molly.com
Tuesday 4 November 2008
November 4, 2008: Another Day of Infamy?
Today is one of the most emotional days I have ever had as a citizen of the United States. I believe the very foundations of democracy have already been shaken, and I think today’s voting outcome will prove the citizens of my nation do want cooperation and change. The alternative, as I see it, will simply reveal that my beloved country is not a democracy.
People I meet around the world will sometimes express confusion at the strong patriotism of Americans, even when they disagree with their government. In fact, that is the essence of the civil liberties bestowed upon us in the ideal: We can love something we disagree with openly and actively. If the concept is difficult to understand, just imagine that you have a troubled child in his or her teen years, acting covert, full of rage, perhaps even unnecessary violence. Yet at heart, you know your child is a good child, and you work as hard as you can through the troubled times to save that good heart.
In an email I received from Michael this morning, I found a strong articulation of my feelings. His words, perhaps because he is the son of a preacher man, hit me exactly where my own feelings about today lie. And so I will leave you with them:
“Swat teams are standing by in all major US cities in case the republican party tries to pull some crooked bullshit. Obama has this election. Hands down. If Obama does not win this election I think it’s going to demonstrate beyond the shadow of a doubt that this is not America. If Obama doesn’t win, we don’t have a democracy.
The deck is stacked. The shit is rigged: Old dead wood. If Obama doesn’t win this election all bets are off. America is doomed, and the rift between black America and white America will not be healed in our lifetime. We have the obviously qualified candidate, versus more of the same. It has to happen. It has to.
If it does not I lose all hope in America as a democracy” – Michael William Forkan
If you are a U.S. citizen registered to vote, please vote today. It’s the most important election of our times. Please do what as a citizen you can do to bring change, hope and honor back to this mixed up, beautiful teenaged country of mine.
Filed under: how we will be
Posted by: Molly | 06:34 | Comments (16)
These are strong words but I feel they are true.
Sending all best wishes from a small country, The Netherlands.
You know Molly, I could not agree with his statement more. I really could not.
Change and civil liberties? Sounds 3rd-party to me.
I agree, Rob. Vote 3rd party. Barr, McKinney, Baldwin or Nader.
But let’s hope all is not lost with either the Maverick or the Change-er.
I don’t care which candidate / party you vote for, just so long as you vote. I’ve already cast my ballot and now comes the time where I just wait and see.
Interestingly enough there is an “investigative comic” put out by Greg Palast entitle “Steal Back Your Vote” http://stealbackyourvote.org/ where he covers some of the dirty tricks that have allowed elected officials to throw out valid votes by the thousands.
All hope is not lost if the election goes for the other guy. It’s still America; the sun still rises in the east and we’ve all got families, jobs, and friends to attend to and drink with. The hyperbolic FUD of riots in the streets is tinged with the worst pieces of ourselves. There’s nothing stopping the best of ourselves from overcoming these idiotic fears.
We’re better than that. The fact that so many Americans are finally exercising their inherent right to choose who sits in our political offices show us how great we can be and frankly, are.
The ship has set sail, let’s hope we are now on a better course.
John – your reply was removed. Not because the political or social ideas were offensive, but because you broke the first rule of proper behavior in such discussion: You made an overt personal attack.
This blog is MY property and I’m sure anyone interested in civil liberties will back that up whole-heartedly.
Opinions on issues always welcome here at Molly.Com, personal attacks, name calling and off-topic postings always subject to deletion.
Thank you.
I know the polls all show that Obama (who I’d buy a beer for even though I don’t agree with his politics) has this election in the bag, but people need to remember that these polls only show an extremely small subset of the voting population. The real test is today, on election day – and that, as far as I am concerned, is the only poll that counts.
(And in case anyone is wondering, I’m an independent-minded voter from Illinois, and yes, I did vote this morning. For the most part, I don’t care who people vote for, as long as they vote. After all, it sure beats the alternative.)
Hi
surprised?
well, Moly is my nick name.. i just saw you on twitter.com..
i couldnt get molly.com ‘cuz u had taked that before so i had to go for http://www.webmoly.com
anyway, nice to know you..
well, election right?
I am an Iranian.. I watch CNN news at times..
Well, I am still learning English so I sometimes works on CNN news especially the debates between Obama and McCain.. I has nothing to do with me but deep inside I have huge crush on Obama.. i don’t even know why.. maybe it’s because of what he says in his speech..but he seems to be wise and kind..
I hope he win..
nobody here likes McCain..
As an Englishman it’s not for me to judge whether the American people are right or wrong in their choice of leader.
But thanks anyway, folks
The US voted for renewal, congratulation!
Oh, yeah! Your fears are unfounded, Molly.
America voted for a New Age.
Congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama.
Carolyn Ann
Great words, they really are.
Congratulations to President Barack Obama.
Congrats to President Elect Barack Obama! WoooooHOOOOOOO!