I am often asked by my Republican friends and family, "How can you be one of them, and why on earth would I vote for that guy?"
I was born and raised in Oklahoma, and as you know, we are the only state that failed to deliver a single county to Barack Obama in the Presidential election. I was born into a caucasion (at least by census) conservative family with a fundamentalist former preacher as a father. Some of us may be drunk on Friday, but by God, we are in those church pews come Sunday morning! We love the Constitution, especially when we pretend it came with caveats for equality, and even though the word God cannot literally be found, we believe "freedom of religion" is just another way to say God and/or Christianity! If we aren't waving our flags, we're wearing them. And, don't you dare try to trick us into believing Shariah law isn't a threat to our state. Our bibles are our guidance, unless of course, it's in conflict with other things. Like judging others. Serving the afflicted or less fortunate. Giving unto Caeser. We boast a low unemployment rate, but neglect to acknowledge our median household income keeps us near the bottom as far as national averages. We believe Fox news is the only news, and because those nice guys know whats best, we will vote against our best interests. Over, and over, and over again. Well, lots of us. But not all of us. Not me.
I want to explain why I fit several demographics the Republican party is railing so heavily against and explain exactly why I am one of you, and how I can proudly vote for "that guy". I want to acknowledge how grateful I am for the opportunities given to me by selfless individuals like you, and how those opportunities do not encourage me to stay stagnant, and comfortable where I am, but urge me to grow and become so much more. I want to show, first hand, how the ideology of Democrats does not equal a handout, but a help up. I want to share how the efforts made by others to improve my life will afford me the opportunity to pass it on. (More after the fold.)
In January of 2013, I believe Barack Obama will be inaugurated into his second term in office as the President of the United States. He will be there. He will be there because of you. He will be there because of me. He will be there to finish the job we have entrusted him to finish.
Although not perfect, President Obama will be there, and he will stand for me. He will stand for me because I am a woman, and Barack Obama believes my value is tremendous. In contrast, the Republican party is telling me because of biology, I am deemed less valuable than men by approximately 23%. Apparently, I am not capable of making sound medical decisions either. I need a room full of congressmen, an ultrasound, and quite possibly a boss to make those decisions for me. How silly of me to think my doctor, my family, and my own personal considerations should play any role. If I am raped, it will take me some time to determine if it was legitimate. Maybe a man can clear that up for me. Or maybe I will just take a pregnancy test with high hopes that my body rejected sperm because the rapist chose to encroach upon my safety illegitimately. See? Protection of my health, and my value demand Barack Obama be there. I believe he will be.
I am well below the poverty line. I was born into poverty, and at 37, I have never managed to climb out of poverty. But, I don't particularly feel poor. I don't mind doing without a lot of things. Believe it or not, when I am able, I give what I can if someone is in need. If I am unable to give resources, I am more than capable to give time. So far, I've been able to make ends meet most times. I'm poor, yes. But I have pride. Not the kind of pride that pounds my chest, and declares my awesomeness because of what I've built when I've started with all I need. Let's be honest, when you literally start with nothing, you have nothing to build upon. But profoundly proud, that with some assistance, I am able to change my life. See, it wasn't too many years ago I was homeless on the streets of Phoenix, AZ. I was struggling with a medical diagnosis that I did not have the means to address. However, a homeless shelter gave me a place to sleep. The demands were minor. Every week, I would pay a minimal amount of "rent", which was based on income, and if I could not afford rent, I could work around the shelter and still secure three daily meals, and the safety of a roof over my head. It was at this shelter opportunities began to open themselves up to me. Counselors connected me with agencies who would help me with medical expenses. (Full disclosure here, because of my illness, I qualified for disability and this aided me a great deal.) They helped me connect with people who would help me secure my own apartment. Left to my own devices, my own knowledge, and my own lack of security, I don't imagine I could have left the streets on my own. But with the concern and help from others, and the effort and determination from me, I did. Today, I am in college. If we were to embrace the policies of Republicans, cutting social programs, and cutting financial aid, I most likely would not be in college today. I would be in the throes of complete dependence, rather than rebuilding my life, and gaining independence.
Which brings me to the third point: I benefit from pell grants and federal student loans, and I believe in science. I put these two together because it is pell grants/loans that afford me the opportunity to study science. Sure, I would rather have borrowed from my family or friends, but first, I'd have to adopt a new family, and cosy up with friends because of their material riches, and not because of their profound strength of character. I have two semesters left at a community college, in which, I will have earned an Associate Degree in Biology. With hard work, a little luck, and fierce determination, I hope to win a coveted spot in a highly competitive program as I transfer to a 4-year college. Someday, God willing, I will repay ten-fold what has been shared with me. Soon, I hope to contribute in the medical field professionally. I will help in saving lives. And, I will champion for those less fortunate, who deserve good, quality healthcare just like those who champion only for themselves. I will do so because someone, many someones, championed for me. You, through votes for candidates who took on homelessness, healthcare, and education, you championed for me. How grateful I forever am! And, to continue this path of creating a more perfect union, where we strengthen the weakest rather than creating a greater distance between the strong and the weak, we need a president who embodies this very spirit. President Barack Obama must be at the inauguration. And, I believe he will be.
I think back to those long nights in Phoenix, Az. I think back to the hopelessness, the profound sense of failure I felt, and the lack of direction and the consistent barrage of assumptions that I was there because I chose to be. I consider how different the path would be today had there not been Democrats who took on social issues, who truly adhered to the constitutional belief that we are all created equal and the promotion of general welfare is not a secondary consideration, but an equal and celebrated declaration not unlike justice, domestic tranquility, and blessings of liberty.
This semester, to my great surprise, I received an invitation to attend the 2013 Collegiate Presidential Inaugural Conference in Washington, DC. It was offered to me because of the grades I have maintained while in college. See, I didn't take an opportunity that so many worked so hard to make available and squander it, which seems to be the assumption of the "other guys". I feel this great obligation to put all of my energy into my studies, to earn my degree, and to give back as a show of gratitude for your efforts. If someone else cares enough to ensure, that if I want an education, a path will be provided, I know it is up to me to complete the journey. It is the validation that you, and so many like you deserve, who passionately and compassionately thought, "the least of these deserve a shot, too." Your efforts have not been in vain. And, I know, without a doubt, there are thousands like me, who without the true concern of our fellow citizens, could never climb out of the abyss alone because we would have known nothing else. But now, we do. Now we can turn around, reach back and pass on our commitment to the general welfare of those who want to climb out of their own abyss, but do not have the tools, the education or the means. So, I thank you. From the bottom of my increasingly educated heart, I thank you!
I am applying for a scholarship to attend the Collegiate Presidential Inaugural Conference. Although the invitation does not hinge on the scholarship, my ability to attend does. I know my chances of winning are slim. I know there are those with much more compelling stories, and hard earned grades that eclipse my own, who are as deserving, or more deserving of the award. But that is not my point. See? I got an invitation. Me! I was homeless. I couldn't get invited to a dinner table for a long time, and today, I am invited to an inauguration conference. I was hopeless. Today I am on the verge of meeting my dreams. I was floundering, and today, I am confident that I can meet any challenge. I've a long way too go, but progress has been made. I have not gotten here alone. I am here because of people, kind people, caring people, and truly patriotic people. I am here because of you. So, should the scholarship not come to fruition for me, and the tuition remain beyond my reach, it doesn't matter if I am there in attendance. I got the invitation. I've accepted the invitation. I will still be there. When Barack Obama is sworn into his second term in office, and I believe he will be, I will be there. I will be there because Barack Obama represents me. And you, my friends, will be there, too.