Barry O’ 2008… Welcome to High School
Talking to a guy today on break. Typical white person you know the type…
He had watched the news this weekend with his 20 year old Barry O lovin’ daughter and asked her the pertinent questions as to why she was going to vote for him etc. Being a 20 year old liberal sort of negates the ability to take anything she says seriously, but humor me here. He asked her, what happens if the super delegates give this to Hillary?
She says without missing a beat, “I will vote for McCain.”
She is young and naive, right? That is why she said it, surely. Not so much….
This is right in line with the inability of the average Obama supporter to give you a serious reason for their allegiance. Hell, I have talked to people a great deal in the last weeks, asking about taxes, health care, even the war. These folks do not all share my politics or views, but they are certainly not like Barry O. When after getting all that pesky issue nonsense out of the way I ask them, “Then how is it you are wearing an Obama ‘08 button?”
There is usually this confused silence followed by general disgust that I do not “Get it.” No, frankly I do not. This young woman is probably not the only voter with the same plan. How do you jump from Obama to Mccain?
There is only one way and it is obvious. You are not voting on issues, but voting on who makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. We all know Hillary isn’t the warm and fuzzy type gal. I personally think she is the devil, but then I would never vote for her to be president and I would never vote for Obama. Period.
Half our nation is suffering from High School Mentality Derangement. Grown ass people are living outside their minds. Educated, successful people who are suppose to be equipped to lead us are acting like a bunch of goddamn high schoolers fiercly tyring to promote their own clique over the other guy’s.
If you are an Obama support, one would think you have a set of values similar to the man. The same is to be said about Clinton and McCain supports. This just isn’t seeming to hold true with Obama though.
Hello! This is stupid! We are not voting for Sr. Class President or Prom King here, assholes. We are
voting for the most powerful force on national policy and security on the planet. You cannot vote based on liking the way someone speaks. There must be some substance and some character. There must be at least a decent chance he is bright enough and politically savvy enough to grasp the nuances of how the world works. I have no confidence Obama can even grasp the big concepts much less the subtle ones.
When a man says things like “typical white person” or “We will leave Iraq and if al quaeda moves in and sets up a base we will just go back in.” or “I am going to raise taxes +1 trillion dollars over 10 years
on households making 97k a year or more.” This is not a man in touch with the reality we are all living in.
Add this to the fact he spent most Sundays for the past 20 years listening to a Jerry W. spout vile, bigoted and blatantly false horse shit. What was he doing all that time? Nodding in agreement or agreeing by in action by not taking a stand and setting the record straight. This is not a man who needs to be in charge of molding the future my four daughters and stepson are going to inherit.
My non-black daughters do not deserve to grow up in a world where they are expected to follow a standard fellow black citizens are not held to. My half black stepson will not go into the world under the false sense of entitlement by virtue of his skin color. He doesn’t get to play by different rules than his sisters.
They will not go into adult lives making choices about leadership based on some smooth talking smoke and mirrors routine. Our kids will understand words are easy and mean nothing. We are all defined by our actions. Great men and women do not spend time making excuses for their faults they work to become better people. Obama didn’t do anything in his speech to become a better man. He had a Clinton moment. He acknowledged the issue without actually paying the piper.
But wait! He stuck by his friend, Jennifer. He is loyal and that is admirable!
Uhm, people… Grow the fuck up.
Two wrongs have never make a right. It is a cowards way out. Man worthy of my respect, if not my vote, would have said: “I am disgusted by Rev. Wright’s words. I cannot stand behind his lies and his intent. While I have respect for the good works he has done over the years, I cannot stand by in good faith to the American people who I wish to lead and be associated with such hate. I cannot pretend this is the path Black Americans should be taking on the way to betterment. I am leaving the Trinity Church and want everyone to know the views of Rev Wright are not my views. These views are not representative of the way I want to lead as President of the United States.”
This is what grown up are suppose to do. This is not High School people. We are responsible for our own actions and choices, good or bad. Grow the fuck up.
Btw… I am still digusted with this crap if you cannot tell.
4 Responses so far
March 24th, 2008
10:31 pm
Today on the View (which I had to stop watching because I began to feel nauseous) Joy (the ignorant bigmouth – she is really a true bitch) said that those in the “opressed” minority could not be considered racist, as to be racist, one had to me in the controlling majority. WTF? Sorry, but to be biased in a hateful way against someone because of the color of their skin with others of your same race is racist and, well, hateful. I sat in disbelief as all three (Joy, Whoopi and Sheri) all ganged up on Elizabeth and basically told her she was completely out of line to even CONSIDER that “Rev” Wright was a racist because she had no idea what he, as a black man, has been through. What a load of horseshit. Granted, Elizabeth is a sad, sad representative of the conservatives, Republicans and well, white people, but it was ridiculous. They wouldn’t even CONSIDER that blacks could even BE racist. How fucking long will white people have to pay for the sins of SOME of our forefathers?
My husband is descended from immigrants from Prussia. Slavery was abolished there at the turn of the 19th century and his family came to the US at the turn of the 20th century. They were working farmers (there and here) who wouldn’t have been able to afford a slave even if they had wanted one. Why does he have to pay? There are lots of white people that are decended from people that were in indentured servitude (a form of slavery, for sure) or a feudal system of some sort and don’t even get me started on the Native Americans. Someone in most of our pasts have had to endure some kind of oppressive crap from someone. Sure, there is a chance that MY Louisiana ancestors had a few slaves, as my maiden name and my mother’s maiden name is shared by a preponderance of black people in this part of the nation. Am I proud of the fact that my ancestors at least six or more generations back (I know my ancestry and my husband’s pretty well) MIGHT have had slaves? Hell no, but it wasn’t ME – I didn’t do it and I wouldn’t condone it. Why are we STILL having to pay for this? Yes, racism is alive and well and living in the US and all over the world. The “Reverand” Wright is a really good example of it, too.
Now, on to mediocrity. You are SO right. I agree. Just tonight we gave a lecture to one of our boys on peer pressure and warning him that he is expected to say no to anyone who tries to pressure him into doing something that he knows (or at least suspects) is wrong. We also warned him that if he is 16 and gets himself thrown in jail for being a dumbass for listening to some other dumbass (he’s not a leader, that one…) he would be spending a good long time thinking about what he did – in JAIL. Same son Easter Sunday – was unkind to his brother at lunch, so he was sent home with his grandfather and didn’t get to join the family for a movie. It was hard to do, but it made an impression. We’re not the coddling types. Granted, they are only 9 1/2 now, but they know that until they are adults, we call the shots whether they like it or even if they don’t. Some people probably think we are harsh, but we think most people are way too permissive and much too quick to protect from consequences.
Our boys know what we expect from them. The only academics we reward are reading points. They get a Webkins for a certain number of points. They all like to read, but this keeps them motivated. My children will be readers if I have to FORCE them. Heh. Also, our son with Asperger’s got all S’s on conduct one grading period for the first time EVER and they’re in 4th grade(even in PE where he has a lot of trouble) he did get a special prize of spending an entire day with me – alone – at NASA. He has to work really hard to “maintain” and stay on task. It was the best day of his life, according to him. Luckily, we never have to worry about his grades because he’s pretty gifted. If he gets all A’s it’s no biggie because that’s what we expect from him. If his brothers were to pull all A’s (they each have their problem areas) we’d probably have a family high five, but we’d NEVER reward for grades. Doing your best in school (whatever that is for each boy) is what is expected. We do acknowledge each boys’ individual gifts and we have slightly different expectations for each.
And unrelated to this particular post – just so’s ya know…
Two of my three boys are on ADHD meds and I have a niece on meds also recently suspected of being OCD and two nephews that in the future will probably also be treated for ADD, if not Asperger’s. Please don’t paint everyone that gives their kids meds with a broad brush – if you knew our family you would know that we are the most hyper, anxious, OCD, freaky people ever. It is a curse we keep passing on, stronger with each generation. The meds, used judiciously, and therapy keep the kids on track and able to participate in school at their optimum. The good thing is that with our curse comes a blessing – high IQ’s and creativity.
End unrelated rant…
As to the Obama supporters – I haven’t actually spoken to any in person. Howver, I live in probably the most conservative Republican community in Texas. I guess I’m just one of those “typical white people”.
March 24th, 2008
10:37 pm
Crap, spellcheck… deScended and howEver. I hate that – tried to type too fast.
March 25th, 2008
6:31 am
Mel,
We have talked in depth about ADHD and the like. I agree there are children who blossom and finally get a hold of their life on the meds. My point, though I can see how it was a broad stroke, was so many parents just decide they cannot spend the extra effort to discipline and head to the doctor.
I think the prevalence of children on ADHD meds and the like makes it harder for the kids who truly have issues. You also know, as a parent with a child on meds that it doesn’t stop there. The med help them focus, but the meds do not teach them self control. I think some folks expect it to be a cure all and when it doesn’t help the first reaction is to up the meds.
It is part of the whole personal responsibility thing I have been ranting and raving about. You know there is not magic pill which alone will give your son focus. I am sure you work hard with him and take your time and effort because you have committed to raising a responsible young man. If only everyone felt that way, the world would be a better place when our kids are adults.
March 25th, 2008
2:57 pm
Amen. It’s a struggle everyday. He just called me from school crying because his teacher can’t find a TAKS prep packet that he SWEARS he turned in. Now, either he stays late and re-does the entire thing or gets a zero. He is not content to get the zero (he’s a high achiever), but it is killing him that he just can’t seem to keep control of his stuff. If something escapes his “bubble”, it can be gone forever. This is ON meds. It hurts to see him struggle so much. I make myself feel better looking forward to the days when he is a successful adult pursuing his dreams of graduating MIT or Rice and being a chemist. Otherwise I will make myself nuts.
My other son on meds is a pleaser and a perfectionist. His reaction to his problems are to hold things in and blow up irrationally. Without his meds, he cannot physically sit still and it upsets him at school. He has been the teacher favorite since pre-school, he’s just that kind of kid. Cute, and “perfect”. At home, we often don’t even give him the meds and just let him “run it off”, as he’s a very physical boy and athletically gifted. However, to excel at things like baseball, or anything that requires extended focus, he still needs his meds. Except for art. He has self-medicated with art since he was very small. If he gets worked up he just sits down and colors or draws and it totally calms him.
The third son I joke is not “clinically annoying”, just regularly annoying. He’s such a 13 year old girl – all drama, all the time. There ain’t no medication that can fix what’s wrong with him – he just has a terminal case of “just like gramps”. He has every annoying trait of my dad’s without benefit of the great stuff like his desire to excel at school. He’s also super funny, outgoing and going to be really popular with the girls. He loves to be the center of attention.
I really have three really cool kids. It must suck to be a triplet, though.
I’m so happy I don’t have a house full of girls like you – I don’t think I could manage. My great-nieces are lovely girls, but the issues that they have just confound me. I was a little girl for so long – dolls and everything. Now in fourth grade the things that their friends are into and the clothes and stuff just kills me. At least in our school it’s not as bad as the more “social” school also in our community – practically every girl past second grade has a cell phone! Why? I’m hardly ever more than a few blocks away from my kids even when they are in school. Why would kids need phones? Thank goodness we attend the more “practical” school.
By the way, I wasn’t scolding you, I just get kind of sensitive because I actually have the kids that NEED the damned expensive stuff and we are not taking the easy way out. I always feel the need to take the defensive. Unfortunately, the women in my family have all hooked up with men that have their own issues or issues in their families. We really need to make sure our kids marry some strong, calm stock!
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