What If ?
|
|
| Also listed in: "Build the Party" | Cruel and Illogical Twits: | League of Dark Shadows |
Coincidentally, that's the name of one of my favorite songs.
What if Barack Obama wins the election? (Which is what I hope for)
What do you personally do after that with the energy that you have put into this campaign season? Do you retire that energy and leave it for Barack and Michelle to fix everything that is wrong? Do you volunteer at a school? Or a church? Or a homeless shelter? Do you attend your local municipal government meetings? Do you write letters to newspapers about social issues? Jump right into the 2010 elections? What happens for you then? Do you reach out to those who were pushed away because they supported the wrong candidate? Or do you punish them for their disloyalty?
What if Barack Obama loses the election? (Which is what I fear)
Do you think McCain will ruin America? If yes, by what method? I personally think that he'll go the way that Philip II ruined the Spanish Empire. Extended warfare and its toll on economics. War destroys wealth. McCain is a good man, and I believe that his intentions might be good. I don't need to see him painted as the Devil in order to believe that he's not fit to lead. He fails to integrate an understanding of the economic lessons from the great (and now dead) empires in history.... and he who fails to understand history is doomed to repeat it. And what about the Clinton democrats in the case of a McCain victory? Branded traitors and shot on sight? Or maybe we realize that (oops) we did need them after all.
What if you were Sarah Palin? Would you be happy to talk to the people who were slamming you, your daughter, your family, your ability to be a mother, and your religous beliefs? (In this country where religous freedom is protected by the FIRST AMENDMENT of the United States Constitution. Sarah's rights are protected too.) I'm not saying I agree with her. In point of fact, I agree with her about exactly nothing at all. However, I have noticed that she is a human being, and therefore I wonder how she must feel right now? What if you were her?
Social and ethical responsibility should go hand in hand. SHOULD. If we back up and take a hard, HARD, and honest look at ourselves... no finger pointing at anyone else.... just each of us looking at ourselves... Are we being true, every day, with each choice we make, to the principles that we believe in? Are we treating each person - even the opponents - fairly and honestly at all times? Are we checking all facts? Are we repeating rumors? Are we REALLY living up to the dream of the people who we support? Are we living up to what Barack wants us to be?
And are we prepared to carry those principles on in the face of a victory OR a loss in November?
What if Barack Obama wins the election? (Which is what I hope for)
What do you personally do after that with the energy that you have put into this campaign season? Do you retire that energy and leave it for Barack and Michelle to fix everything that is wrong? Do you volunteer at a school? Or a church? Or a homeless shelter? Do you attend your local municipal government meetings? Do you write letters to newspapers about social issues? Jump right into the 2010 elections? What happens for you then? Do you reach out to those who were pushed away because they supported the wrong candidate? Or do you punish them for their disloyalty?
What if Barack Obama loses the election? (Which is what I fear)
Do you think McCain will ruin America? If yes, by what method? I personally think that he'll go the way that Philip II ruined the Spanish Empire. Extended warfare and its toll on economics. War destroys wealth. McCain is a good man, and I believe that his intentions might be good. I don't need to see him painted as the Devil in order to believe that he's not fit to lead. He fails to integrate an understanding of the economic lessons from the great (and now dead) empires in history.... and he who fails to understand history is doomed to repeat it. And what about the Clinton democrats in the case of a McCain victory? Branded traitors and shot on sight? Or maybe we realize that (oops) we did need them after all.
What if you were Sarah Palin? Would you be happy to talk to the people who were slamming you, your daughter, your family, your ability to be a mother, and your religous beliefs? (In this country where religous freedom is protected by the FIRST AMENDMENT of the United States Constitution. Sarah's rights are protected too.) I'm not saying I agree with her. In point of fact, I agree with her about exactly nothing at all. However, I have noticed that she is a human being, and therefore I wonder how she must feel right now? What if you were her?
Social and ethical responsibility should go hand in hand. SHOULD. If we back up and take a hard, HARD, and honest look at ourselves... no finger pointing at anyone else.... just each of us looking at ourselves... Are we being true, every day, with each choice we make, to the principles that we believe in? Are we treating each person - even the opponents - fairly and honestly at all times? Are we checking all facts? Are we repeating rumors? Are we REALLY living up to the dream of the people who we support? Are we living up to what Barack wants us to be?
And are we prepared to carry those principles on in the face of a victory OR a loss in November?
I AM ASSUMING YOU ARE ASKING US PERSONALLY?
what if?
1. If Obama wins----he has already set up much for his present outreach programs to continue after the election-----
2. If Obama looses----I will move--I moved to another country in 2000, but missed my family too much, so moved back and started to volunteer for changing the neo-con movement.
3. Replace your scenario of Sarah Palin with Barack Obama----surely you aren't suggesting that the last 18 months of slamming the Obama's is equal to the last week of slamming the Palins?
I don't know about Sarah Palin----but YES, I believe that Barack Obama will be glad to talk to his enemy's---since he has stated that very clearly over and over.
Of course, I believe McCain/Palin has said they will NOT talk to thier enemys
4. I don't know about the "WE" you talk about here---but Barack Obama has certainly run his life and his campaign that way----even with a huge number of Democrats trying to get him to HIT BACK HARDER.
Me, you, Steve, Karstar, Arius, Liz, .... all of us. The question was for all of us.
Sometimes it's hard to stick to the principles I believe in because I feel passionately about these issues. And when passions rise, then it's sometimes tempting to start judging things and people with a bias. I assume that everyone is guilty of having bias sometimes. So, the deal is, can we admit to our own shortcomings? Are we willing to say we've made mistakes and judged others with bias?
And I'm sorry, but apparently you misread my post. I didn't ask anyone how Barack Obama feels. I assume that those who are still permitted to hold accounts on this site are all pretty much Obama supporters and therefore are inclined to be sympathetic to his point of view.
What I actually asked was a more DIFFICULT question and one that tests for the ability to think and to feel outside of our comfort zone. Are our opponents human beings? If yes, then are our actions toward them living up to the principles that we believe in?
It's just a gut check.
If McCain wins, we will need this progressive movement even more. Fortunately, in such a scenario the Democrats will have a strong majority in both houses of Congress and prevent some of the worst that he would try to impose on us. But we can't just abandon our posts following the election. The election, regardless of its outcome, marks the beginning of a new chapter in this country's history. We need to be active, if we want it to follow the path we desire.
Either way, the election isn't the end but the beginning of something new. And we will need a mobilized and active progressive movement to bring about the change we want.
P.S. If I were Sarah Palin, I would be less concerned about my own feelings and more concerned with my daughter's feelings about being pushed in front of America as the poster child for pro-life groups. If I were Bristol Palin, 17 and pregnant, the LAST place I would want to be would be in front of my school, my hometown, let alone the entire nation as "that unwed pregnant teen."
2. I never said there is anything wrong with politicians including their children.
3. Bristol's feelings do not seem to be a concern of anyone's. As a mom of 4 girls and the daughter of an unwed teen myself, I feel for her and wish her mother was protecting her more from the public eye. I feel sorry for her in the public attention at such an emotional time in her young life. She and her boyfriend are not heroes that the pro-life movement is trying to make them out to be. They are just young, scared kids. The media should leave them alone, yes, but it's rather hard to when paraded in front of the country at the convention.
4. I did not miss Anne's point. She is asking for civil discussion which you are not capable of. While she is saying we should keep our attacks on Palin and McCain on legitimate issues, YOU and your bitter cronies do not like ANY attack on McCain or Palin. Strange, coming from a so-called Democrat to dislike other Democrats or their supporters with such intensity that you have.
Complaining-- The American Way
Regardless of who wins this election, I can't see how much more I could do. My days are full as it is.
I suppose I could always do more.
I will admit to a thought that has crossed my mind, 'If McCain' should win-That would probably hasten move move to Canada just out of disgust for how people can be manipulated by money in politics. Retiring in the North woods of Canada has long been a goal of mine once I reach full retirement.
When "Shopman" first came here, it was to learn and organize and try to build the party. The learning and organizing was fairly easy but the Party Building proved much harder. I tried to do that by exchanging conversations with as many as possible in what I thought was a reasonable manner. Throughout that period I admitted my own bias many times in comments and posts. I also tried to build the part by showing some of my personal side which in the non virtual world, I'm relunctant to do. I've shared personal stories of triumph and tragedy. I've shared photos of my family, my pets and my property in an order to humanize my virtual handle of 'Shopman'.
I've watched PB ebb and flow from good to intolerable over my time here-I'm not sure where the pendulum is these days as I don't spend time here as before. I suppose getting banned was a good thing-but whatever.
Just so you know as an aside, yesterday I downloaded Google's new 'Chrome' browser and ever since my computer is running slower than dial up so I have no idea if this thread has expanded or in what direction...
I remember once when I was chastised for responding to some of the more excitable posters...I responded that I was trying to Party Build. After all, I thought that was the point of being here, ya know, considering the name and all.
To answer your question, which I admit I don't fully understand. I'm as passionate as anyone about my politics and I try to stay up to date on the issues. Anyway, no matter who wins, my life will go on and I will keep my passion while at the same time I feel I have always been able to temper my passion by admitting to myself I have bias...I try to fight this by having facts. Facts work for me. I'm not an ideologue of that I'm sure and I do not argue with those that are once they go down that road.
AnneK...I have to go for now. If I don't get back keep that in mind and maybe my computer will be acting normally when I get back ( hope so )
I'm sure Barack and the new Congress will have models for us to follow. It's more about planning and reacting to changing what GWB has screwed up for the last 8 years.
There's NO what if either...there's NO doubt he WILL win. Just keep the work force going - now and after he's our president.
Regardless I will keep working for my family either way.