Just Mean-spirited

My brother and I had a lot to learn as children about Good Sportsmanship. We fought like cats and dogs regardless of the result of the game. Dad would rush in and tear up the source of the fight be it a Monopoly game or Scrabble board. "If you cannot lose with grace," he would say, "then either don't play or learn not to lose." I chose the former with my brother who was the world's worst winner. He gloated. He was just a mean-spirited person.

I arrived at that decision after a childhood of watching him. He narrated his Ping Pong games like a sports caster, never lost with grace, never congratulated you on a game well played, or acknowledged your victory. He always gloated over his wins, and would rub in his opponent's mistakes for days. Maybe that is why politics make me cringe. And why I can no longer embrace Mrs. Clinton.

Yes, I have blogged here about how Obama has given me hope again but I felt that regardless of which Democratic candidate won I could fall behind the party as opposition to John McCain and another eight devastating years under a Republican administration. But I have to say that I find Hilary just plain mean-spirited. She did not last night, as tradition dictates, come to the mike and acknowledge her opponent's victory. And her negative ads are every bit as bad as we can expect from the Republicans in the campaign for the Presidency. This leads to not only the polarization of our country into Red states and Blue states but into those for and those against the Clinton machine.

But what does this mean-spiritedness say about our country? Nothing good. More of the same as another mean-spirited politician; G.W. Bush. If I was the leader of another country I certainly would not want to play with the United States just like I never wanted to play with my brother. We used to be good sports. What has happened to us? Do we want to win so bad we cannot be nice? Or do we see this behavior on the part of our leaders and follow their example?

A Kinder, Gentler America

As a woman who fought hard for the defeated Equal Rights Amendment I have wanted to be there when the first woman was chosen as President of the United States.

I imagined her a lot like Indira Gandhi and not like Margaret Thatcher, or after the performance in the last Democratic CNN Debate like Hilary Clinton. I don't want a woman trying to be a man to be president of the United States. That is not enough different from a spoiled little boy trying to pretend to be a man like we have in the White House now.

My father explained to me upon my being beat up by bullies on the Air Force base in Roswell, New Mexico that bullies were trying to prove they were big enough and strong enough and good enough. Those people that knew they were enough didn't have to prove it by beating up on others. I want a kinder and gentler America, and world. I thought a woman in the office of President of the United States would be a major step in that direction. I still might be right on that issue but I am clearly not going to get to find out the answer to that question this election. I was happy Hilary was defeated in South Carolina yesterday.

I am not convinced Barack is the right choice either. He was only the other side of that vicious and petty exchange in the debate. I am so sick of negative and divisive politics I could just vomit. I watch a negative exchange like that one or see a negative ad on television and it just makes me want to vote NO. Just maybe a kinder and gentler world is possible only without leaders. Just look at where the current leader of this country has gotten us. The international boys club has only led to war after war, global warming, pollution, divisions, corrupt trade deals, genocide, dictators . . . the sad list goes on and on.

Yes, the people of South Carolina, over 50% voting women, chose to vote against Hilary. But the nice guy in this race still finished last. Politics as usual is not going to stop until we demand it stop. But what can be said for a country that watches people get hurt in extreme sports, and race cars crash and burn and calls it entertainment.

Red State/Blue State Made Simple

On with the political manifesto as it were. Today I would like to deal with the state of polarization which exists in the United States due to the divisive political strategies of those running the George W. Bush campaigns in 2000 and 2004.

We have always had to make a choice come election day. And American's have historically been very quiet about that choice until shame was heaped upon them by the Bush campaigns and his religious right supporters. Suddenly whether you were Republican or Democrat became about whether you believed in Jesus or Darwin. Whether you were educated and snobbish, or Christian and for the people. Whether you were bad or good.

Political debate is a long standing tradition in the United States and we have been known to carry it on long after the election but almost always in a good natured way. Following the Supreme Court appointment of G.W.Bush as president in 2000 there was a deafening silence. And a real fear. Which was only magnified after his actions following 9/11. Those whispering in the corners were seriously afraid they would be sent to Gitmo for any criticism of the Bush policies.

So when the 2004 election rolled around those opposing him were virtually silenced in the media and in all conversation. To vote for Kerry and against GW was to vote for the terrorists and for the Muslims that want to "destroy our Christian Nation." I kept thinking of the Salem Witchcraft trials. Something inside of me was literally scared I would be burned at the stake. I cut off all contact with my Republican friends and with anyone that attended a Christian Church. Yes, there were and still are people that do not fit into these two categories. Bush really lost the 2004 election. The majority of the people of the United States voted for Gore. And there are those that believe because of electronic voting machines with no paper trail that Bush cheated himself into office in 2004.

The result was that most of us believed we were powerless over his machine and those backing him. We were suddenly not people with a different opinion but WRONG, BAD, WORKING FOR OUR ENEMIES. The list goes on. Bush has succeeded by the end of the 2004 election in complete polarization of the United States (assisted by our electoral college - winner take all system) and divided it into Red States and Blue States.

po·lar·i·za·tion (plr--zshn) KEY

NOUN:

1. The production or condition of polarity, as:
   1. A process or state in which rays of light exhibit different properties in different directions, especially the state in which all the vibration takes place in one plane.
   2. The partial or complete polar separation of positive and negative electric charge in a nuclear, atomic, molecular, or chemical system.
2. A concentration, as of groups, forces, or interests, about two conflicting or contrasting positions.

It is the effort to heal this great rift in the soul of the American people which keeps us from impeaching G.W.Bush for crimes against our constitution and humanity in general, opening a criminal investigation into the cheating tactics of the 2000 and 2004 elections, and rioting in the streets. Deep in our hearts we believe we can heal this rift in the upcoming election.

And some positive things are being done:

1. Electronic voting machines with no paper trail are being replaced.
2. Many organizations like CNN are holding many open debates with the candidates
3. 87% of the American people are really upset with the political process
4. More voters are getting involved in the primary voting process
5. Candidates are standing up and demanding a positive and not a negative campaign
6. The clamor for change is building
   

More needs to be done. I would not oppose (as GW Bush did in 2006) having United Nation Poll Watchers. Yes, that is something which only happens in third world nations seeking to get out from under a political dictator. Yes, we are trying to get out from under a political dictator and we are attempting this through a democratic process rather than revolt.

Friends

I thought I would take a bit of a poetic rest before continuing with my manifesto on politics. Went shopping with a friend yesterday and really appreciated the chats in the aisles, and over coffee and in the drive to and fro. I believe the thing I hate the most about the current administration is the divisiveness. The Red State/Blue State polarization. It divided friends and it divided families and it definitely divided this nation.

Friendship

I have thought a lot
About friends this week
Friends I have gone through the good times with
And now the bad
I have thought about what it means
To be a friend

Friendship
Is it so different
When we giggle
From those times
When we cry
Talk of our fears and joys
Over coffee and a muffin

Common emotions shared
While shopping for shoes
Or that dress for the funeral or the wedding
What of the chasms
We sometimes notice
Greater than a grocery aisle
When suddenly we cannot comprehend
Understand
Where they are coming from

Are we less friends
If we cannot understand what they are going through
Why they believe what they do
Must friendships always have a common ground
Or is that friendship
All we need in common

Sharing a teary moment
Letting our friend rant
Must we say
We understand
Do we have to be on the same wave length
To remain friends
Or can we celebrate
Our differences over coffee and a muffin

(c) Jacqui Binford-Bell