At the risk of sounding all granola, I'd love to offer a peace offering to the Republicans who I know feel both angry and resentful. And believe me when I say that I started writing this blog before Barack Obama won re-election tonight. Because as passionate as I am about being a democrat and as strongly as I feel about those issues, I can understand that not everyone agrees with me. I get that. I am okay with that. What's been so tough is how mean and hateful people can be because they don't agree. I'd say Facebook alone has changed my feelings on someone's entire being because of some of the things they say. And I've observed that it does seem that when people are making these remarks, they don't care at all if it's offensive. Which concerns me....it scares me. When did people get so far away from decency that being mean and hateful publicly seems acceptable or funny. I am not suggesting that people not have these feelings - bc I have them - believe me, I have them big time - but maybe we should try to share them with our like minded friends and family rather than build huge divides with no purpose outside of aggravating those with opposing views.
Peter came home and told me that a boy in his class called Barack Obama a "looser". He said he held up the L sign for looser. Maeve and Lily had similar stories. It really bummed me out. I think I've written about this before but in 1976 my Mom stopped me from chanting something I learned at recess - "Carter Carter is our man, let's put Ford in the garbage can". I thought it was great - I knew my family supported Carter so I thought this was totally hilarious. My mom stopped me right in my tracks and said no way! She said we don't disrespect the President, no matter who he is. So I told the kids this story after Peter told us about the L sign. I told them we might be passionate about our positions at home and we might have strong opinions about politicians but we can't called the President a looser, no matter what.
So tonight when I made dinner, I started having a horrible feeling....like Obama might not win. I looked in my china cabinet and decided I'd serve dinner on my Grandma's china. My Grandma was a big time Democrat and loved politics. So at dinner I made a toast and I said "no matter who wins, we go to school and congratulate our friends who supported Romney". And I meant that.
Because it doesn't feel good to have people be so mad. It doesn't feel good to have such hatred. It doesn't feel good to not get any work done. It doesn't feel good to see bumper stickers that say horrible things about our President. It doesn't feel good to see Facebook posts that are so offensive and argumentative. And I am no angel. I despised George Bush. And you know what, it didn't feel good. I speak from experience when I say I wasn't any happier for being mad for 8 years! SO....let's see how the next 4 years can go. Let's be open to...something peaceful...something productive...something good!
