Let me just start by saying that I will be THRILLED when this election is over. My ballot is in the mail and soon Barack Obama will be President. Or not. Either way, I just want this election over with, it's stressing me out. I want my nights of peaceful sleep back. I want my mindless blogs about clothes and my weekend plans back. Just not quite yet...
A "humble request" from my friend and one of my favorite people in the world, Dani.
Please, please, please. Please. (Please?) do not vote for John McCain. If you like me, and especially if you love me, please think about me before you vote (or as you are voting). Sarah Palin (who could very well be the next president of the United States of America) recently told the Christian Broadcasting Network that she supports an amendment to the constitution that will ban same sex marriages. I understand that some of you may not support gay marriage, and some of you might go as far as to say that you are vehemently against gay marriage, but just know these few things that I consider to be absolute truths: 1) I am a human being, 2) I am a person with morals, 3) I am a lesbian, from birth, 4) I deserve the same rights as any other human being, 5) I deserve respect from all American citizens (and citizens of this world, for that matter) because I do nothing but offer respect to everyone, and 6) I eat, breathe, sleep, walk, talk, work, pay taxes, get my teeth cleaned, draw, play music, watch movies, and do many other things that every other person on earth does, in very similar ways. These are not all of my truths, but they are the most relevant to this election.
In conclusion, and in the most simple terms: I AM GAY, AND I AM A NORMAL PERSON.
John McCain and Sarah Palin would not be just another couple of normal politicians while in office. They would not offer the same governance that George W. Bush has offered over the last 8 years. They would be WORSE (I know, how could anything be worse?) for so many reasons. But, if you have failed to see the countless reasons brought to your attention prior to reading this note, please find reason in me.
Even if Sarah Palin's opinion wouldn't drastically affect the chances of a ban like this being passed, the mere prospect of gaining momentum it is absolutely frightening.
A ban on same sex marriages is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. It is an abolition of rights. Please don't let people enter the white house who could take away my rights.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Letter to John McCain
Today I received an e-mail from my grandparents that has me a little (okay, a lot) fired up.
It was a poorly crafted letter written by a 50 something conservative white man (he makes sure to point this out while also stating race has nothing to do with his decision, right...) to Barack Obama listing seven reasons why Obama is "scary" and he can't vote for him.
So below is my own letter to McCain in response.
Dear Senator McCain,
Today is October 13th and we are just 22 days away from one of the most historic elections in history. I'd like to take this opportunity to outline seven reasons I will not be voting for you on November 4th.
1) You vote with George Bush's position 95% of the time (according to factcheck.org and Congressional Quarterly's Voting studies). Looks like 5% of the time, you're a maverick every time.
2) Roe v. Wade, Roe v. Wade, Roe v. Wade. Enough said? Probably; but John, you are, dare I say it? A flip flopper. In 1999 you said Roe v Wade should not be overturned? Tell us why not John..."hundreds of young woman all over this country would be lining up for illegal, dangerous abortions". True, legal or not abortions will happen. The difference is that if they're legal women won't be getting them in back alleys by guys with butcher knives. While I am pro-choice (vastly different from being anti-life) it's not because I think abortions are cool, I do think that the way to stop abortions is education. Educating young men and women, it just might work. Having an abortion is not a decision I can't ever imagine making for myself but I've also never been impregnated by a rapist; or a relative.
Can you say pandering? Way to get the religious right on board, John. Oh and if that doesn't work, just choose a nutjob who believes dinosaurs roamed the earth with humans a mere $6,000 years ago and spends her Sundays either speaking in tongues or at a hockey match. Yep, that oughta do it folks. You betcha!
Which takes me right to #3.
3) You're old. And while this in itself is not enough to disqualify you (hey, Joe Biden's old too, except he has a hotter wife who doesn't look like a femme bot. Is anyone else concerned Cindy McCain might be an alien?), you went out and chose the crazy running mate mentioned above. The woman just got a passport a year ago, she has been to Mexico, Canada and Iraq. She can see Russia from some land in Alaska. Well guess what...I was born in Anchorage, lived in Wasilla. I've had a passport for 4 years and have actually been to more than 2 foreign countries. Look out Vice Presidency, here I come. By Sarah standards I am a foreign policy prodigy.
4) Foreign Policy. You make up little ditties about bombing countries. Not good, really. Making light of bombing countries is kind of scary. I would think since it's possible you might someday have the nuclear codes you might want to take it a little more seriously. Just a thought, but hey I'm just a regular Jane six-pack maybe that's why I can't figure out what's so wrong with sitting down with leaders of other countries (yep, even those axis of evil countries) and trying to figure out a peaceful solution.
5) You're erratic. The fundamentals of the economy are strong. No wait, we're in crisis. I'm suspending my campaign and I'm not debating. No wait, I'm going to debate. In Iraq we will see "overwhelming victory in a fairly short period of time". No wait, I knew in the beginning it would be long and hard. Having a hard time deciding what the correct course of action is, do it John McCain style and try each course, switching back and forth as quickly as possible. Maybe if you're fast enough no one will notice.
6) We need to protect our environment and stop our dependence on foreign oil. Drill baby, drill? What good does that do us? We wouldn't see the benefits for years and we're still talking about a finite resource and infinite demand. There is no way it works out well. We have 3% of the worlds oil reserves and we use 25% of the world's oil and your solution is still just drill baby, drill?
7) My final point: your supporters. The Christian right, who you couldn't have cared less about in 2000 during your campaign now seem to be dictating your policy. Why? You realized that it's the only way you could get the nomination so you chose to pander to those who want to legislate their beliefs into everyone's life. I have nothing against religion but I have everything against intolerance. The radical Christian right is no different than radical Islam. It is unconstitutional to force religion on the people, to try to govern based on religion. On that our founding fathers were clear.
Those are my seven reasons, I have more, possibly even eight or nine or forty-two but it is late here and my long suffering fiancee is sleepy. The click clacking of the keyboard is keeping him awake and I have to be up in 5 hours to go to work.
So for now Senator McCain those are my reasons. I'm sure you want to hear more and don't worry, I'm happy to give you more reasons at a moment's notice should you request them.
Sincerely,
Erin Adams
**I just want to point out that in the letter sent to me today the author made it sure to point out in the first paragraph that he is white but not a racist. He then went on to list one of his reasons as: Being scared because Obama is an angry black man (actually he's mixed race but whatever, semantics.) and his wife is an angry black woman. Ooh, scary. Angry black people...
It was a poorly crafted letter written by a 50 something conservative white man (he makes sure to point this out while also stating race has nothing to do with his decision, right...) to Barack Obama listing seven reasons why Obama is "scary" and he can't vote for him.
So below is my own letter to McCain in response.
Dear Senator McCain,
Today is October 13th and we are just 22 days away from one of the most historic elections in history. I'd like to take this opportunity to outline seven reasons I will not be voting for you on November 4th.
1) You vote with George Bush's position 95% of the time (according to factcheck.org and Congressional Quarterly's Voting studies). Looks like 5% of the time, you're a maverick every time.
2) Roe v. Wade, Roe v. Wade, Roe v. Wade. Enough said? Probably; but John, you are, dare I say it? A flip flopper. In 1999 you said Roe v Wade should not be overturned? Tell us why not John..."hundreds of young woman all over this country would be lining up for illegal, dangerous abortions". True, legal or not abortions will happen. The difference is that if they're legal women won't be getting them in back alleys by guys with butcher knives. While I am pro-choice (vastly different from being anti-life) it's not because I think abortions are cool, I do think that the way to stop abortions is education. Educating young men and women, it just might work. Having an abortion is not a decision I can't ever imagine making for myself but I've also never been impregnated by a rapist; or a relative.
Can you say pandering? Way to get the religious right on board, John. Oh and if that doesn't work, just choose a nutjob who believes dinosaurs roamed the earth with humans a mere $6,000 years ago and spends her Sundays either speaking in tongues or at a hockey match. Yep, that oughta do it folks. You betcha!
Which takes me right to #3.
3) You're old. And while this in itself is not enough to disqualify you (hey, Joe Biden's old too, except he has a hotter wife who doesn't look like a femme bot. Is anyone else concerned Cindy McCain might be an alien?), you went out and chose the crazy running mate mentioned above. The woman just got a passport a year ago, she has been to Mexico, Canada and Iraq. She can see Russia from some land in Alaska. Well guess what...I was born in Anchorage, lived in Wasilla. I've had a passport for 4 years and have actually been to more than 2 foreign countries. Look out Vice Presidency, here I come. By Sarah standards I am a foreign policy prodigy.
4) Foreign Policy. You make up little ditties about bombing countries. Not good, really. Making light of bombing countries is kind of scary. I would think since it's possible you might someday have the nuclear codes you might want to take it a little more seriously. Just a thought, but hey I'm just a regular Jane six-pack maybe that's why I can't figure out what's so wrong with sitting down with leaders of other countries (yep, even those axis of evil countries) and trying to figure out a peaceful solution.
5) You're erratic. The fundamentals of the economy are strong. No wait, we're in crisis. I'm suspending my campaign and I'm not debating. No wait, I'm going to debate. In Iraq we will see "overwhelming victory in a fairly short period of time". No wait, I knew in the beginning it would be long and hard. Having a hard time deciding what the correct course of action is, do it John McCain style and try each course, switching back and forth as quickly as possible. Maybe if you're fast enough no one will notice.
6) We need to protect our environment and stop our dependence on foreign oil. Drill baby, drill? What good does that do us? We wouldn't see the benefits for years and we're still talking about a finite resource and infinite demand. There is no way it works out well. We have 3% of the worlds oil reserves and we use 25% of the world's oil and your solution is still just drill baby, drill?
7) My final point: your supporters. The Christian right, who you couldn't have cared less about in 2000 during your campaign now seem to be dictating your policy. Why? You realized that it's the only way you could get the nomination so you chose to pander to those who want to legislate their beliefs into everyone's life. I have nothing against religion but I have everything against intolerance. The radical Christian right is no different than radical Islam. It is unconstitutional to force religion on the people, to try to govern based on religion. On that our founding fathers were clear.
Those are my seven reasons, I have more, possibly even eight or nine or forty-two but it is late here and my long suffering fiancee is sleepy. The click clacking of the keyboard is keeping him awake and I have to be up in 5 hours to go to work.
So for now Senator McCain those are my reasons. I'm sure you want to hear more and don't worry, I'm happy to give you more reasons at a moment's notice should you request them.
Sincerely,
Erin Adams
**I just want to point out that in the letter sent to me today the author made it sure to point out in the first paragraph that he is white but not a racist. He then went on to list one of his reasons as: Being scared because Obama is an angry black man (actually he's mixed race but whatever, semantics.) and his wife is an angry black woman. Ooh, scary. Angry black people...
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Live Blogging the Debate
I didn't actually live blog the debate but I wanted to, my intentions were good. We ended up instead heading over to L&D's for pizza, champagne (we're classy) and debate. We love their comfy, squishy, never want to get up couch and big screen TV.
I just need to mention here that we have the coolest dorky friends on the planet. Not only were they as excited to watch the debate as we were but L actually put together debate bingo cards. Sheer genius!
With little gems like - a candidate uses main street & wall street in the same sentence- or -McCain makes a joke that only he laughs at (happened twice just for the record). It was a ridiculous amount of fun.
With the debate winding down I found myself in need of only a POW reference from John McCain in order to get a double bingo. Two minutes left and I was beginning to lose hope, I should have known John wouldn't let me down. It was tense there for a while.
Debate season is my version of sports enthusiasm. I yell and throw things at the TV, it makes me happy and angry all at the same time.
Next week I have every intention of live blogging the VP debate which I'm so excited for I can barely sleep at night. Sarah Paling, debating? I literally get butterflies in my stomach and a tightness in my chest just thinking about it. It's feels like my birthday, a vacation and Christmas all rolled up into a little package.
Anyway, I'm aiming for live blogging but the temptation of VP debate drinking games, pizza & champagne, the comfy couch and the big screen may be too much for me to resist.
Anyone up for shots every time Sarah Palin says "small town values"?
I just need to mention here that we have the coolest dorky friends on the planet. Not only were they as excited to watch the debate as we were but L actually put together debate bingo cards. Sheer genius!
With little gems like - a candidate uses main street & wall street in the same sentence- or -McCain makes a joke that only he laughs at (happened twice just for the record). It was a ridiculous amount of fun.
With the debate winding down I found myself in need of only a POW reference from John McCain in order to get a double bingo. Two minutes left and I was beginning to lose hope, I should have known John wouldn't let me down. It was tense there for a while.
Debate season is my version of sports enthusiasm. I yell and throw things at the TV, it makes me happy and angry all at the same time.
Next week I have every intention of live blogging the VP debate which I'm so excited for I can barely sleep at night. Sarah Paling, debating? I literally get butterflies in my stomach and a tightness in my chest just thinking about it. It's feels like my birthday, a vacation and Christmas all rolled up into a little package.
Anyway, I'm aiming for live blogging but the temptation of VP debate drinking games, pizza & champagne, the comfy couch and the big screen may be too much for me to resist.
Anyone up for shots every time Sarah Palin says "small town values"?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
I'm a feminist?
Feminism: 1) the theory of political, economic and social equality of the sexes 2) organized activity on behalf of womens rights and interests.
I'm a feminist? I used to think that feminism was a bad word. It's only recently that I've come to accept that feminism is something different for every woman, it's not just angry women railing against men and burning their bras. (Though, what grown women hasn't wanted to at some point burn the bra). Someone pointed out to me recently that without the work of proud, courageous feminists I wouldn't have the right to vote, choose who I'm going to marry or have a job and support myself. I would be proud to be called a feminist.
The point is, I'm not quite sure how it happened but this week I found myself defending (DEFENDING?) Sara Palin.
I think part of the defense may be that I've received too many e-mails and heard too many people say lately that Sara Palin is from a hick town, where everyone hunts, eats moose burgers and want to deny women rights they are entitled too.
I was born in Anchorage, Alaska and my early childhood years were spent in Wasilla. I don't own a gun, never will. I have no desire to eat moose burgers or shoot wolves from an airplane. I don't want to deny a women who has been raped or the right to decide if she should carry and give birth to her rapists baby. I don't want to deny the young woman who is working her way through college the choice that may end all her hopes and dreams.
I want to stand in the middle of the street and scream at the men with our country's nuclear codes and their finger on the button just waiting for any small excuse to push it to go f**k themselves. I realize this would probably get me arrested or on the terrorist watch list which wouldn't do my cause any good but still, I think it would make me feel better. But I digress...back to Sarah Palin.
There are so many reasons Sarah Palin has no business being Vice President of this country, just a heartbeat a way from the Presidency. The McCain camp screams sexism anytime someone looks at Palin the wrong way. Tina Fey's portrayal of Palin on SNL was sexist? Come on, even they can be more original than that.
What is sexist are the snarky comments that a mother of five should not be running for office. She can't do a good job because she has kids at home? I realize the importance of children having their mother but I think that there are so many other family structures that can work. Their father can be a stay at home dad, grandparents can help out and in all those scenarios they will still have a mom. A mom who I'm sure will love her kids.
My defense of Sarah Palin ends there. Again, there are many, cogent yet terrifying reasons this woman should not be Vice President, none of them have to do with the fact that she is a mother of five.
But I'll give you a few...
-The mere thought of this woman taking questions from reporters send the McCain campaign into a panic (turns out from the clip above their panic is justified). This woman will be second in command and could possible run out country someday. She's going to have to talk to people a lot tougher than some Fox news reporters.
-She preaches abstinence only education with her 17-year old daughter standing next to her. Not only hypocritical but just plain dumb. Apparently when middle class white people have pregnant teenage daughters it's a reason to rejoice. Could you imagine if Barack Obama had a 17 year old pregnant daughter?
-She doesn't know what the Bush doctrine is. Granted, I don't either but I'm also not a Vice Presidential candidate. Ben happened to be out of town for that gem of an interview and when I mentioned it to him, he was able to give me a clear,concise explanation of the Bush doctrine.
-She sites the fact that you can see from Russia from parts of Alaska as foreign policy experience. Just for the record, by being born in Alaska this also means I have foreign policy experience. Maybe Obama should have picked me for his running mate. Never mind the fact that she acquired a passport only one year ago and has left the U.S approximately one time.
Sarah Palin is not a feminist, her rise is not to be compared to Hillary Clinton's. She is a pawn in a man's grand plan. She was chosen not because she's qualified but because she's attractive and can appeal to the Christian right. People who believe that dinosaurs walked the earth a mere 6,000 years ago. I for one know I don't want another 8 years of those people running our country.
I guess the point of all this is that I am embracing my new found feminism and while I know there are many more qualified than me to extol the virtues of feminism, I'll do my best. Oh yeah, and Sarah Palin's an idiot.
I'm a feminist? I used to think that feminism was a bad word. It's only recently that I've come to accept that feminism is something different for every woman, it's not just angry women railing against men and burning their bras. (Though, what grown women hasn't wanted to at some point burn the bra). Someone pointed out to me recently that without the work of proud, courageous feminists I wouldn't have the right to vote, choose who I'm going to marry or have a job and support myself. I would be proud to be called a feminist.
The point is, I'm not quite sure how it happened but this week I found myself defending (DEFENDING?) Sara Palin.
I think part of the defense may be that I've received too many e-mails and heard too many people say lately that Sara Palin is from a hick town, where everyone hunts, eats moose burgers and want to deny women rights they are entitled too.
I was born in Anchorage, Alaska and my early childhood years were spent in Wasilla. I don't own a gun, never will. I have no desire to eat moose burgers or shoot wolves from an airplane. I don't want to deny a women who has been raped or the right to decide if she should carry and give birth to her rapists baby. I don't want to deny the young woman who is working her way through college the choice that may end all her hopes and dreams.
I want to stand in the middle of the street and scream at the men with our country's nuclear codes and their finger on the button just waiting for any small excuse to push it to go f**k themselves. I realize this would probably get me arrested or on the terrorist watch list which wouldn't do my cause any good but still, I think it would make me feel better. But I digress...back to Sarah Palin.
There are so many reasons Sarah Palin has no business being Vice President of this country, just a heartbeat a way from the Presidency. The McCain camp screams sexism anytime someone looks at Palin the wrong way. Tina Fey's portrayal of Palin on SNL was sexist? Come on, even they can be more original than that.
What is sexist are the snarky comments that a mother of five should not be running for office. She can't do a good job because she has kids at home? I realize the importance of children having their mother but I think that there are so many other family structures that can work. Their father can be a stay at home dad, grandparents can help out and in all those scenarios they will still have a mom. A mom who I'm sure will love her kids.
My defense of Sarah Palin ends there. Again, there are many, cogent yet terrifying reasons this woman should not be Vice President, none of them have to do with the fact that she is a mother of five.
But I'll give you a few...
-The mere thought of this woman taking questions from reporters send the McCain campaign into a panic (turns out from the clip above their panic is justified). This woman will be second in command and could possible run out country someday. She's going to have to talk to people a lot tougher than some Fox news reporters.
-She preaches abstinence only education with her 17-year old daughter standing next to her. Not only hypocritical but just plain dumb. Apparently when middle class white people have pregnant teenage daughters it's a reason to rejoice. Could you imagine if Barack Obama had a 17 year old pregnant daughter?
-She doesn't know what the Bush doctrine is. Granted, I don't either but I'm also not a Vice Presidential candidate. Ben happened to be out of town for that gem of an interview and when I mentioned it to him, he was able to give me a clear,concise explanation of the Bush doctrine.
-She sites the fact that you can see from Russia from parts of Alaska as foreign policy experience. Just for the record, by being born in Alaska this also means I have foreign policy experience. Maybe Obama should have picked me for his running mate. Never mind the fact that she acquired a passport only one year ago and has left the U.S approximately one time.
Sarah Palin is not a feminist, her rise is not to be compared to Hillary Clinton's. She is a pawn in a man's grand plan. She was chosen not because she's qualified but because she's attractive and can appeal to the Christian right. People who believe that dinosaurs walked the earth a mere 6,000 years ago. I for one know I don't want another 8 years of those people running our country.
I guess the point of all this is that I am embracing my new found feminism and while I know there are many more qualified than me to extol the virtues of feminism, I'll do my best. Oh yeah, and Sarah Palin's an idiot.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Ben and Brian serenading me in the backyard = my happy place.
Thought I'd post this even though it was recorded in Brian's bedroom, he looks like he just rolled out of bed (clearly hasn't brushed his hair) and Ben tells me he's not wearing any pants. Not sure how or why Ben knows that, I don't ask anymore.
Give it a listen. Brian's awesome (as is the rest of his band), you can also see him live and in person at the wedding if you're lucky enough to be invited. Need more Brian, just search Brian Chartrand on youtube . They're also on myspace (who isn't), under music - Ten Dollar Outfit.
We love you Brian.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Beautiful Things
I missed last weeks PR, I was to busy being menstrual and bickering with Ben for no good reason, however beautiful things make me happy and after watching the news I was pretty upset so I read the recap of the previous week (which I did see) and this made me happy.
An American Express card and $700 buys me this dress. For some reason I don't think my butt would look that good in it. Oh, if only I weighed 90 pounds.
I'm voting for Obama, here's why...
I have multiple posts in my drafts/deleted folder regarding politics. RNC week had me pretty keyed up and most of them are not very nice. They may find a place on my blog in the future, maybe when I get around to cleaning out the drafts but for now they'll remain hidden away, my secret shame. This one hopefully won't be quite as offensive. Here goes..
-If John McCain is elected President he will most likely appoint another supreme court justice. This in short means the overturning of Roe v. Wade. I think abortion is a personal choice, not a choice I would make for myself but a choice that women everywhere should be allowed to make for themselves. Old, rich, white men should not be making this decision for them.
The way to stop abortions and unwanted pregnancy is education. Abstinence only doesn't work. Thanks to Sara Palin for making that point with a sledgehammer.
Outlawing abortion would not stop abortions. John McCain himself actually said it rather eloquently in 1999 "I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force thousands of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations."
But today, of course he would overturn it. He has to pander to the right. Can you say flip-flop?
-My favorite lesbians are just that, lesbians. They have the right to get married, be at each other's bedside if one is ill and get health benefits. When you can give me one valid way in which my lesbian/gay friends and family are harming the sanctity of your marriage, actually don't even bother, there is nothing valid in that argument.
-We are losing a war in Iraq while Bin Laden hides in a cave (maybe?). We are fighting a war agains a country that had nothing to do with 9/11, spending tens of billions of dollars a month with American and Iraqi casualties climbing every day. It's time to end the war we shouldn't be fighting in the first place.
-I have one of the most amazing nephews in the world. He has brown skin and white parents. I want him to be able to look at his President and be inspired, I want him to know that he can be anything he wants to be, President or if he has his way an actor.
These are a only a few of the reasons I will be proudly voting for Barack Obama in November. More to come (like a whole post on Sara Palin). Enough for tonight though, I'm already pretty fired up, politics does that to me, so I'm now going to have to run off some of the anger and my dinner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
