THINK About Your Vote

This election year is one of those years when I avoid talking about politics with some of my family members and friends. There is such a vast expanse separating Obama-Biden supporters from McCain-Palin supporters, a distance too far to cross. Passions run high. Reasonable debate about issues seems impossible. Left, right, liberal, conservative, labels that don’t seem to mean much anymore, but that is the danger in labeling. The word ‘Patriotism’ is a good example of that… each side has its own interpretation of what it means to be patriotic. So I do not try to persuade the un-persuadable. I accept that sometimes there is no middle ground. And some relationships are too important to risk losing over differing points of view. It does not mean that I am silent, far from it. But in case there is any question, here are some of the things I feel strongly about:

• I am an advocate for the Fair Trade social movement
• I am an advocate for the United for Peace and Justice national organization
• I support abortion rights… a woman’s right to choose
• I support ‘death with dignity’
• I support gay and lesbian rights
• I believe that climate change is happening and that human activity has played a major role.
• I believe the evolutionary theory of life and that the earth is 4.54 billion years old
• I believe strongly in the separation of church and state

I am a college-educated woman from a working class family. I admit that I am not a fan of NASCAR, don’t watch TV, and don’t like biscuits and gravy, fast food or red meat. I do like good coffee, farmer’s markets, organic food, vegetarian meals, and Fair Trade goods. I care about the environment, and I love books, libraries, and asking questions. I read the New York Times. Does that description brand me as an elitist, a word that has become politically synonymous with an effete, nerdy, intellectual, snob? How can intelligence and thoughtfulness be considered bad?

When choosing a president and vice president, I want the best and the brightest, not someone I can sit down with and have a beer. I want someone who meets a higher standard of morality and ethics, whose leadership comes with intelligence, competence, and compassion. I want someone who practices diplomacy, showing a healthy respect for other nations and cultures and viewpoints. I want someone who will inspire the best in us, so that we can once again feel proud to be an American. I believe that Barack Obama and Joe Biden best exemplify those leadership qualities. On the Obama-Biden official website is this quote by Senator Obama, “I’m asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington… I’m asking you to believe in yours.” I am voting to make a difference. I am voting for Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and I ask you to join me.

... PLM