There's No Crying in Politics

I was reading an editorial in the Sunday Times in which a California-born U.S. citizen, raised and still living in London, wrote of what a ridiculous choice Sarah Palin is for the Vice President of the U.S. and I couldn't help but cry. In the past four years, since George Bush was re-elected, I have cried a lot over U.S. politics and the state of the U.S. I cried angry tears when I found out that George Bush had been re-elected and I, at 16 years old, could do nothing about it. And I cried sad tears when I realized that young men and women my age were being sent to Iraq and some would not come home. I cried frustrated tears when I heard young republicans speak of the need for Roe V. Wade to be overturned. I cried tears of disbelief when I heard that some Republicans were circulating pins displaying the phrase "if Obama wins, can we still call the White House white?" And I cried happy tears when I learned Barack Obama secured the Democratic presidential nomination.

I could list grievances I have with the current Bush regime and I could list potential grievances I will have with a McCain regime. But those have already been said before by too many people. For me, politics is more than facts and figures, it's more than electoral votes and campaign slogans. Because, for me, the fundamental views on society and economy and minority issues expressed within politics are so deeply ingrained in my psyhce, in my soul, that I can not separate politics from my life. Many of the things about my personality that affect my politics have been taught to me. I am not racist because my parents raised me to believe that skin color or ethnic background has nothing to do with a person's moral and intellectual character. This is why I am opposed to racism in any form and my politics reflect this. I am not homophobic because my parents raised me to believe that sexuality is not a choice and no one should be disrepsected for an inherent characteristic. And although I do not necessarily believe that sexuality is something we are born with, this is why I am opposed to homophobia and the denial of basic civil rights to gays and lesbians and my politics reflect this. I come from immigrants. My parents taught me that everyone deserves a fair shot and to always help someone out when they are down. This is why I support amnesty for illegal aliens and support more legal immigration to the United States and my politics reflect this. I come from a farming family. My parents have taught me that the soil has not only grown food, but also my family's way of life. This is why I support farmers and blue-collar workers and my politics reflect this. I grew up middle-class, living pay check to pay check. My parents raised me to believe that people must work hard to get what they deserve. And they taught me that sometimes people who work the hardest, don't get anything in return. This is why I support labor unions and am against the privatization of healthcare and my politics reflect this. I am a member of a military family. My parents taught me that war is something to be avoided at all costs. This is why I am against the war in Iraq and my politics reflect this. As a young woman the power of my body is awe inspiring. I can sustain life within me and my parents raised me to believe that this is an important aspect of my life and the decisions I make as a woman. This is why I am vehemently pro-choice and my politics reflect this. My politics are more than who I mark on a ballot. It is who I am. It is where I grew up. It is my personality and I can not, will not, apologize for that. To anyone. Ever.

This isn't a Democrat vs. Republican issue, not really. But it has been made that way through the political machine that is the United States. And so I choose a side. One that reflects my way of life and therefore my politics. I am reborn a Democrat. Before this was just a label. Not to me. It is who I am. But I used to be neutral when it comes to relationships with others who had opposite viewpoints concerning my politics. But my politics are no longer abstract. My politics are me.

And I can't be neutral anymore. I can't stand so strongly for something and be o.k with those who completely oppose my views. Because the fact is, I blame them. I blame every person who voted for George Bush in 2004 for the state of the U.S. today. The men and women who have died in Iraq, the Iraqi civilians, those poor innocent children who have died on the streets. All of their blood is on the hands of those who marked that fateful box in 2004. I can not accept this. I can not associate with those who do not believe in the fundamental things that I believe in. I can not be friends, date, have any sort of relationship with anyone who is so against what I feel so deeply in my soul is right. It is impossible. It's not mean. It's not direspectful. It's something I have to do. I have to do it for me. And I have to do it for all those who have been hurt by what our country has done under the Bush regime. I can not stand for something or someone who has supported so much violence and terror in the name of "freedom." It's unethical. It's hypocrisy. It's disgusting.

I do not know if I would call myself a Christian as I believe that Jesus of Nazareth can be a number of things to a number of people. And I can not say for certain that I believe in one omnipresent God. But I do believe that each person has the basic capability to be good. To make wise decisions. To treat others with respect. To love. To hate. And to see through a facade of lies, hypocrisy, revenge, sexism, racism, and greed that so permeates the current political situation in the U.S. Jerry Rubin once said that "politics is how you live your live, not whom you support or whom you vote for." Though I believe this to be true, I still believe that whom you support or whom you vote for reflects how you live your life.

I am only one person. And I am young. And I could go to protests and I could go to local meetings of other like-minded Democrats who share my views. And I could send letters to my congressmen about issues I am concerned about. And I could stand on the corner and pass out leaflets, tell everyone I know about my views. Or I could cry. And I could pray. Cry out in anguish and hope to whatever God or force of Nature that will listen, that I will not return to a country, my country that I want to desperately to succeed, under the tyranny of the Right.