An interesting exchange happened between an 8-year-old girl and me today. While sitting next to me (and working my nerves) during a luncheon, she asked who I voted for.
"That's a personal issue, and I don't share how I voted," I said.
"It better not be Obama," she said. "He's a liar. Did you vote for him?"
"Like I said, it's personal, and I'm not sharing."
Despite the protests of wanting to know how I voted and all the President Obama bashing, I never told her anything. I don't talk politics, and I especially am not about to dicuss it with someone too young to comprehend most of the issues, much less even vote. That's not to say I'm ashamed of my political beliefs.
I did vote for President Obama. Not because we're both black (I voted for Hil during the 2008 primary). Not because I simply love his wife ( but my "cousin," Michelle, is fabulous). Not because I vote straight party lines (I vote for whoever I feel like regardless of party). At the end of the day he was the candidate I felt was best in line with my beliefs. And like it or not he won the election. He is the President of the United States of America.
A lot of people have sour grapes when their candidate doesn't win an election, especially during a presidential race. Both sides are guilty of it - Democrats and Republicans. This deviciveness is what keeps us from being great as a nation. Imagine what the goverment could accomplish if both sides would just work together for the common good of the people despite party lines.
I've never been one for bashing a president. People say Bush did this and Bush did that, but one person is not completely responsible for the state of our nation. The president is only one man with only so much power. I think we often forget the House and Senate have a lot of power too. President Obama might not be everyone's choice, but we should set an example for our children and show them that even though this wasn't our candidate we need to push aside any negative thoughts about him. We all should work to support whoever is the president, whether we voted for him or not. Together we are greater than we are apart.
I respect your choice not to get into politics with the young girl. It is a very personal and controversial issue among some. I don't like the bashing of presidents either because as you said, the president only has so much power. As much as one might think it, decisions are not all up to him.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carolynne. It didn't help we were in the middle of a program while she was saying all of this. I just didn't have the time or patience to deal with her and the politics.
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