I finally figured out what’s bugging me about this entire election and surprisingly, what bothers me the most isn’t the candidates. Maybe it’s just me but it seems like more people are openly discussing the issues, and what’s important to them - which should be a good thing. However, I’ve been consistently surprised by how many people I know in the corporate world or people in my outer circle of contacts who believe things that are so foreign to me I can barely wrap my head around it.
What it’s done to me has unfortunately eroded some of my respect, and make me feel sort of, well, alienated from them. I’ve gotten so many emails from work friends who believe all muslims are terrorists, or that the only reason women “have a problem” with Palin is because they are “jealous” of her (whaaaattttt?) or that Obama is secretly (or not so secretly) conspiring to take over the world with his radical Muslo-Socialist views. Or that we are really going to hell because a black man might be elected and stem cell research might just continue, not to mention a woman’s right to control what does or doesn’t happen to her body.
Some of these emails or comments have come from women who are high-up in their corporate positions. I’ve served on boards or committees with them, shared stories of our children, and sometimes, had dinner or drinks out.
Because this election is so “in your face” among my peer group, a lot of assumptions I made about people are truly assumptions. They are totally false. And frankly, they probably feel the exact same way about me. This bums me out, but not enough for me to shut up about my viewpoint. Just today I found myself frantically typing a response to some Fox News article three different people had posted. Why bother? All it does is show them that I don’t like Fox News and don’t trust it, and it just gives them further reasons to think less of me. And vice versa.
Sigh. I’m ready for this to end. And if Obama does win, just think - all those people sending chain mails can blame everything in the next 4 years on him and his terrorist agenda. He’ll make a tidy scapegoat.
Speaking of crazy chain emails, since it’s Halloween, I have to have some political humor before I go back to posting pictures about my kids and rambling about vomit and preschool. Enjoy the humor! According to the sender, the statistics are true, but either way it’s funny.
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Dear Red States,
We’ve decided that we’re leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we’re taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren’t aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial for the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California.
To sum it up briefly…
You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole Miss. We get 85 percent of America’s venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share.
Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22% lower than the Christian Coalition’s, we get a bunch of happy families. Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war. Oh yeah, we’re going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once too. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals.
With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80% of the country’s fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92% of the nation’s fresh fruit, 95% of America’s quality wines (you can serve French wines at your state dinners), 90% of all cheese, 90% of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulphur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sisters schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT. With the Red States, you’ll have to make do with 88% of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92% of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you very much. Additionally, 38% of those in the Red States believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we’re discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a theory, 53% that Saddam was involved in 9/11… and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher moral values than we lefties. Oh yeah, you can have NASCAR, Monster Wheels and Pickup Trucks, we’ll take the Smart Cars and Ferraris.
Peace Out,
The Blue States
P.S. - You get Sarah Palin too.
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oh, you are funny. this race has saddend me in so many ways. i am moving to Europe.
LMAO! That is some good humor right there!
As for the assumptions, I understand 100%. I have been sadden and surprised at some of the comments, emails and whatnot that have come from people I thought I knew. I guess sometimes you don’t know a person unless you talk about their politics which, until this race, I never did.
At least you know where I stand, it’s right beside you
I also stand right beside you, although I am jealous of Sarah Palin’s new wardrobe. I wish the Republicans would buy one for me, too. Here’s hoping Virginia gets to go to Nuevo California this year.
What Jess said.
And I love that email. I got it at the last election (minus the PS of course), and happily sent it on to friends. I found out later that day that a friend I ASSUMED would find it funny was in fact a very conservative republican. That just illustrates this whole point.
I agree. It’s sad that I’ve gotten to the point that I actually had to block a friend’s emails (and I’m wondering if I should even still consider her a friend?). I do love the blue state email though!
I have had a really difficult time hearing what my family has to say. I knew they felt that way- however they have no idea that I don’t. Therefore they flaunt that crap in front of me, having no idea that I was very nearly one of those gay women that they don’t want to marry their partner. (They are so lucky I found Will and not a woman- because well- lets just say I was looking at both.)
Oh, and I can not wait until they stop talking about this shit everywhere you go. I don’t want another freakin’ email. I don’t even read them anymore.
I like your blog and I’ve lurked around for a while, but now I am compelled to say something.
You can’t ever hope for any kind of social equality if you think it’s appropriate to perpetuate the attitudes that email holds. People are people, whether their likes and affinities are the same as yours or not. Ridiculing them simply for not measuring up to your line of thinking is inappropriate and offensive. Isn’t that what open-mindedness and acceptance is about? You complain about people making assumptions about you, and then you perpetuate all kinds of other assumptions in the same breath - but YOUR breach is ok because this time it’s “funny”? It reeks of double standard. I challenge you to recognize that.
yeah, bashtree, challenge away. um, i think you missed my point. i’m not ridiculing anyone for the way they think. if you are referring to the email that i posted here, yes, i do think it’s funny. i would also find it funny if i were republican because i can laugh at myself, and it’s just ridiculous in general. there is a different between a smear campaign (like mccain left his first wife because she was handicapped) and a joke (all republicans like nascar).
my point is, and was, the election has pitted people against each other right and left. people don’t like me because i am pro-woman’s rights or because, as my cousin likes to say, a “sheeple” because only people who don’t think can vote for obama. i don’t like how that feels and i don’t like arguing with people i respected before either.
i’m not really sure how you can “like” my blog when you think i’m inappropriate or offensive. the joy of blogging is that it’s the one space i am free, without constraints, to speak my mind. if you took away from my post that other people don’t “measure up”, you got it wrong. i have plenty of respect for republicans or people voting for mccain. what i don’t respect, and aren’t afraid to say, are people who don’t take 20 second to educate themselves on the facts and then spout off stupid comments about all muslims being terrorists. okay? that’s my prerogative. i don’t have to like everyone and i don’t have to respect everyone, either.
and frankly, i don’t really need to be challenged to recognize my own flaws. if you’ve read my blog, as you say you have, then you would know i am my own worst critic and take more time laughing at myself than anyone else. i’m sure there are plenty of appropriate and unoffensive blogs around for you to lurk on.
Bravo, Homey~
And personally I love any joke that involves Alabama and Nascar, and I have relatives involved in both! LOL!