Your fight is over, someone typed, how’s it feel to be a loser?
The fight, I say, was never about me,
My whiteness
My straightness
My middle class existence
My religion
The fight was about the others who are also us.
For their rights
For their justice
For their well being
For their freedom to worship. Or not.
And OUR fight isn’t over.
She lived a good life
Protected and nurtured us
Now lost forever
Yet birds keep flying
The sun continues to shine
Heedless of her death
Our grief is immense
Life, though, continues apace
While this old world turns
I’ve been asked repeatedly today how I feel about Trump winning the election. Truthfully I feel like there has been a death in my immediate family. Ultimately I know we will be alright, but right now I’m experiencing a deep grief.
I spent a sleepless night in which my thoughts circled relentlessly like a dog chasing its tail, and I recalled reading Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s book, On Death and Dying, in which she introduced the five stages of grief:
From my psychiatry courses in college (where a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing) I remember that one can cycle through these stages in a variety of ways unique to each individual.
I ran through denial pretty quickly. The numbers were there. And while it was heartening to note that Hillary won the popular vote, Trump undeniably took the electoral college votes.
Anger is my current companion. I’m not angry at Trump or his supporters so much as I’m angry at their willful ignorance. They don’t care that he has no real plans to implement his policies. They like him because he’s not a career politician, and he isn’t politically correct.
I’m angry at the registered voters who just didn’t show up. I’m angry at those who used their votes to protest by voting for non-viable candidates. I’m angry at the subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle voter suppression tactics that were employed in several states.
I can’t imagine there’ll be much bargaining involved, but depression is anger’s little sister and I’m going to do everything in my power to avoid going down that rabbit hole. Today I smiled at everyone I saw and hugged a woman at work who supported Trump. Little steps.
Acceptance? That’s going to take awhile. But I won’t be like those conservatives who disrespected President Obama and actively rooted for his failure these past eight years. I’m going to support Trump as our president while continuing to fight for the rights of all those living in our country: health care, reproductive rights, racial and gender equality, etc.
I know other bloggers have addressed this much more eloquently than I, but I think the healing starts when we lay it all on the line. This piece was part of my healing process. Maybe it will help someone else along the way.
Peace, people.
We cannot all be stars, shining unrestrained, but each of us can make a difference.
Make a difference. Say no to hate. Vote for Hillary.
I’m with her.
Warning: This post is all over the place. It started out as a recounting of my experiences at a rally featuring Joe Biden and then it morphed into the lists of accomplishments of both major party candidates. So sue me.
Living in a high-profile state is a treat during presidential election years. In the past six months I’ve attended separate events where former President Bill Clinton, and Vice-presidential nominee, Tim Kaine, have spoken. Today I was privileged to be present at a rally featuring Vice-president Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden.
Today’s event was held on the campus of Florida A&M University with dozens of local and state Democratic candidates in attendance. I’d been to FAMU before, and gambled that parking would be in the same place even though the venue had changed. It was a great gamble. I quickly made friends with a young woman who was headed to the rally, and we walked up the hill together.
After standing in an epically long line for nearly two hours we finally made it through the metal detectors as some of the local dignitaries finished speaking. I’d resigned myself to being in the back forty when a young man came and asked if my friend and I would like to move closer to the stage. Soon we were standing just a few yards from the the speakers. Better still, we had a shade tree.
Congresswoman Gwen Graham was on hand to welcome the Bidens. Gwen is a strong voice for Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives. My hope is that she’ll be our governor some day.
By the time the Bidens arrived my feet were in agony. I hadn’t really planned on attending the rally today and had worn boots that, while darned adorable, weren’t all that comfortable. So I did what any sensible person would do–I took them off. Ahhhhh!
The Bidens took the stage together. Jill spoke about meeting Joe when he was running for office and she was a college student. She’d attended a campaign rally and was impressed by his passion and integrity. So much so that she voted for him.
The Vice-president spoke then. He is personable and funny and invested in making this country a place where everyone has a place at the table. He spoke about the cuts Trump has proposed and the programs those cuts would affect: Social Security, funding for education, and health care chief among them.
As Joe Biden began winding his speech to a close I decided to put my boots back on in preparation for walking down the hill. I asked a sturdy young man If I could lean on him and he gave me a huge grin. He probably thought I was a nut, but patiently stood there as I got my left boot on.
When I put my right toe into its boot I got a Charlie horse (cramp) in my calf and almost said a bad word, but managed to restrain myself. I thanked the young man who held my hand through the whole thing. Age does have its privileges.
The crowd was fired up and ready to vote as we headed in separate directions. My new friend had cut class to be at the rally and thought she might catch the end of it if she hurried. She promised to vote tomorrow.
Tomorrow. Election Day 2016.
I’m sixty years old. I cannot recall a more important or divisive election in my lifetime:
On the one hand we have Trump:
Then on the other, dare I say, sane hand, we have Hillary Rodham Clinton:
Cut and pasted from a Daily Kos article:
Oh, she’s also been endorsed by more newspapers, Conservative and Liberal, than any candidate in history.
Is she perfect? No, but she has faced numerous investigations by the FBI and a GOP led congress and neither entity has charged her with a single thing.
Don’t sit around thinking your vote isn’t needed. It is.
Peace, and common sense, people.
Inside the locker room at USA High
Coach Stern: Well team, I’ve got some bad news. Barry’s dad got a promotion and his family’s moving to Hawaii.
(Assembled team gasps.)
Running Back: But, Coach, he’s our quarterback! We can’t win without Barry!
Noseguard: He’s brought us back from so many deficits. We’re doomed!
Coach Stern: Settle down everyone. I know we’re all gonna miss Barry. He’s probably the best QB we’ve had here at USA High, and he’ll be a tough act to follow.
Fullback: So, Coach, who ya got in mind to wear the quarterback’s jersey? We’ve got a couple of big games coming up. All the scouts are gonna be there.
Coach Stern: As it happens, I have two prospects in mind.
(Team members make random noises of curiosity.)
Coach Stern: One’s a seasoned player. She’s never been the quarterback, but she backed one up for years. And she’s studied every aspect of the game. Smart as hell to boot.
Right Tackle: A chick!? Is she tough enough? Does she have the stamina to lead us?
Coach Stern: She’s got stamina like you wouldn’t believe. Almost impossible to knock down. If she were a guy she’d have been quarterback years ago.
Punter: She’s still a girl!
(Team makes assorted grumbling noises.)
Coach Stern: I thought some of you might say that, so here’s the story on the other prospect. He’s never played a single down. Heck, he tried to give our game plans to the crosstown rivals.
(Team makes angry noises.)
Safety: You mean he sold us out to Russkie Prep?
Coach Stern: Yep. That’s exactly what he did. And he groped a couple of our cheerleaders without their permission.
Safety: Anything else?
Coach Stern: Well, he is real unpredictable, and we aren’t even sure if he’ll study the playbook. He’s a sore loser, too, as far as we can tell. Never takes responsibility for anything.
Wide Receiver: So why is he even under consideration?
Coach Stern: Well, he’s a guy. And he brags a lot.
Tailback: Do we get a vote on this Coach?
Coach Stern: Damned straight, you do. So vote. Vote wisely. The school’s reputation depends on it.
Left Tackle: It’s a no brainer Coach. I’m with her.
(Sounds of unanimous agreement, like”Hell yes!” “Damned straight!)
At a Trump rally yesterday a man approached the stage carrying a sign. It was a simple sign, “Republicans Against Trump” printed from an internet site. Someone in the crowd yelled, “Gun!” And all hell broke loose.
Trump was hustled off the stage while angry supporters beat the man until police officers arrived to quickly handcuff, and thankfully, lead him to safety. There was no gun. NO assassination attempt. Yet, that’s how Trump and his crew are spinning it. Some have even slyly hinted that Clinton was behind the “attack.” My own local television station “forgot” to mention that no gun was found and that the man was released after leaving the building.
When Trump returned to the stage he not only thanked the Secret Service detail assigned to him, as was appropriate, but praised those who’d beaten an innocent man. Granted, given the level of violent rhetoric at Trump rallies the protestor’s judgement in so visibly making his feelings known wasn’t that great, but for Trump to offer praise to ruffians is just one more example of Trump’s true nature.
Let’s contrast this with President Obama’s reaction to a man holding a pro-Trump sign at a Hillary rally this week. When folks in the audience began booing and taunting the protestor, President Obama shouted them down, and after getting their attention reminded them to be respectful of the man’s right to free speech under our Constitution.
Donald Trump has dangerous ideas about what it means to hold office. His friendship with Putin might be giving him ideas. Couple that with his strange relationship with members of the FBI, and his endorsement by the Police union, and it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to imagine a change in the way our First Amendment is observed.
For the love of our country’s freedoms get out and vote for Hillary Clinton. Please don’t put your trust in a demagogue who encourages violence and disrespects women.
What if Trump wins this election? I’ve invested so much of my time, my sweat, and even my money to electing Hillary that I’m not sure how I will handle a loss, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t considered my options in case the worst should happen.
The first thing I’ll do is pray. I’ll pray that there is some substance to this man beyond the demagoguery and bluster. I’ll pray that he surrounds himself with intelligent and steady handed people who actually have experience in governing. And I’ll follow that up with a fervent prayer that he is capable of listening to them and of taking their advice. Thus far I haven’t seen that side of him.
I’ll keep on working for Liberal causes: health care as a right and not a privilege, a living wage for all working Americans, reproductive rights for women, affordable college that doesn’t burden students for their entire adult lives, racial and gender equality, LGBT rights, and compassionate immigration reform along with common sense gun regulations.
I still believe Americans as a whole are too smart to fall for Trump’s grandiose lies and hate filled rhetoric, but they’ve gotten him this far. No one thought he’d win the party nomination, but here he is.
Friends, there has never been a more qualified, more experienced candidate for the office of the American presidency than Hillary Rodham Clinton. You don’t have to like her. You don’t have to think she’s perfect. But if you want an America that we can be proud of, one that values the rights of all Americans, not just those of white men, you need to get out and vote for her.
Vote early if you can in your state. Don’t let anyone intimidate you. Just vote.
Peace, and common sense, folks.
I’m a breast cancer survivor. My diagnosis wasn’t dire; I always tell folks I had a slight case of cancer. A few weeks of radiation and inconvenience, and I was as good as new.
I know I was lucky. My husband’s company has great insurance, so every part of my diagnosis and treatment was covered once my deductible was met. Great doctors, a caring hospital, and a road to recovery were all in reach.
But what about women who aren’t so fortunate? What about those women whose jobs don’t offer coverage or those who are students or unemployed? Where do they turn for help?
Planned Parenthood, that’s where. Republicans in congress would have us believe that PP is only performs abortions, when in truth, abortions make up a very small fraction of PP services. I’d hate to live in a country that didn’t provide such import diagnostic services to women in need.
Vote Blue.
Great things were happening in Tallahassee today.
Tim Kaine came to rally Florida voters to vote early.
Tim is a great speaker and immensely likable. The crowd was huge, so I didn’t get very close. Thank goodness for zoom lenses!
The most moving part of the afternoon, though, was seeing Gabby Giffords and hearing her say she couldn’t wait to speak the words, “Madame President.”
Speaking clearly is still a struggle for former representative Giffords, who was shot and nearly killed by a gunman at an event in her home state of Arizona in 2011. The woman is an inspiration and a tireless fighter for common sense gun regulations.
Below, Giffords and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly.
The energy at the rally was inspiring. Since it was held on the campus of Florida State University a great many of those in attendance were college students who were excited about casting their first votes ever.
Loved this young woman’s shirt.
Pre-rally college students discussed their plans to go vote after the rally.
The line went on and on. Everyone was pumped up. Fired up; ready to vote.
I stood in line with these three adorable students. They thought I was in my 40’s.
I’ve already voted. I’m always overcome by emotion when I realize what a privilege it is to cast a vote in this country. Even if you are a Republican, even if we disagree, I hope you exercise your right to vote. And then we all need to be prepared to accept the results.
This has been a divisive campaign. Harsh words have been exchanged–I’ve certainly not minced any syllables. But for my part, if Trump wins this election I will accept his presidency as the voice of a majority of the people. I would hope that he and his supporters will be as gracious if Hillary wins.
Peace, people. Really.
I won’t be watching the presidential debate tonight. Living in the eastern time zone means that the event won’t begin until 9 p.m. I’ll be in bed and hopefully engrossed in book seven of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series by then.
It’s not that I don’t care about the debate. Quite the opposite. I care so much that I fear I’ll throw up when Trump resorts to his de rigueur raft of lies. I care so much that I know I’d never be able to fall asleep once the debate ends. So I’ve set up a recording and I’ll watch sometime tomorrow afternoon.
In the meantime I’ll be praying that Hillary shows what she’s made of: Her grit and determination. Her capacity for compassion and concern for the underserved. Her immense intelligence and extraordinary political savviness.
I’ll also pray that those who are undecided will recognize that there is really only one legitimate choice in this election. Hillary Rodham Clinton. I’m with her.
Praying for Eyebrowz 