My opinion, post election

[tiffosis]

 

I'll preface this by saying that if anyone of you feels the need to defriend me after I share my opinion here, so be it. Your loss, as well as mine, for feeling that a difference of opinions is a just reason to cut someone out. I hope that you don't, though. I like each and every one of you.

I'm not here to argue. But with how much everyone's spent sharing their feelings without me saying boo about it, I would hope that I would be garnered with the same respect when I finally share mine.

 

I cried last night too.

 

I cried because I felt this election, in whole, let me down. I cried because I felt that neither of the candidates are fit to run this country. 

 

I feel bereft of all this hope everyone else is giddy about. I am skeptical. I am bitter. I feel that the Republican party that I have been a part of my since I was a teen has let me down and failed me, and used John McCain as a flimsy excuse, instead of finding someone that had a chance.

 

I miss Ronald Reagan.

 

I have not seen anything from President-elect Obama that inspires me to believe what he has sold during his campaign. Too many questions answered with vague, misdirecting, and pre-scripted comments. Too many things never addressed, or pushed behind the curtain. There is a corner of my heart that is afraid. I do not take kindly to the phrase "redistribution of wealth". I want no one's help but my own, thank you.

 

When it comes to economic and foreign policy, I am very conservative.

 

But, what's done is done. I cannot change the outcome. What I can do, and will, is accept Obama as the leader of this country, and to pray to the God that I strongly believe in to help lead him in being a strong and truthful leader, and to get the country back on track again.

 

I am also saddened by my fellow residents here in California for voting on several propositions that are senseless and expensive.

 

I hope that my doubts are wrong, I really, really do. All I ask is respect my doubts and fears, and not to be told that I am wrong. I have respected your opinions.

 

I had an unfortunate experience a few weeks ago, in which a person that I did not know condemn me in a public place, after overhearing me state my political preferences and how I was voting. I know that I am not the only person this has happened to, and instances like these have happened all across the country. And I am NOT pointing a finger solely at Democrats. There are Republicans also who have acted in the this shameful manner. This is America, and every single one of us is allowed our own opinions and the freedom of speech to express those without the fear of repercussions. I hope these offenders of free speech come to remember that.

This is why I was so touched yesterday during the funeral I attended, that everyone was united and no one argued about who was right and who was wrong, who's the winner and the loser. We simply stood in silent reverance of a man who served his country with pride
 

Comments

[rivers-bend.livejournal.com]

there has been a great deal of shameful behaviour from all over, and I share your hope that your opinions don't get disrespected.

I hope very much that your fears turn out to be unfounded. But I hope also that I haven't come across as thinking you have no right to have those fears, or that I think less of you for not sharing my sociopolitical views.

*hugs you*

[tiffosis.livejournal.com]

no babe, never you. you're a beautiful, open-minded person, and i respect you greatly for that. i am blessed to have you as a friend.

besides, you knew my leaning before we even shared a room at con, and we didn't murder each other in the night. =)

[cycatryx.livejournal.com]

This is America, and every single one of us is allowed our own opinions and the freedom of speech to express those without the fear of repercussions.

AMEN, SISTA! PREACH IT! ♥

[tiffosis.livejournal.com]

*is preachy in a non-preachy way*

=)

HAI!!!!

[gestaltrose.livejournal.com]

Hey honey, I have been hoping someone on my flist would bring this up. One of my very best friends was on the other side of this vote from me and she voted her heart and conscious which is all I would ask from anyone.

What I love love love about this country is our ability to see past what someones party preference to see the person. I had a friend from Ireland once who told me that Americans forgive easily and I looked at her in confusion.

She gave me an example. Say my great great grandfather fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War and say her's fought for the Union would we hate each other? I said of course not. She said in Ireland it's like that. You hate people for something their ancestors did, you judge them and find them wanting. Yeah the US has it's problems but for me this isn't one of them.

*loves you bunches* says the bisexual liberal democrat to her conservative republican friend.

omg i just tldr on you... *headdesk* sorry, I hope I didn't sound preachy.

[tiffosis.livejournal.com]

no apolgies for the tldr! it's called open and intelligent discussion here. =)

thanks for sharing that story, it's a great thing to hear right now, and fills in a bit of that missing hope.

*hugs her new bisexual liberal democrat friend*

[riverbella.livejournal.com]

Sweetie, I am a liberal Democrat from way back and proud of it, but to me part of that means defending the right of all of us to have and express our own opinions and be respected for them rather than subjected to mean-spirited personal attacks. Honest debate and disagreement are what this country is supposed to be all about, so good for you for speaking your mind. Even if I disagree with you on politics, religion or whatever, I'm proud you are on my flist.

[tiffosis.livejournal.com]

i couldn't agree more bella. i'm honored and blessed to have you, and all the others commenting here, on my flist.

*hugs*

[aelfsiden.livejournal.com]

I've been keeping track of this thread since you posted it. I want to say again how very much I admire you for being unafraid to state your opinion. I also want to add that you have some awesome people on your flist. The fact that no one is denigrating you for your views is heartening.

Love you, sweetie. ♥

[tiffosis.livejournal.com]

you are among the awesome babe. in fact, in the number one awesome position. or that could simply be due to alphabetizing. you never know. *g*

in all seriousness, thank you for the huge compliment, it means a lot.

*skips off to respond to your email*

[helenahandbag.livejournal.com]

What's the old adage? "I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it"? I don't think I'm quoting it correctly, but it's something I try to observe daily in my life (whoo First Amendment!). I know you and I have had some political discussions in the past, and I hope I didn't come across as disrespectful :)

I think a lot of the disrespect currently floating around is due to the fact that we liberals have been told for the past eight years that our fears and doubts about the current administration were "unpatriotic," and that we were "un-American" as a result. I'm hoping that this frustration will pass, because maintaining the us-versus-them attitude that has grown over the past eight years will solve nothing (as Obama pointed out in his acceptance speech last night).

Gah, I'm rambling. It's been an odd day. Anyway, take care, and here's hoping no one tries to put you down. Non illegitimi carborundum (yay fake Latin!) :)

[tiffosis.livejournal.com]

i know the adage of which you speak! i too, cannot remember what the exact verbage is. were i not so lazy this evening, i would look it up, but bah! it's the message, not the words that count.

you've never come across as disrespectful, babe. our past political discussions were calm and rational, and you made me take a look at it from another point of view.

p.s. - yay for fake latin!!

[shea-fleur.livejournal.com]

I certainly would never unfriend you because our politics are different, and I'm very sorry you're upset and sad. My condolences on the death of your friend. Veterans put their lives at risk to keep us safe, and deserve all our respect and gratitude. ❤

[tiffosis.livejournal.com]

*loves on you*

you've always come across as a very tolerant person (barring animal abuse, let's not get us started there!) to me, and even when you don't agree or like something, you don't go red ross on anyone. i'm sure you're like me, and think about it, but refrain, and entertain ourselves with the making up funny names for the offender. =)

[elusive-life-77.livejournal.com]

red ross? I've never heard that before...what does it mean?

[tiffosis.livejournal.com]

me being a geek, is what it means. *g*

it's 'friends' reference. when ross was dating emily and wanted to play rugby, she didn't think he was tough enough. he played, and tried to be a beserker, and called himself 'red ross'.

i'm a huge friends fan. and seinfeld, and i'm always using throwing out references from them.

[elusive-life-77.livejournal.com]

*giggles at you*

I swear I am surrounded by Friends fans! My buddy Mike is a friends nut too. Watches the DVD's all the time. Knows them all by heart too. *sigh*

Although now I will use that reference at him and watch him boggle that I know it!!!! heehee

[choco-chippie.livejournal.com]

My dad and step mom are very conservative while my mom and other step mom are quite liberal so I hear both sides of it. I was not the least bit excited about this election knowing that no matter who won, the people would lose. The whole election, not just the outcome, was depressing for me.

[tiffosis.livejournal.com]

i agree, depressing it sure was. on so many levels.

[buffyaddict13.livejournal.com]

this was beautifully said. and i'm so glad you're on my flist. i'll never ever defriend you. HA HA YOU'RE STUCK WITH ME NEENER.

i'm sorry someone condemned your opinion in public. that's just horrible.

i have nothing worthwhile to say really, except i love you.

[tiffosis.livejournal.com]

this was beautifully said. and i'm so glad you're on my flist.

thanks babe, amd i'm glad you're on mine.

i'll never ever defriend you. HA HA YOU'RE STUCK WITH ME NEENER.

crap. *works on backup plan*

i have nothing worthwhile to say really, except i love you.

and i love you too.

*hugs and smishes*

[elusive-life-77.livejournal.com]

Well Tif, I can't say that I respect your fear and your doubts cause that just sounds weird...however I do respect your strength and your convictions.

We stand on opposite sides of the board and that doesn't faze me in the least.

I have another friend on here that I love very much and she is a die hard republican and a southern baptist and although I am pagan and lean more towards democrat (or independant) we accept each other's differences and our friendship stays strong. It is no effort on my part to do the same for you.

I would never disrespect you for believing differently than I. I just wish the rest of the world practised that philosophy as well, there'd be less war and strife.

Your not gonna defriend me 'cause I'm pagan and voted for Obama are you?

[tiffosis.livejournal.com]

thanks for responding babe, hearing your thoughts means a lot to me.

i agree, the world would be a better place if more people would think this way

i only defriend animal abusers, so you are so safe!!!

*hugs*

[passionstorm.livejournal.com]

Sorry it took me so long to mozy on over here. *hugs and condolences*

I agree with the fact that neither candidate was exactly Grade A material. Acceptance goes a long way though. Maybe it's my learned distrust of people, but I don't think the hope people have in Obama will last long.

I have a bad feeling about all this.