Today I got this email:
Dear Helen,
I found your blog today thanks to a friend. I need your help! My grandparents (both in their 80’s) ripped up their ballots this week when they received them in the mail. (We’re in a state where we mail in our ballots) They generally vote democratic but evidently didn’t want to vote for an African American. I’m embarrassed that they are so racist! Is there anything I can tell them to convince them that they need to vote (for Barack)? Should I bother or maybe it’s a lost cause? I thought maybe since you are of their generation, you could help me.
Thank you,
Jennifer
Well Jennifer, my first instinct was to tell them to pull their heads out of their asses and start living in the 21st century. Life is too short to be hanging on to stuff we learned when we were young and didn’t know any better. But I remember those days. We didn’t know any better and some of us cling to yesterday out of fear and ignorance.
So, as an old lady who has been around the block of few times, here is what I think: Sometimes elections can be about great things… about changing the world. Think Lincoln. Think FDR. I started out in this election supporting Hillary Clinton because I believed our country needed a women’s point of view in the Oval Office. I truly believe that women approach education, war, healthcare, the environment, poverty, etc. differently. Of course then I met Sarah Palin and realized that some women are just bitches who only want to change their wardrobe and your religious freedoms.
So tell your grandparents this instead: Imagine what the world looks like on November 5th if America elects Barack Obama for President. We will have finally closed a chapter on American politics and moved into the 21st Century realizing that hatred, fear and bigotry is a waste of time and energy – both precious commodities of limited quantity. What respect we would get from around the globe. Why wouldn’t your grandparents want to be a part of such a historic moment? Why wouldn’t any of us want to be part of this historic moment – a moment when we profoundly change the world for the better?
But remember we grew up in a different time. We grew up during a time when this country didn’t understand the depths of its hatred. Don’t blame them. They don’t know any better. It is a part of who they are. But if they ignore you, you have my permission to do what I do when Harold doesn’t listen to me. Put laxatives in their pudding.
Thanks for stopping by Jennifer. I mean it. Really.
шокер
электрошокер
By: tariely on March 15, 2010
at 7:21 AM
Gosh darnit (wink), they tore up their ballots!
By: DogGirl on November 2, 2008
at 6:12 PM
Helen, your blogs are great. I was wondering if you ever thought of something thats been on my mind a lot lately.
The GOP “god fearing” “pro-american” “country-first” ticket has something, deeply disturbingly, in common with islamic terrorists. These terrorists also used “God” as a reason for attacking innocent people. Now Ms Palin says the war in Iraq is gods work, or gods command, whatever she said. Isnt that exactly what the terrorists believed when they attacked us on 9/11? I am not suggesting that the GOP are terroroists but when I hear GOD invoked as a REASON to kill thousands of innocent people (whether americans or civilians in other countries), my only thought is that we need to make sure these wack jobs dont get elected.
GOD is about faith. The level of ones faith is a personal business. Separate church and state? Yes I agree. Why should war be any different? Why is it un godly to have an abortion and godly to kill innocents in a war?
Just becasue I am a Hindu means I am not a god fearing american? I went to a convent where I prayed in church everyday for 12 years of my life. To this day if I see a church anywhere, I always go in an kneel and say a thank you for all the blessings in my life. Compared to that I have visited a Hindu temple maybe once a year, if that.
Am I any less American?
By: pooja on October 30, 2008
at 11:37 AM
My niece is married to a black man, one of my sisters is married to a man who has yet to be able to immigrate from China, a niece was married to a man whose parents moved here from Iran to escape the tyranny there and her 2 kids are 1/2 Iranian. I live in middle-America. My husband and his family are Republican and I’m voting for Senator Obama. Sarah Palin cannot cannot be VP and/or the incumbent.
By: Sherri on October 30, 2008
at 10:53 AM
This blog rocks! I cannot get over how insightful this woman is and I love reading her posts. Power to the People!
By: Sherri on October 30, 2008
at 10:47 AM
Helen,
I love you blog and the way you call things as they are. Keep up the keen observations and you great wit.
P.S. Your blog traffic is amazing!! Congratulations.
Michael
By: Michaelinnorfolk on October 29, 2008
at 5:59 PM
Helen,
Just wanted to say, “You rock!”
Sincerely,
Susan K. Morrow
By: Susan K. Morrow on October 29, 2008
at 5:54 PM
helen & margaret – AND jennifer -
if you haven’t seen this yet, i really recommend it. it is priceless and, even if it doesn’t work
, it’s a laugh.
i’ve got it with the “book cover” at http://www.howlstudios.com too. as well as links to helen’s blog!
peace out from texas
-s
By: howlgirl on October 29, 2008
at 10:47 AM