Aunt Marvel Salad

Screaming To Be Heard

I had a dream last night I was trying to tell this woman about all the ways the government has helped me. Like how Pell Grants helped to pay for my education, how Medicaid helped provide health care for my children when we couldn't afford it ourselves while we were in college, and how I'm grateful that my kids can get a good education.

Only, she wouldn't listen to me. She kept talking and talking and talking and her voice was SO ANNOYING.

I kept trying to yell over her, to get her to listen to me.

That's when I woke up and realized a Sarah Palin speech was being played on TV.

Will it really be over in a week? Doubtful.

Sunday afternoon, I attended a birthday party. When I was invited, knowing that there were people with strong and opposing political views attending, I suggested that perhaps we should make politics a forbidden subject so that we could just enjoy one another's company. I was told everyone agreed with my suggestion, however, when I showed up, there were two people wearing political tshirts, one an unkind and untrue dig at Barack Obama, the candidate for whom I have chosen to vote. I decided to ignore the shirts, because I wanted to honor our agreement and not create contention, but I left feeling disrespected and very sad.

I'm still sad.

In a week, we're going to have a new President-elect. What is going to happen to this country when the smaller half of the voters hates the new guy? The vitriol coming from people reminds me of two verses from the Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi, chapter 11, verses 29 and 30, "For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away."

One of my favorite Obama stories is that when Obama supporters at a recent rally merely "booed" at the mention of McCain's name, Obama said, "No. We don't do that. We vote." That, folks, is not stirring anyone up in anger.

While I don't think John McCain or Sarah Palin are the right choice for our country, I will not denigrate them. If they are who the American people choose to lead the country, I will support them as such and pray for their success.

In the last couple of weeks, I feel like I've been blindsided by people I thought I knew who have said ugly things about my candidate or questioned my integrity when I stated my political opinions. I even had someone question my dedication to the church.

To avoid further surprise from my friends and loved ones, I state the following without apology and need for defense:

I vote(d) for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

If you disagree, there is something you can do. Vote. And pray for whomever we wind up with. Our country will need it.