In 1980 I turned 18 on election day. That day I voted for John Anderson. I knew I didn't like Reagan and I thought there was a chance for a third party candidate to win. Well, I learned that lesson before Nader came to along in 2000. I wish now I had voted for the other loser that day, President Jimmy Carter.
I plan to ramble for a while. If you have nothing else to do you can follow me over the rainbow and read more. Otherwise, all I want for my birthday is a huge, landslide Obama win!
So 1980 can be traced back to as the beginning of the conservative death grip on this country. Thanks to DailyKos and all of us here, as well as other notable thinkers on the internet, I have had a community and a place to learn about what has happened during the last 28 years and especially the last 8. I voted for Gore and Kerry. I knew, as many others here knew, that war in Iraq was going to happen with Bush. I had a bad feeling about a lot of what he stood for. Unfortunately the admin. has been a lot worse. A friend of mine from Australia I know, while I worked in Japan said george w. was a dangerous man. That was back in 2000. I thought bush was just dumb, My Australian friend was so right.
So now I manage a place with 12 College students as employees. Some of my students are International students, some are U.S citizens. Some are protestants and Catholics, I have a student born in israel and is of the Jewish faith, and a student from Morocco who is Muslim. Others I am sure share my non beliefs and subscribe to no religion. All of them are very interesting to talk with.
I have three students with darker skin. One young man was born in Africa, but is a U.S. citizen now, one young woman born in Jamaica and is a U.S. citizen now, and one student born in Haiti, and will become a citizen when she has the money and time. These kids are so wonderful to be around.
Today I went off on a rant about these crazy white supremacists and how I hope for a President Obama for my birthday. I was talking to my employee born in Jamaica. I know the white racist stuff and threats to Obama are scary stuff. I make it pretty clear where I stand on these things, still I wonder how they feel seeing a white 46-year-old man getting animated about these issues?
Finally, I feel comfortable in taking a stand and expressing how I feel and defending that. It has taken time. When I was in high school I would sit and be quiet when racist comments were made. SInce then I was quiet when Liberalism was attacked.
So my political and social beliefs have become stronger, I am far more educated about what politicians say, and what they do. I believe in all sciences including Evolution and that Global Climate change is happening and is caused by green hose gases. I also believe we all came from Africa and our ancestors turned right or left (literally speaking) and back tracked and we were born and in some cases we keep moving. I do not believe in "race" as a biological difference between us. There are social-economic conditions in this country that are very real. I believe I am middle class, but I have lower class wages. Others around me in the same economic class are "conservatives" and will vote that way.
Several years ago when I first started working in my present job, I talked with a man I see often. He declared himself a conservative. I didn't declare myself a liberal at that time. I was uncomfortable with the label. We have a lot in common. Presently married with children which are most important to us. Rising prices and stagnant wages. We have several differences as well. But he helps me I help him. We can talk about things and be civil.
I want good news for my birthday because I know the real work this country needs to take will begin after the election. The problems are real and won't go way with bush leaving.