So *technically* Barack Obama is not the President. Absentee ballots have another week or something to arrive. But he's popular and he makes huge promises, so I'm just taking it and moving on. (I'm sick of election drama, remember??)
BUT.... I am excited about his win, even though Sarah Palin is SO going to rock this in 2012. (McCain? Yeah.... no comment...) I'm not an Obama fan, and even though he clearly doesn't respect certain religions and beliefs, he is our President. We must pray for his guidance and strength whether we like him or not. I pray for his safety in a nation that has made huge strides in acceptance but still lacks where it counts the most. I hope his experience is enough to help him make the difficult choices that we cannot even yet dream of. Deep inside? I hope his elaborate promises (that I know in most cases are not realistic) bring a little bit of relief to people like me - people with disabilities, people in minorities, those who need a little help NOT out of laziness and lack of will, but simply out of chance, fate, circumstances out of their control. Those who simply want to live the American dream and do so with more courage than any other normal citizen. You know, not everyone is willing to continually wrestle with and defeat an obstacle, fighting a million times harder for the same thing other people can achieve with much less effort. Yes, there are the lazy. Then there are the oppressed, the victims, the "unlucky" if that's what you want to say. I'll even admit that the Republicans peg us all together. We're the ones who want the handouts because we enjoy watching TV too much to go work, right? WRONG.
So see.... it goes both ways. It's all in how you look at it.Perspective.
I do want to say though, this is a victory so much bigger than a man himself. This is a victory for all of us, men and women, black, white, yellow, hot pink, whatever. If only Dr. King could have lived to see this day. Surely he is looking down and smiling. Our country is one step closer to really believing our fundamental values, just a little bit closer to - as a whole - truly believing that all are created equal. Because we are. The same blood in your veins is flowing in mine.
And even though Barack Obama pays his female staff a mere .80 to the dollar compare to his male staff (yes, I DO have an issue with that), Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton and Anna Shaw and allll of our other beautiful grandmothers would be smiling, too. Why? Because we women aren't just voting. We're rocking the vote. We're statistically constistantly more likely to vote than men. (Ironic, boys?) WE are the ones who aren't ashamed to ensure that our voices are heard. We're going places. We're balancing work, family, education. The best of us? The guys are just afraid. But you wait and see - one day, we will have a female President. Maybe even an African-American female President. I hope and pray it's in my lifetime. Today's win makes it just a little closer.
So with this win, my heart is elated for my African-American friends, and I am so proud to be an American woman because I know in my heart that it's our turn next. Think Obama's switching things up? Put a woman in office. The right woman can change the world.
Tonight, I'm thankful for freedom. I'm thankful for equality. I'm thankful for acceptance and free choice and free speech and the right to vote to keep all of those rights. I'm thankful for America. I hope she remembers where she came from, and I hope she can be a shining example for the rest of the world - so many people are just starving for freedom. Don't take any of this for granted.
Don't tell me we can't change.
Yes, we can. Yes, we can change. Yes, we can.
Yes, we can heal this nation. Yes, we can seize our future. And as we leave this great state with a new wind at our backs and we take this journey across this great country, a country we love, with the message we carry from the plains of Iowa to the hills of New Hampshire, from the Nevada desert to the South Carolina coast, the same message we had when we were up and when we were down,
that out of many, we are one;
that WHILE WE BREATHE, WE WILL HOPE.
And where we are met with cynicism and doubt and fear and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of the American people in three simple words:
Ahhh.... the election. So it's been funny. It's been angering. It's been made fun of so much that the jokes just aren't funny anymore... (Okay, well this vid is funny...)
and good ole' Sara Benincasa and cousin Dinah...
But anyhow, I KNOW a lot of us are on election burn-out, BUT.
Yep. But.
This is when it's most important for us to be excited and ready to go.
Here in Ohio, it's a gorgeous day, so no excuses for anyone.
Now yes, it is YOUR choice. But please, choose to vote.
Or fine... don't want to? Then DON'T VOTE.
Don't wanna research the issues?
Don't really care?
K, then don't vote.
But if you care one bit about being an American,
you know what you need to do.
Watch this...
I love the ending. Makes me think. Why are you voting?
I'm voting because it's my right. I'm voting because my grandmothers died to give me the right. I'm voting because freedom is amazing, and it shouldn't be taken for granted. I'm voting for my children. I'm voting for a chance to live longer. I'm voting for my family. I'm voting for my health. I'm voting for those all over the world whose voices are suppressed.
I'm voting for my rights... your rights... our rights.
So if you're not so keen on this:
then I suggest you seize the remaining few hours to get out there and VOTE.
After all, you do get free coffee:
;-)
And one more thing.... before election stuff is "old news" ... I really did want to share this video of Sarah Palin. Now I don't agree with everything she says or does and I won't get started on my views/opinions on the matter of this topic, but watch thisand hear her out. Don't get hung up on the first part depending on your beliefs. Just hear how she talks about her little son Trig. If you have any heart at all, you'll be inspired by the genuine love and hope she radiates right here:
(An even closer look is here ... or you can go here (go Elisabeth! "I have a hard time not being sassy... I just can't help it!" lol) and here.
Anyways.... get out there and VOTE!!
(Or don't vote... And then I better not hear a single complaint from you for the next 4 years.)
Is this little girl not the cutest thing you've ever seen? I bet she's quite the little Miss Priss - precocious, sweet, but definitely a lil sassy. And so stylin'! Kind of like a mini me.... you know, circa 1990. ;-)
Look at the suit... the shoes... the pearl necklace... the earrings. And those sweet little glasses? Too much!! All topped off with her baby doll. And look how she's rockin' that leopard bag. Told you she is like an Age 3 me! And quite a brilliant Sarah Palin too!
Are you registered to vote? I know in my state, we have 30 days before the election which means if you're not registered, you should really be thinking about it.
My sister turned 18 last year and she's all set and ready to go on November 4. I'm so proud of her!
Our great grandfathers died so that we could be free to live in a country like this. I know, it's not perfect. Far from it lately, actually, BUT, look around at the other countries. We are blessed.
Fast forward a while to less than a century ago in 1920 when - after our grandmothers put up over 70 years of a fight - the 19th amendment was finally ratified in our country.
Today?
We have women running to be Presidential candidates and a woman running for Vice President. Our glass ceiling hasn't been completely shattered yet, but the more we stand up for our rights, the better chance our daughters have of seeing true gender equality.
I feel strongly about voting, and I don't want to hear you complain about the country if you decide to sit out this election.
Are you watching the Presidential debate tonight? I'm DVR-ing it since I won't be home. It's not exactly choice entertainment for me, but I feel it my duty to watch. As strongly as I feel about voting, I believe it's worse for someone to carelessly and ignorantly submit their vote than to not vote at all.
When you fulfill your right, privilege and obligation, don't take your decision lightly.
Since I'm supposed to be a good girl and spend my snowed in day (yeah seriously... this is totally ridiculous!) studying my little head off (Nursing Interventions exam Monday morning!), I don't have time to post all the hilarious kittehs of the weekly Saturday Sillies, so I'll just link ya, okay?
Have a GREAT weekend everyone! Keep those good study vibes coming as I am far in over my head in CBCs, insulins and diabetes management, surgeries, anesthesia, IV math, med admin, skin integrity, drug properties, and injections. I'm studying from 4 books, lecture slides, lab notes, whatever med math sheets I could get my hands on, drug sheets, flash cards, and even some random papers our clinical instructor found for us at the hospital. I have a feeling by the time I graduate, I'm gonna need a bigger head because my brain will be just THAT full!!! It's about ready to explode if you ask me..... At least I actually enjoy this stuff. There's just 100 other things I'd rather be doing today though. Oh well. Focus.... (Riiiiight....)
I am 22 & currently spend my days nannying my itty bitties + going to college (working on my nursing degree, goal: pediatric oncology) & am honored to be a published writer in a nursing anthology & a contributor to many scrapbooking publications. i love hanging with my amazing friends, sister & family. i love my baby puppy haylie brooke and our silly doggie ri-ri. in my rare spare time, i read & get crafty. i thrive on organization, my mac repertoire, learning & absolute fabulosity. my favorite place in the world is paris. my favorite color is pink. i love being a nurse & i believe each one of my patients is precious. i'm a night owl & wish my lifestyle promoted such habits. i like lazy jammie days. i believe in god and am thankful for his hand on my life. i believe that life is too short to be anything but happy, & i’m thankful that a chronic liver disease + the effects of a car accident have taught me important values that most people learn far too late. i hope that the world will find hope, and my idea of a good day is one in which i made someone smile :)
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