Being an American is a great privilege and even if I didn't choose the president we have, I will always choose my country. There you have it.
We are leaving for a trip to Dubai in December and I know that this election will come up with people from around the world. Our Canadian friends have already had their say and I hate to admit it but I may pretend to be one of them when we travel.
We were in Spain when G.W. Bush started the war in Iraq. It was not a pretty thing to see or feel. Being so hated and reviled by a foreign country takes it's toll. The Spanish people took to the streets in protest of Asner's throwing his lot in with Bush. At that time my oldest son and his wife were living in Saudi Arabia and we sent them home to experience a terrorist attack on their compound and school. So I know first hand that what our country does and says plays out for U.S. citizens around the globe.One of my youngest son's good high school friends is second generation Filipino. He is feeling very threatened right now. His Facebook post asked "What do our neighbors really think about me and my family?" In the wake of this election I can see how he might feel that way. He is a college professor and teaches poetry to his students.
We cannot unsee or unhear what we have experienced. I watched every debate and followed the news on rallies. The behavior of many people at the Trump rallies made me a little sick. Those of us that were appalled at the tone of those were not enough to make a difference when we voted.
So, now we will do what Secretary Clinton asked us to do. We will move on. Unlike the Republicans that were elected when President Obama took office, I am a Democrat that would NOT encourage the obstruction of all that is good to make Trump suffer. We cannot hold our country hostage because we are self-righteous or even right.
In the end I can say that my husband I are proud to have been a Hillary Clinton supporter. What I am not proud of is that I did NOT wear my heart on my sleeve because I didn't want to offend or argue with friends. I could have done better than I did.
I was With Her and in the sense that what that campaign stood for will not go away, I suppose I still am.
So when we travel in December I don't think I will hide no matter the cost. Being an American is a great privilege and even if I didn't choose the president we have, I will always choose my country. There you have it.
So if you want to vent here, please feel free. We are among friends after all.
Be well.
b+
I usually leave politics off my social media pages and it's always been a rule to never do it when networking. However, this election I broke all the rules and freely said what I felt always trying to be respectful and never mean. I don't feel guilty about it at all. To me, it would have been worse to have my head in the sand. It's hard to post pictures of puppy dogs when you're appalled and horrified.
ReplyDeleteI think our inner thought have a way of emerging even when we try to keep them at bay. I think that I am with you. I did post on Facebook because my friends that were for Trump did the same thing. It was tit for tat!
DeleteThe founding fathers had this moment covered when they put the constitution together.
ReplyDeleteYes they did. And we have seen it work in not so recent years. The balance of power keeps a president from becoming a dictator. The thing that frightens me the most if the fact that the president is the Commander and Chief of our armed forces. That is an awesome power that was misused when we invaded Iraq (in my opinion).
DeleteI rarely (I won't say "never") discuss politics on my blog, on other social media, or at work. I am going to (mostly) ignore Facebook the next few days. I have been posting nature photos as a self calming message. I do not feel guilty about that stance. But, I am also pessimistic about our country being able to heal itself.
ReplyDeleteWe can only control our own little world Alana. Make it a beautiful place to be.
DeleteWell said! I didn't vote for Trump, but like you, I hope that Democrats will not choose an obstructionist position for the next four years. The gridlock of the last years is in large part why folks are so fed up with Washington. The people have spoken, and as Hillary said, we should go forward with an open mind and give the people's choice a chance to lead. I love the way you phrased it about not holding the country hostage.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by Galen. I read the NPR article about what Trumps agenda and the reaction of his Republican congressmen's reaction. It is going to be a very interesting period of Washington drama. Hopefully when they work together it is for the betterment of what now exists. We will see.
DeleteI am trying to keep an open mind about President-Elect Trump. I want to believe that the majority of his rantings and such were what he thought was necessary to overcome our current political environment. Looking back on history there are a lot of people who have occupied that office who were just as dysfunctional as he currently seems to be and they didn't do a lot of permanent damage. Being an outsider he has the potential to make some positive changes. I am an optimist I know, but I am willing to put aside my prejudices and at least give him a chance... If that proves faulty there is always obstructionism. (Ha)
ReplyDeleteYou are so right...there is always that. But being one roadblock on a ten lane road does make much difference does it. Thank you for your comment RJ.
DeleteI recently discovered your blog and enjoy your writing. I expect we will see an impeachment. His own party will want to be rid of him soon enough. Investigations into his past will find wrongdoing. The circus will then leave town.
ReplyDeleteMary in Maryland
I am not a Trump supporter but I would not wish an impeachment on this country again. I have seen that and it is an ugly thing. If you will remember when Nixon resigned or was impeached ( don't recall exactly) we did not even have a vice-president. Agnew had been removed for corruption. That was how Gerald Ford came to be our president. Thank heavens Ford was a good and honorable man.
DeleteAs for the circus and those that question the validity of this election I can only say "Elvis is Dead" so let's move on. It will work out somehow...as it has in the past.