The Sadness of the Election of 2016

If you ever care to look back, you will see that in this blog, I have tried to tell you who I will vote for in the presidential election and why. This year, I have not written my 25, or even ten, reasons why I will not vote for Donald Trump. I have not done this because I am unable to figure out what he stands for, what his policies are, or what is his vision for the United States.
I can tell you, based on what I have actually seen and heard, that the GOP candidate lacks empathy. You may think he cares about you and yours, but tell me one thing that has led you to believe this. The GOP presidential candidate does not do good works; he has never worked on behalf of anyone but himself. We don't even know if he gives to charity, because we are not allowed to see his tax returns.
He lacks experience in government; you may see this as an asset, but to ask someone to be the leader of the largest nation in the free world is to require that person to be knowledgeable (no, actually, they need to be a genius) about the Constitution, the three branches of government and their power, the budget, military strategy, and history. The leader of the free world needs to know something about other countries and their history (does the GOP candidate know anything about the history and culture of Turkey? India? Ethiopia? Qatar?). To lack knowledge in any of these areas is dangerous; to think you have the knowledge while never having governed could be catastrophic. We, and our children and grandchildren, may no longer have a truly free nation to call home (no joke--I am completely serious).
The GOP candidate has promised many things, but has not actually told us how he will work with Congress to get bills passed and treaties approved (yes, Congress does do this). He has spoken so badly about his fellow GOP that I have trouble believing he will be able to unite the party to do anything.

To be fair, I have heard him say a few things:

"They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” 
Why on earth would you, as a candidate for president, say something so false and so inflammatory? Where are the facts to back this up? [Note:  He will NOT build a wall. He is lying to you. Absolutely, without a doubt, lying to you.]

“You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful – I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star they let you do it,” Trump says. “You can do anything. Grab them by the p—y. You can do anything. " 
Do you know any woman? Any woman at all? Would you be okay if someone said they could sexually assault them, and get away with it? Would you allow this man near the person you know who is a woman--any woman at all? No? Then why on earth would you want him to be the leader of the free world? What kind of message does that send to the woman in your life? That they are objects, not real humans? Yup. And, shame on you.

The GOP candidate for president of the United States has also, many times, said things in the heat of the moment, and has had to later retract what he said. He's changed positions on issues--sometimes in the same day. The United States is the strongest nation in the world. It's absolutely terrifying to think that someone as volatile as he is would be commander-in-chief of our military.

In closing, I leave you with this thought:  dozens of military experts have said the GOP nominee would be a terrible leader. Dozens of our "best and brightest" scientists, economists, teachers, and diplomats have said the same thing. NOT ONE of our living former presidents has endorsed him. I cannot believe that, based on all this information and opinion, over 40% of our voters think he should be president. Our ancestors voted for the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt; they wanted the very best for our country. I cannot begin to imagine what my grandparents would think of this man.

Think carefully about your vote. There is a candidate who could do actual harm to many of us; he is running on the GOP ticket. Leave your children, your grandchildren a better world than we have now; make them feel that they are equal in every way to every other person in this world. Vote on behalf of those who cannot--children, the mentally challenged. Vote for Hillary Clinton. It will be our little secret...

A Reasoned Argument

In 2000, I decided to run for local public office. I knew that if I was elected, it would have an impact on my family; I knew they would be subject to greater scrutiny, and I also knew there would be numerous times I would not be able to be with them--evenings, weekends...

I also knew I had to be prepared for questions on specific issues. I knew there would be a public forum, but I also knew that, as I went door-to-door, I would have to answer questions from voters--if I wanted to be elected, I had to be familiar with the problems in our local community. So, I did some reading, and since this was the early days of the internet, I did as much research as I could on-line. I read the local newspaper, and I listened. Wow, did I listen. Our local community is informed, and the voters have opinions. If they asked me a question I could not answer, I wrote it down, and did more research. I also talked to people who were already working for local government; it was good to have a relationship with these people, should I be elected, but it was also good to get their perspective.

Having done all this, I thought I was ready. I thought I knew all there was to know about the office I was running for.

And then I got elected. By forty-three votes.

And I realized, quickly, there was so much more I needed to learn. About my new local office. About budgets, and cash flow, policies and procedures.

So, I dedicated myself to reading everything that was put in front of me. Reading and re-reading it. Jotting down questions. I also signed up for every workshop and conference I could. And, I found out there are some wonderful people who are dedicated to making sure every local public official is as informed as they possibly can be; they want public office holders to be professional and law-abiding.

I loved my job. I loved being able to help people. I loved talking about the issues, and voting the way I thought my constituents wanted me to. I think I did a good job. In the end, it was not enough, and I was voted out four years later. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

I tell you this story, because I have some fundamental issues with the GOP candidate, running for president, this year.

Please don't stop reading.

The reason I am writing this is because I want you, educated voter, to consider what I am saying before you cast your ballot.

Please.

I have heard many, many people say they are voting for Trump because, "He's not the same old, establishment candidate." I have also heard people say, "Trump is a great businessman--I have watched his show. He'll be good at creating jobs, and re-negotiating trade deals. He will make our country great again."

First of all, there is a real difference between someone who is "establishment" and someone who has never, ever had a job in government. You might want a "breath of fresh air" in a public office, but it is absolutely irresponsible to vote for someone with NO experience, let alone thinking that the future president of the United States should be such a person. For instance, when I was serving locally, I was responsible for overseeing FIVE budgets. It took me a good six months to grasp what each budget financed, and another six months to remember what I learned. Fortunately, I had six other Board members who could help me as I learned. My vote, my power, was just one of six. I had a cushion for mistakes I might make. The POTUS has no such cushion. He or she needs to be well-versed in policy, laws, and proper channels. If you are elected to city council, or Congress, you get some "on-the-job training" about governmental powers and limits; you are automatically placed in a position where you gain some understanding about separation of powers and how an idea gets funded by a government entity. If you vote for Trump, you are basically voting for someone who has as much governmental experience as you do (assuming, of course, you have never been elected or appointed to office). Is that a scary thought? It should be.
Running a country, state, or city is nothing like running a business. If you are the head of a business, you make decisions based on what is good for you, and for your bottom line. You don't necessarily have to discuss your options with anyone else, nor do you have to necessarily even consider historical trends or future speculations. Once the decision is made, it's over--implemented and making money for you the very next minute. Running a country? It must be like herding cats. First of all, and contrary to what the GOP candidate is telling us, trade deals are negotiated and then have to be approved by Congress. So, you have to have a good working relationship with those elected officials, so they will approve the deal you've worked on. It would be really, really good for the GOP candidate to stop calling people running for Congress "stupid" and "losers". For if elected, he will have to get laws passed by THEM. If you are POTUS, you also have to read, and retain, a vast amount of material. You need to know what is happening in California (wildfires), what's happening in Iraq (we have troops there), what is happening in Podunk City, AnyState (mayors there are threatening to secede from the US). For each situation, you have to know facts, history, and history. You have to know what has worked in the past, who their allies and enemies are, and the historical context for what is going on now.  Finally, you have to think about the impact your decision will have on the lives of others. From what I've heard, and what I have seen, the GOP candidate for POTUS is absolutely incapable of listening to, and retaining information from, anyone else. It's a fact that he has said, "I will take care of __________ for you." No mention of who he will work with, no mention of anyone he will take advice from. This frightens me more than anything else--that a good percentage of my fellow countryman are willing to place their future, and the future of their children, all in the hands of one man. One man, who has never once said he would consider anyone else when making any decision, any time. One man, who seems to be unaware that there are three branches of government, each with their own power (and limitations).

Please, before you vote this year, take some time to think. Turn off the television, shut down the computer, and think. Think about the future. Think about the rest of us--your parents, your children, your friends, and the rest of the world. You should be voting for the best possible person to be the head of this country--the smartest, the most empathetic, the person who will do the best job for us, and the person who will inspire the rest of us to do our best. A person who can get people--all people--to work together. A person who will help us have a better future; one we can all be proud of. Then, and only then, go vote.

My Mom Would Have Voted for Hillary

If the button, pictured above, is any indication, my mom had been a Hillary supporter for a long time. Had she been physically able, I know she would have stuck around so she could cast her vote in November for Hillary Clinton. Proudly and without reservation. If she knew you, she would be disappointed if you didn't do the same.
I think my mom admired Hillary's stubbornness and ability to survive all that life threw at her. My mom was one of those women too--no matter what you had to endure, when morning came, you got up and went to work...again. My mom wanted to be a nurse, but life made other plans for her, just as life made other plans for Hillary Clinton. Too often, when we lose a job, fail to be promoted, or just are flat-out denied (because we're women, or not the right color, or are not strong enough, or just don't look right), we become bitter and give up on whatever dream or goal we have. It is so much easier to give up than to dig in and work harder. My mom did not have that luxury--she had children to feed, rent to pay, and medical bills. Hillary Clinton just decided not to take "no" for an answer. Hillary Clinton has a vision for a better world, and has decided the way to achieve her goals is by being president of the United States. My mom appreciated that.
My mom grew up in a world where men made the rules, men had all the jobs (oh yes, you could have a job, for pay, but many times that job or that pay increase was tied to how much access your boss had to your body--we call it sexual harassment or sexual assault, but my mom called it Tuesday at the car dealership). In her world, men had access to better education, and men controlled women's bodies (if you absolutely desperate, there were back alley abortions available, but those were dangerous and you could end up paying with your own life) and reproductive rights. In her lifetime, my mom hoped for a better world for her children and grandchildren, and she also saw great achievements for women (and men). She also witnessed the GOP begin to chip away at reproductive rights, and she lived long enough to hear a man, running for the highest office in our nation, refer to women as "pigs".  I'm sure she felt like she was right back in the 1950's, and probably was afraid for her daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters. I wonder if she felt anger too, and I wonder if that would have made her even more determined to vote for Hillary Clinton for president? The alternative would have been unthinkable for her; possibly even a nightmare.
My mom had a lot of common sense; she was a pretty good judge of character, and embodied the Golden Rule. She was a good Christian; she walked the walk. My mom was not stupid, and after raising seven children, it was not easy to "pull the wool" over her eyes. After all that was said, and written, about Hillary Clinton, my mom was still willing to vote for her. My mom would never have voted for a liar or a cheat, a "murderer" or someone who broke the law. She would be appalled that someone who said NOT paying taxes "made him smart" wanted her to vote for him! She obeyed the law, paid her share, and expected others to do the same (Unless something was unjust. Then she was proud if you protested or wrote Letters to the Editor). And, she would also know, from experience, that some people would say, and do, anything to keep a woman from achieving great things. She knew there was nothing a woman couldn't do, if she was given the opportunity.
My mom also knew that big jobs get done when everyone works together (Oh my goodness, I remember those Saturdays when every room was cleaned and the laundry was done AND folded before anyone went anywhere!). She would never have trusted a man who said, "I will do it for you. I alone will make America great again." She would have known, no matter how successful he appeared to be, that he could not fulfill that promise. She would have seen his "true colors"; she would have seen a man who never did any charity work, that apparently never donated much money to others, and who therefore was not a good man. My mom once gave someone the coat she was wearing because, "They needed it." I know she would look at the GOP candidate and see a very selfish man. Indeed, that would have strengthened her commitment to Hillary Clinton, who has devoted her life to helping others.
I ask you to join me in honoring my mother in November. I ask you to join me in honoring all those women who have gone before us. I ask you to join me in voting for Hillary Clinton.

Bring It

The more I think about it, the angrier I am. I think I'm angrier because so few people are feeling the outrage that I am. I am frightened for my fellow Americans--I am so scared that we have become immune to the violent words of others. I am petrified that, because we have a PRESIDENTIAL candidate who spouts something hateful or derogatory every time he opens his mouth, we have become deaf to what he says and the influence he is having on us.
Yesterday, he said the unsayable. He said something no civilized person should say, especially not someone who wants to lead the most powerful nation in the world. He advocated violence against another person--a person who, because she is always in the public eye, is especially vulnerable. WHY IS THIS OKAY??? Where is the outrage, people????
We are better than this. We are so much better than this.
If we keep listening to Donald Trump, or worse, if we excuse him or dismiss what he says, we are going to become people who are hateful, mistrust others, and who are perfectly willing to allow someone else to be hurt or killed without caring. This is not hyperbole--it's already happening! If you are reading this, and you are laughing at my passion, if you are ready to stop reading right now because I'm coming across as crazy, then congratulations--you have taken one more step toward the destruction of the world we know, and the world we are going to leave for our children and grandchildren.
We are better than this.
We are better, and it's time we ALL speak out, take action, take fucking responsibility for goodness sake. WE are the adults. WE are the examples for everyone else. WE have to do something--anything--because it's all on us.
We need to stop the hate. We need to stop the violence. We need to stop the words that divide us. We need to be aware, and speak out. Speak out against Donald Trump. Speak out when others use the words he uses.
From today until the election, I AM GOING TO ACT. I am going to do all I can to counteract the hatred and bigotry and violence that Donald Trump advocates.
It's not as hard as it sounds. You are probably already being an American advocate. Do you hold doors for others? You are making a difference. Do you "pay it forward" at Starbucks once in a while? You are making a difference. Are you kind and polite to everyone?? You are making a difference.
We are better than this, and I would love to prove it to others.
From now until the election, post something--anything--every day. Use the hashtag:
#TodayIWasBetterThanTrump
Post it on Facebook, on Twitter, post it with a photo on Instagram. POST. IT.
Let's be better than Trump. Share it with me. Let's share it with the world.
Let's be better. Our world deserves better than this.

Feeling Human

First of all, an apology is in order. Earlier this week, I said some things on Facebook that were reckless and hurtful. I am sorry. I feel like I might have hurt some of my friends when I made those comments, and I am so very sorry for that. I love you more than I love politics (and I love politics a LOT), and you are far more important to me than anything else. If we don't love each other, if we don't have respect for each other, we might as well write off this planet as done, doomed. Again, if you feel I did not respect you, if I hurt you, I am sorry.

This week, something historic is happening in the United States. A WOMAN has been nominated for president of the United States!! We should be celebrating. Facebook should be full of smiling, ecstatic women and girls, celebrating that one more barrier is down, one more opportunity is available to US! This moment IS BIG, and we need to celebrate! How many times did you hear, "No woman should be president. Men are the only ones who are capable." I've heard it--a lot. Made me mad the first time, and still makes me angry when I hear it (the last time I heard it was last week). What the hell? We are an amazing country, we are leaders in this world, and we haven't yet had a woman president??? And now we are being given that chance, and we are...subdued. What is wrong with us?
Hillary Clinton might not be your first choice for the first woman president, but the actual feat should be wildly applauded. For after this, nominating a woman for president will have already been done; it will be far less of a deal than it's been for over 220 years. Hillary has made it easier. Easier for the next, and the next, and the next.
I cannot believe we weren't out dancing in the streets.
I haven't been. I've felt thrilled, amazed, proud, happy, and I've felt like shouting.
But I haven't.
I haven't.
I think I have done it out of respect for my friends who are supporters of Bernie Saunders. I know they are disappointed, hurting, angry. I know this because I felt EXACTLY the same way in 2008. I supported Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama ended up being the candidate. Back in 2008, my friends and family who supported Obama were kind, and did not gloat when he secured the nomination. They allowed me to mourn a little, to be disappointed, and that in turn allowed me to completely and absolutely support Barack Obama for President. I campaigned for him. I encouraged my family and friends to vote for him. I argued (and still do) with friends on his behalf.
I hope my friends who supported Bernie Saunders will be able to do the same. I am not saying this because I am trying to "shame" you into supporting Hillary Clinton, but because because I think she will be the best person for the job. Not only that, but her coattails will be long, and we will have many other Democrats in office because of her--she has recognized the need for other party wins already, and has been actively campaigning for those who are "down ticket"--those running for the House and Senate, for governor and for state legislatures.
Because here's a FACT. If you are like me, you have "felt the burn" of the past six years. Six long years when all the hopes and dreams and concrete plans of President Obama have been stopped, stomped on, and hatefully ignored by the GOP members of Congress. Because the simple truth is, you can dream big; you can have the most glorious plans for this nation. But if you don't have Congress behind you, willing to make those dreams into law, you will be left with nothing. You will be left feeling pain and anger, which is the way that many people are now feeling. From school board to dogcatcher to city council to governor--those are the officials who will have the most impact on YOUR life (Don't believe me? Try to get a marriage license if you are a same sex couple in any number of places. It's been humiliating.). But if we want to make change--real change--at the national level, if we want wonderful things FOR EVERY AMERICAN, then we have to elect members to Congress who will work with the president, not against them. If we can build enough excitement and support for Hillary Clinton, we can get those people elected too (how many of you have pushed the "Democrat" button on the computer screen, knowing that all those candidates will be elected? Trickle down at it's best).
We can make this nation greater. We can. But we have to recognize it's a group effort. We know what happens when a president does not have the support of Congress. We have seen too many dreams die in the past six years, and if you're like me, you are tired of it. In the primaries, we all chose candidates who made us dream big; made us believe in a brighter future. But if we ignore the fact that one person--one presidential candidate--cannot do it all, then we face another two, four, or six years of disappointment and anger. We will "feel the burn", and we will leave our children a country that is far less than it could have been.
I cannot, with good conscience, do that. I will not do that. I will do all I can to elect a good president, AND a good Congress, AND good state officials.
Come November, I will be able to honestly say I did all I could. I hope you will be able to say that too.

We Go Driving

Karen and I sometimes get in the car and head out--no particular destination in mind, but cameras always in tow. We head in a direction we've never gone, or to a town we've never been in. It's easy to just go; within 10 minutes of leaving our house, we are in the country. It's easy to get lost too, but also easy to find our way back--most little country roads lead to bigger roads, which usually lead to a road we are familiar with.
If we didn't meander, we wouldn't have these memories...

 Recently, we meandered until we found a small rural cemetery. The photos were spectacular, if I do say so myself....Pond Grove Cemetery...

We Are

We are your brothers and sisters, your aunties and uncles, your friends, your co-workers.

We are the children of mothers and fathers, we are mothers and fathers.
We are your teachers, your firefighters, your grocery clerk, your doctors and nurses.
We are your neighbors, we are the strangers on the streets.

We celebrate weddings and birthdays, just like you.
We celebrate major holidays, just like you.
Some days hold a special significance for us, just like you.
We worship in churches, synagogues, mosques, in nature, just like you.

We hold crying babies and the hands of the dying, just like you.
We bleed when hurt, we die of cancer, heart disease, and AIDS, just like you.
We are flawed human beings, just like you.
We sin, just like you.

We love--loyally and fiercely and with passion--just like you.
We would die for our children, we would fight for our country, we despair over human events, and are angry when confronted with evil. Just like you.

We are human. Just like you.

When your hatred and bigotry are directed at us--the lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered--we are afraid. We are terrified. We are bloodied. We die.

Why? Why are we singled out? We are not different. We are not "them".

We are human. Just like you.

The United State of Women

Swimming Toward Love

This is the sermon I gave at our church on May 15th....
                        "Swimming Toward Love"

            How many of you like to swim?

            How many of you LOVE to swim?

            I LOVE to swim! I love it so much, I swim 3 times a week, a mile (about 1600 meters) every time. I swim for exercise, I swim because I think it keeps me healthy, and I swim because I feel so good when I do it. And, as with everywhere in town, I run into fellow UUs—Marty and Nancy Patchen. [Isn’t it extraordinary that, as small as our congregation is, we are EVERYWHERE??!]

            I do have a favorite place to swim—the Helen Schleman Natatorium at the YWCA on 6^th Street in Lafayette.  Helen Schleman was the Dean of Women at Purdue, and as I swim, I often think about the impact Dr. Schleman had, and continues to have, on women in this community. During every swim, I thank her.

            It takes about an hour, for me, to swim a mile. Recently, Verna Ritz asked me what I did while I swam those 33 laps in the pool? I know Diana Nyad, who swam from Cuba to Florida, sings songs in her head, to keep her rhythm, but she swims for hours and hours at a time.

            Me? I count, I think about my strokes, I watch the bubbles, and as my goggles fog up, and my head goes underwater, blocking out all sight and sound, I ponder and I mediate.

            Some people I know (Eric Thiel), think and muse while mowing—then, he sometimes shares his thoughts on his blog. Some of you may contemplate and meditate while exercising, while showering, while trying to go to sleep. Hopefully, you share your thoughts with others as well.

            As I swim, I think about family, friends, and yes, I think about this congregation. During the year I was Board President, this congregation was often in my thoughts. I honestly think I was a better Board president because I swam.

            I also think about sermon topics, sketching out ideas in my head. When we were dealing with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act last year, I thought about how I would and how I could reach out to others, how to explain what that horrible law would do to me and to the ones I love.

            Today, I want to share three ideas I’ve had while swimming in the deep…OK, while swimming in the shallows.

            One morning, I was scrolling through Facebook, and someone was bemoaning the fact that while they were able to work, take classes, and better themselves, there were others out there who seemed “content” to “live off the government” and take this persons’ hard-earned tax dollars. As I hit my swim stride that morning, I contemplated what I would say when I responded to this person on Facebook—because respond I would. This morning, I know I am “preaching to the choir”, just as I “preached” to those very clever children during Time for All Ages. EVERYTHING we perceive is colored, just as surely as those magnifying glasses were colored—by every bit of our lives right up until this moment. I know for a fact that person on Facebook grew up in a safe neighborhood, went to good schools, and had an extended family to support them as they raised their child and went to college. No, it was not easy, but they never stopped to consider that their obstacles in life were not the same as the “deadbeats” they were describing in their Facebook rant. Instead of being judgmental, I thought they should be thankful that they had all the things they so obviously took for granted, so obviously ignored when perceiving the shortcomings of others. If we could all stop and try to see things as others do, as others experience, we would be so much better off, be living in a much better place. Our congregation has taken a big step in this direction by our focus this year on #blacklivesmatter. I love that, instead of talking, we are committed to listening, to hearing the perspective of others in our community. We are going to learn so much, and will then be able to effectively support others in our community. My Facebook friend gave me much to ponder and meditate on while in the pool, and I’ve come to realize that the perspective of others is invaluable; it colors everything.

            Earlier this year, in January, my mom died. During the months prior to her death, and now after her passing, I’ve spent entire swims thinking about her. It was in the pool that I composed her obituary and her eulogy. I have great memories of this silently strong woman, and it’s a comfort to think about her. I always climb out of the water feeling at peace.

             Before her funeral mass, my niece, my sister, and I had shared some memories of my mom.

            One of the things I said was this: 

            “Eleven years ago, I had to make a very difficult phone call to my Mom—I had to tell her I am gay. I was one of the fortunate ones—my mom told me, unconditionally, that she loved me and would always love me no matter what. Her love and support has sustained me, and given me the courage to face some difficult situations with some very judgmental people. Because if my mamma loved me, nothing else mattered. And my mom also taught me, by example, that if someone hurts you, you turn the other cheek.”

            I shared that memory in that Catholic Church, because I wanted my mother to be an example to those who were not so kind to their gay loved ones.

            I shared that memory because, during the time my mom was in hospice, and just after her death, I heard—twice—one of the most divisive phrases in the English language: 

            “Like you.”

            I’ve had many laps to think about the meaning of that phrase, said to me, not in spite but also not in any sense of shared humanity:  “I have a sister. Like you.” And, “My brother is like you.”

            Like WHAT??? Does your sister live in Indiana? Does your brother have two amazing children?

            No. If they had said “Like you.” in that way, we would have had a connection; they would have gone on to tell me where their sister lived in Indiana, or what the names of their brother’s children were.

            No, they meant it as, “NOT like me. GAY. Like YOU.”

            They perceived the difference. They acknowledged it. And, they made sure I saw it too.

            Fortunately, my mom’s lesson stuck. I turned the other cheek, and I thanked them for being there for MY family.

            One last swim thought.

            I knew, for a few months, that my mom was slipping away. She stayed as strong as she could for one last Cookie Weekend, one last Christmas, and then, just before New Year’s Eve, she was admitted to Taylor House—a hospice care facility. I went to see her, and that week was such a gift. Before I went, I spent some swims thinking about everything I would say to her, and imagined what she might have to say to me.

            In the end, not much of those conversations took place.

            When I left, knowing it was the last time I would see her, all I could say was, “I love you”. The last thing she ever said to me, she whispered into the phone: “I love you. Very much.”

            I’ve replayed those moments, over and over and over, as I swim. I take comfort, knowing that, at the end, my mom was surrounded by love. I have also been enlightened by the experience; reminded that, for all our differences, for all our uniqueness, we perceive, experience, and embrace… love. We need it, we need to give it—it’s so important to the people here in this room that we’ve made it the first word we utter—together—every Sunday.

            Love.

            In the end, let there be love. For all of us.

My Two Cents...

I am sick. I am sick of hearing, seeing, reading anything about Donald Trump, and it pains me to just have to type that name into this blog post, because it means both of us are being exposed to the toxicity that goes with the name.
In my world, Sarah Palin is Voldemort--just saying her name gives her far more power than she deserves.
I do not plan to give Donald Trump any more publicity, nor do I want to cause my readers any further distress, so for the rest of this election season (Lord, may it be short!), I will refer to him as "Mosquito". More accurately, ""Mosquito Larvae"--something that is born from a stagnant entity, that feeds on humans, and then infects them with disease. More recently, mosquitoes are being blamed for Zita virus; a virus that is particularly dangerous to those who are breeding children, causing those children to be born with abnormally small heads and unformed brains.
We don't like mosquitoes. We find them annoying, persistent, and fear they will infect us with something we do not want. We try our hardest to get rid of them. but they seem to multiply over night; one mosquito can give birth to thousands. We fear that if there's one, there's more, and fear they will come into our house, and hurt all those we love the most.
That just about sums up Mosquito Larvae, doesn't it? His annoying buzzing, his hateful speech--it's given rise and energy to so many others. The words and actions of those he's energized make us uncomfortable; we despise them, and fear for those they are targeting. We have not yet found a way to eradicate the hatred that Mosquito Larvae has spawned in our society, but someday--hopefully some day soon--WE, the people of the United States, will find a way to remove Mosquito Larvae from his current position of power.
Maybe we all are to blame for allowing Mr. Larvae to get such a hold on our country. But it's important to go back and identify the roots of this situation, and make sure it NEVER happens to us again. EVER.
I started this blog in September, 2008. I had just witnessed the crowning of Voldemort as the "woman for the people", and it sickened me. I started writing just to maintain a little of my sanity.
In October, 2008, Voldemort and her running mate, John McCain, were out on the campaign trail. Voldemort, in particular, was attracting huge, raucous crowds. She had her talking points, but often, she would rile up the crowds by talking about Barack Obama in ways that were, shall we say, less than gracious. People in her crowds loved that stuff, and would proceed to take things further. 
In case you didn't go to the link, people in Voldemort's crowds shouted, "Kill him!" (speaking of Barack Obama), and shockingly, Voldemort did NOTHING to stop this hate speech. NOTHING. As far as I can tell, NOBODY associated with the campaign did anything to quell this hate speech. It was ugly, it was vile, and the vice presidential nominee in 2008 was never once chastised for it. Hell, she became more popular than ever.
Up until 2008 (in my memory), presidential campaigns were about issues, not inciting hatred and violence against an opponent. Of course, I never witnessed a George Wallace rally. I actually wrote a Letter to the Editor about it in October 2008. Due to the silence of the majority of the GOP party, the accepted message that rang out, loud and clear, was "It's an Us vs. Them Country. We need to do all we can to divide, never to unite."
Fast-forward to 2009. As momentum for the Affordable Care Act was gaining steam, a group of GOP party officials and "hangers-on" created the Tea Party. Ah yes, those Tea Partiers. Dick Armey rented a bus, and the GOP spent untold millions on "getting the word out" to just the right people--the people they could frighten, and the people who didn't know they were being duped--those who believed whatever Voldemort and Faux News told them to believe. Faux News is the official mouthpiece of the Republican party (any of you reading this are welcome to argue that point with me), and they spew lies as fast as their commentators can make the false statement. The real men in charge of the GOP thought they could control those Tea Party members, but boy oh boy were they wrong.
In 2010, the Tea Party movement broke from their overlords, and a significant number were elected to Congress. It was a sad, horrible day in America, and yet I don't think any of us could have predicted what was to come. THAT was going to be too horrible, too ridiculous to even contemplate.
I have mourned for the Republican Party that I remember from my youth. By not standing up to the likes of Voldemort, for not speaking out about the lies being spread, not condemning hate speech when it happened, EVERY TIME it happened, they lost their party. The GOP is broken, fractured, and has been taken over by Mr. Mosquito Larvae--a spewer of hate, an inciter of violence, a man who has no plans, no policies, no vision. It's sad, and yet it could have been so preventable.
Let's learn from this. Let's stand up against the hatred and the vitriol that is claiming our country as its' own. Let's say, loudly, "NO" to anyone running for office without a vision, without a plan, for making our country better FOR ALL.
Let's put Mr. Mosquito Larvae in a box, in the dark, away from sources of nutrition and the oxygen needed to spread his disease.
Let's do it, together. Our children deserve far better than we are giving them right now.