In less than a week we will have election results.
It's terrifying. There are so many thoughts running through my head all the time now. My internal voice is screaming to get out. I find that I can't verbalize my feelings, or my truth. There is fear of being ridiculed and also the fear of being wrong.
I know I don't have all the answers, but I do have so many questions. Here are a few:
If you are voting for Trump, do you still have an elderly parent living on social security?
If you are voting for Trump, do you value your elderly parent's life less than your own?
If you are voting for Trump, do you discount black lives because you know of some village of blue Smurfs somewhere? Because there are no blue lives.
Can you separate your respect for law enforcement from the need to have race equality in our country? Why can't we have both?
How can we be living in the same world but have a completely different reality?
When I post a video or a story that resonates with me, I have Facebook "friends" who take exception and start posting 'stuff'. I say stuff, because it isn't even opposing viewpoints to my post, but just old rhetoric that they cling to. One friend even stated "I didn't watch the video" but this and but that. How can you oppose my post if you don't watch or read what I posted?
If you are on my list of Facebook friends, I'd like to think it is because you actually are my friend. But the reality is, many of us have droves of Facebook friends who we don't really know. Maybe we knew them a ton of years ago, we worked with them at a former job, or they are friends of friends who ended up on our friends list, or they just believe in networking. How did we become Facebook friends? And, is it time to reexamine those things? I'm going to ask you now, that if you only comment on my posts when you want to disagree with me, please unfriend me. If you don't really like me or respect and value my opinions and my right to express them - please unfriend me. I will not be upset - I am mature enough to understand that sometimes life changes us and what we once had in common may be completely gone. I have no ill will towards any of my friends, and I am guessing there are things about you that I like, or you wouldn't have access to my life, as such. But if you never engage with me or like my photos or personal posts, just stop being my Facebook friend.
At this stage of the game, most of us have already voted, So, my opinions aren't going to make a difference to anyone. But, they matter to me. Yesterday I thanked my neighbors for the political signs in their yard - because I have no signs. I'm always afraid. I actually started this blog post a few days ago and I have published a couple of times - then reverted to draft. I need to stop being afraid to say what I think. And, although I will put this on my Facebook page, at the same time, I do not like what Facebook has done to our country and to our friendships. So, not only will I reflect on what constitutes a true friendship, but the answer might be to delete my Facebook account all together. Again, my mind is circling this idea - because I also think if everyone who feels the way I do leaves Facebook, we will not have the opportunity to have a voice in what has become a bleak and hateful platform. I welcome responses when they are respectful and true, and, relevant to what is on the page.
I post things I believe to be true. If you disagree, please resist the temptation to react with that laughing face emoji. I don't appreciate people who are supposed to be my friends trying to make me feel stupid.
I believe the Republican Homeland Security woman who is voting for Biden this time. Why? Because she has the first-hand experience and knowledge to know what she's talking about. I believe the scientists and doctors who truly care about human lives and our planet. I value lives over money.
I believe that the harm that will come to our country, and our world, if Trump gets another 4 years far outweighs any tax hit that might affect me personally. I believe we will see more division and more unemployment while the richest continue to get richer. I believe too many more people will die.
So, come Wednesday, whether your side has won or lost, please try to remember why we are friends, or ask yourself IF we are friends. I will be doing the same.
I will continue to post the things I believe, and out of respect - I will continue to scroll past the things that I don't believe.
Please give me the same courtesy.
And now, just for fun, I will end with this work in progress. Thanks Dr. Seuss for the inspiration, always.
I AM mad. I AM mad. Mad I AM.
THAT mad-I-AM! THAT mad-I-AM! I DO NOT LIKE THAT mad-I-AM!
How could YOU LIKE Trump and Pence?
To me it really makes no sense.
For I do not like Trump and Pence
Won’t vote for them, not on the fence
I WOULD NOT LIKE THEM HERE OR THERE.
I WOULD NOT LIKE THEM ANYWHERE.
I do not like the lies they tell
I believe they make life hell
Don’t like them in the big white house
Can’t tolerate what they espouse
I DO NOT LIKE THEM HERE OR THERE.
I DO NOT LIKE THEM ANYWHERE.
I do not like the MAGA hat
I’d never wear a thing like that
I don't think Trump's sly like a fox,
I’d like to put him IN A BOX-
And on that box put many locks
I do not like the orange face
I do not like his racist case
He said he’d make America great
Instead, he only spreads more hate.
On this I’m right, you know I am;
Trump is a man without a plan
He’ll take away the ACA
He doesn’t care - so come what may?
The scientists, they all agree
His words are not beyond age three
Climate, covid, and news, he claims,
Are nothing more than fake refrains
I wish that all could see the light
On all these things that give me fright.
I DO NOT LIKE THEM HERE OR THERE.
I DO NOT LIKE THEM ANYWHERE.
