For two weeks I watched the major party conventions. Those two weeks were filled with speeches, protests, internal feuds and disappointments. Which week was better or worse, depended entirely on perspective. The view of what you think America is today.
On one hand, you have to believe that America is in horrible shape, headed downhill.
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On one hand, you have to believe that America is in horrible shape, headed downhill. You have to think that we face annihilation from every border and even from internal sources. Any of which could be the downfall of this nation at a moment’s notice, mainly because you also believe our military is in shambles.
You have to believe that the economy is in the toilet, that unemployment is exploding, and that immigrants are taking all of the jobs that Americans want. Indeed, any of these arguments could be made by looking at only certain factors, numbers, and data. In short, you are pessimistic about this country and its greatness. Those are the things we heard in week one at the RNC.
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On the other hand, you could believe that America is stronger than ever and getting stronger with each passing day. You can acknowledge that unemployment is continuing to decrease. You trust the reports that show illegal immigration has declined under the Obama administration, and he has deported record numbers during his term. While at the same time you recognize the value of immigration to the United States.
You believe that with each new milestone in equality for all citizens, America becomes stronger. You believe that our military is still the most magnificent fighting force on the planet. It is your belief that the best days for this country are still ahead and that the nation you live in today is still the greatest on earth. In short, you are optimistic about the greatness of this country and it’s future. Those are the things we heard in week two at the DNC.
Optimism vs. Pessimism that is the contrast of what we heard for two weeks.
The unfortunate truth is, that for me the optimism I felt at the end of the DNC was not enough to overcome the disappointment I felt at the end of the RNC.
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My entire voting life, until this year, I was a card-carrying Republican. I can count on my hands the times I had voted for non-GOP candidates. I used to have faith in the Grand Old Party, and I used to believe that, while not perfect, it had the better ideas. That can no longer be said. The party that I voted for, supported and worked in, has died. It’s been dying for a very long time; I just refused to acknowledge it but this year has ended it for good.
Will the Republican Party cease to exist? Not anytime soon, but the party I believed in, and the ideas that I thought mattered to it are gone. I wrote an article last week, in which I used the term “Angry White Man” in response to another article that had been written. The comments I received on my Facebook page were hate-filled tirades filled with vulgarity and personal insults, from ANGRY WHITE PEOPLE! That is what’s left of the party I once loved and worked my ass off to support. They can have it.
The America that many of us see is nothing like what the GOP is presenting. I don’t leave my house every day worried about a terrorist attack. I don’t view the inner city as a lost cause filled with people who don’t deserve the same opportunities my children have. I am not ignorant enough to believe that racism is something of yesterday. I know sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia are real things that are infecting parts of our society today.
I see a great country that can always look to improve. A nation that has made mistakes and should always desire to do better, but one that always does better when we take the time to examine ourselves.
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I have many friends who are on the opposite side of this argument than I am. I still love and respect them; I just don’t agree with their view of where this country is and where it needs to go next. My love for them will not stand in the way of me saying what I believe needs to be said.
Policy matters, experience matters, temperament matters, and the reputation of this great nation matters.
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At the end of this election, we will all have to live with the results, both the winners, and the losers. We can’t allow this to come down to just another we vs. them vote. We can’t afford to be silenced by bullies and ideologues. Policy matters, experience matters, temperament matters, and the reputation of this great nation matters.
When you close that curtain and you’re in complete privacy, how you vote in November will say a lot about you. Not just your view of what kind of country we live in now, but the kind of country you want tomorrow.
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Picture:Getty Images
Why oh why is this site so unstable??? I try to peruse a comment or two and it immediately goes to join the gap, of which I already am. You’ll have nobody coming here if you can’t simply have stability in the platform. Seriously. It’s not that hard. Bloggers all over the world do it. But the gap for a platform is truly truly awful. I just don’t understand why!
Bravo bravo. Couldn’t have said it better myself. I have friends and family that are trumpites. When a presidential candidate says they could shoot somebody and get away with it, it becomes a moral obligation to not let that person lead us. I will be ashamed and fearful to call myself an American . But hey, the world’s got too many people, climate change is real and infinite consumerism and growth is not sustainable. Divide and conquer. Building bridges sounds all fluffy, but a bridge still leads to too many people and not enough planet.
Meanwhile Clinton is the one who seems to *actually* keep getting away with things. She probably could murder someone and the media will just call anyone who tries to prosecute sexist
Elections are illusions and we, the delusional serfs lap it up. It is simple. Follow the money. Business is booming, corporate profits are record high. There are help wanted signs in nearly every business I go. To expect either of these people to “save” us from our own over consumption and destruction of the earth is blame shifting. I am afraid we are all losers in this game of life. I guess I just see that Hillary can keep the game going a little longer and I am resigned to a slow bleed versus a fly by the seat of… Read more »
Bottom line. You’ll get neither. Don’t kid yourself. I listened to Hillarys speech. You do realize she dissed the last 8 years of a progressive administration. All the rainbows she’s going to bring to the world. And you were in that administration Hillary and it didn’t happen. Jw. This is a joke. On all of us. I’m seriously considering Johnson. I can’t stand either of these mainstream. The parties are absolutely clueless.