BARAK OBAMA WINS!
We Baraked the vote. Yay!
Just when I think the United States is beyond saving, we elect a black man as President. I find this remarkable. It gives me hope.
And yes, I used the no-longer-politically-correct term “black” to describe him. Is he a dual African and American citizen? No, not anymore. He was born in Hawaii and had dual citizenship with Kenya until he reached 21, but has been a 100% -- no sharing -- American citizen since them.
Barak Obama is American. Period.
If you insist on describing President-Elect Obama as African-American, then please refer to all people by their politically-correct ancestry from now on. I am Canadian-American, for future reference.
But how are we to know someone’s ancestral heritage if they do not wear a sign? It seems a bit silly to assume the ancestors of every black person in America hailed from Africa. What if they were Australian Aborigines? And how are we to distinguish between, say, the German-Americans and the Austrian-Americans? You know all white people look alike.
Since skin color is no real indicator, perhaps we should all carry identification papers or brand our heritage on our skins somewhere like, say, our forearm.
PROPOSITION 8 LOSES
But just as I begin to feel good about my Country, I am faced with serious doubts about my State: California passed the Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage 52% to 48%.
So let me get this straight, gay is the new oppressed minority? We just passed A LAW to CHANGE THE STATE CONSTITUTION because…why, exactly?
This is the part I don’t get. Did people actually believe those scare tactic commercials that said our schools would suddenly start teaching second graders about gay marriage?
Do our schools currently teach about straight marriage? I do not remember taking that class. Perhaps it was an elective. It must have been Sophomore year when I took Anthropology and got a bunch of grief from my boyfriend who, unbeknownst to me, was a Creationist (back before anyone knew about those weirdos.) When he found out I was taking Anthropology, he said, “I didn’t know you were one of ‘those’.”
Yeah, we were not together long. But I digress.
I am currently shopping for a new state since mine has let me down so devastatingly, or at least a new county. My farming community passed the blasphemous proposition 37,000 to 15,000.
So what is your state or county like? Would I like it?


yeah. we can't even teach kids reading and writing and arithmetic... they actually believed gay marriage would make the next syllabus? I'm sick over it. embarrassed to call myself a Californian. I may just have to adopt my new state of New Mexico... we just turned blue!
Posted by: Jenn, aka JeSais | November 05, 2008 at 09:01 AM
PS: Albuquerque was named one of the top 10 places to ride out the recession...
Posted by: Jenn, aka JeSais | November 05, 2008 at 09:02 AM
Well, if you want to find Charles and me, at least you'll know where to find us - at the back of the bus or sipping water from the "homosexuals only" water fountain.
Sure, they're "seperate", but they assure us they're "equal".
Posted by: JCW | November 05, 2008 at 09:21 AM
I was so saddened to see that fear-mongering tactics worked. And for what? So that some idiots can force their religious beliefs upon others.
Posted by: writtenwyrdd | November 05, 2008 at 10:14 AM
I regret the passage of Prop 8. The opponents of the proposition suffered from some impolitic incidents which the ya-yas pounced on . . . the elementary school field trip to the teacher's lesbian wedding, described as a "teachable moment," Gavin Newsom's ranting in front of a live micropone when the California Supreme Court decision was announceed.
I'm scanning the net to see if there's any hope that absentees can reverse the result. If not, it's my hope that this can be undone somehow - and soon.
In the meantaime, let's take a page from Obama's playbook and play it smart - don't say or do anything to antagonize the unfriendlies.
Posted by: G | November 05, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Yeah Barak!!! My absentee election form made it - thank you very much.
Good Ancestry-Forearm identification suggestion... Perhaps if we carried our ancestry on our forearms and it went back 100 generations, then, we'd have a better appreciation for what we have in common instead of concentrating on that which separates us. I'm just glad my kids don't have to grow up with a confusing 3-Gen label of American-German-American but there will always be those who judge others on such a shallow level, unfortunately.
Sadly, scare tactics work - wake up America you just survived 8 years of Bush, Cheney & Rumsfeld the master purveyors of fear. I actually see the 52-48 vote as major progress even for such a supposedly progressive state. It takes time to progress, mature and become enlightened, don't lose faith.
Posted by: R | November 05, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Actually, I suspect many who voted for prop 8 are the sort of person who felt that although they support full legal rights for everyone, marriage is between a man and a woman.
Many people probably bought into the lie that a Domestic Partnership provides all the same rights as a marriage - so they didn't think they were hurting anyone with their yes vote.
I suspect had folks understood the difference between the two and realized that the yes on 8 campaign was lying to them, the outcome would have been different.
Many who supported 8 aren't hateful or nasty... just misinformed.
Oh well - chalk it up to another battle lost along the way, however, we WILL win the war.
Posted by: JCW | November 05, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Hey Sheila
I guess I should have read your blog before I sent the knock knock joke. sorry
Posted by: higgie aka Roger | November 06, 2008 at 09:55 AM
I too am sorry that Prop 8 didn't pass...why don't the powers that be fine all those churches with their tax exempt status??? So many polling places are now on church properties...mine is now instead of at a school. Also don't think we can afford the high speed rail at this time. Also wonder how much the Gov saved by line item vetoing the property tax rebate for low income homeowners???? Read it was against 500,000 CA homeowners.
Posted by: Mom | November 06, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Up here, gun sales are up 25-30% and ammo is flying off the shelves 1000 rounds at a purchase since Obama was elected.
Posted by: Karen | November 09, 2008 at 03:03 PM
I was in the throes of year end when this was posted.
Karen: My mother said the same thing about gun sales in Utah (through the roof!).
Sheila: Washington state would be a fabulous location.
Posted by: Jenn Bo | December 02, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Jenn: I agree. Sheila should move to the Seattle area, to give me an excuse to get over there more often.
Posted by: Karen | December 03, 2008 at 05:50 PM