear of a suicide bomber getting on the bus with me or any of the hundreds of things other citizens around the world cope with every day.

But the simple fact that fear and loathing, basically, controlled the voting choice of nearly half of the voters in my country...makes me ill.
*sigh*
But i'm not giving up, and i'll vote in the meantime and i'll vote again next time around and if the Shrub can keep from doing anything too incredibly awful for the next four years i'll count my blessings.
Or, you know, maybe he'll do something really, really horrible and we can impeach him.

Either way, my friends, however dark it seems this is NOT forever. I hope that we can fight, and win, on many fronts so that the people i've gotten to know and love here don't feel that they have to literally leave this country in order to live a happy life.

As the man said: 'I am an American. I am duty-bound to make this country better.'
Fuck yeah.



And i salute the women who came before me, and fought and won my right to the vote.
The Suffragettes

Comments

[reremouse.livejournal.com]

Well put and in perspective. Ten points and a pint of Spander smut for you. I think we're getting through the acceptance phase and into the "okay so what can we do now?" phase that gives me hope for the future.

My guy didn't win. This time. But dammit, that doesn't mean it's over for my country and what I can do to make things better.

[tabaqui]

Whoot!
*shakes LJ*
Where's the smut??

Hell yeah, never giving up. That smirking toad of a man will NOT ruin my country.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Right. Good point. But damn, it seems like a long time before we're rid of him. Butyou're right. Having voted gives us the right to speak up.

[tabaqui]

Yup yup.
The Shrub will not prevail.

[yourlibrarian]

Good on you for being in positive mode. I am afraid I am still in "wallowing in depression" mode. At least I can say that I voted in a state where the overwhelming majority of voters agreed with me. That's something.

[tabaqui]

Yup, it is, despite the Shrub saying that America is 'united'.
Ha!

NEVER give up!

[shighola.livejournal.com]

I went into this election with such high hopes, that were more than a little diminished when I saw that everything was coming down to Ohio. See, I'm from Ohio originally, and I know all too well how Ohio has voted historically.

But I spoke to my mother tonight and heard the real story - the story that may never come out. (My mother's job was to be an advocate for voters whose right to vote was being challenged, and she worked at a number of polling sites.) It seems that were the Board of Elections to actually finish the count, they would find that the democratic candidate won in Ohio. There was an unprecedented turnout of minority voters, despite challengers on-site. This coupled with faulty touch screens which recorded votes incorrctly, makes for a logistical nightmare no one is hurrying to fix. But were they to tally ALL the votes - they would see that the democratic candidate won.

This gives me hope. So whether the candidate I voted for ever becomes president or not. I'm officially cancelling my move to Europe.

Re: NEVER give up!

[tabaqui]

See, and i almost wish Kerry hadn't conceded, 'cause it just seems like - 'wait 'til all the vots are in!'....
*sigh*
But what's done is done, and we just have to ride the Shrub HARD for four years and make sure he doesn't do anything totally fuxored.

[anelith.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that link. I did read the article as well as your post and it reinforced a thought that I had yesterday, that despite my sadness, we do have a lot to still be thankful for. And I hope we don't forget to be grateful for the efforts of people who fought so hard in the past for rights we have today.

[tabaqui]

I hope most folks feel that way - and now's the time to tighten the screws and make sure the Shrub doesn't think he can get away with murder just 'cause he doesn't have to be nice to get re-elected.
Grrrrrrrrr.

[cleeaz.livejournal.com]

I voted too, some of my choices won and some didn't. I also took my 18yo to vote. She didn't want to, and seem to feel it was a punishment. I explained to her that in many other countries, people would give anything to have choices to have the right to vote. That people had died to give us the right to vote. That voting was a privilege and by god she was going to take advantage of any privileges to be had. So she voted (after I made her read up). I'm not happy with the president either and like you I just hope it's a calm 4yrs that go by quickly. Now if we can only get our people out the middle east, I'll be happy. (and there I go wordy again, sigh) Cindy Lee

[tabaqui]

Ack!
Punishment?
Man... I blame...everything, for that. Although i thought MTV made voting cool?
*sighs*
At least more people went out and voted this time, instead of sitting at home like lumps.
I did what i could, i'm continuing to sign petitions, write letters, make phone calls.
My eye is upon the Shrub, and so are the eyes of at least half the country. We'll keep the bastard in line.