The Unspoken War: What the GOP does NOT fight for
Just saw Palin’s speech. I am still trying to digest what I just witnessed. Struggling, perhaps, between what I expected to see and what I bore witness to. Struggling to see if THAT speech delivered was to help me FORGET the foreclosure crisis, financial despair, $10 billion a month war, failing schools, and really—-anything to do with Bush. It didn’t. It looked like a typical Republican nomination speech. And though I do not rest my total opinion on mere words, faith begins with hearing. And from what I heard…sigh…I thank God my faith rests on a higher power.
Am I surprised at the tone of GOP VP Sarah Palin’s speech–no. Many were, however. Not surprising. We live in a very “-ism” society, where the “sexism” that is so embedded in our society forces many to be in amazement of her “strength” and apparent masculine “toughness” (which, in our day to day lives, we would have “other” choice words for); while in the same lens, “racism” leaves many in “awe” of Michelle Obama’s “eloquent and articulate” manner of speaking (which is also the same reason many are threatened by her and what she represents). What Palin did was deliver a typical speech to a typical crowd. And for those looking at this blog thinking I don’t know what “typical” is–I am a product of parents who still think Reagan is darn near a saint, and when they became citizens–voted for Bush. Yes, I am well aware of the bravado of the elephant.
I felt personally hurt–though not offended–by what the GOP is aiming to accomplish. As Bible-toters, what they fear the most (though would never openly admit) is that their adversary seems to understand the basic principle that “life and death is in the power of the tongue.” (On second thought, I may be giving them too much credit in assuming they understand). He speaks life, in a way that–yes, at times, sounds utopic and almost impossible. But isn’t that what hope is? And for the GOP to negatively bash hope on one hand, and then claim to promote change in the other, is the same twisted mentality that believes that in order to make peace (or the perception of it) we must always engage in war.
And, yes–Palin is correct. McCain is the only individual out of the quad to have served in a recognized war. Pity that my war–and those of so many others—are not recognized. The war of the black male college student, who always seems to “fit the description” and is thus incarcerated without receiving his one phone call. The war of the inner city five year old child who suffers from post war syndrome due to the crime and violence in their community. The war of the 15 year old girl who is pregnant and isn’t affected by Roe v. Wade because there really isn’t a choice when there is no money. The war of those who are laid off in factories all over America. The war of a middle-class family trying to remain middle-class and so desperately wanting this whole political parade to be over to get down to business. The war of a graduating high school student who is now told that he must be deported to South America, even though America is the only land he knows. The war of the “special needs” student who’s socio-economic status determines if he is placed in special education or gifted and talented programs. The war of the elderly woman seeing her neighbors bought out of their homes to fulfill another gentrification project. The war of knowing that your skin determines if you are going to be saved from a natural disaster, or if your aid is going to be shipped overseas—to a foreign ally of American government. There was not even a whisper as to any of these issues–yet the majority of the people I know are affected by at least one, if not multiple, of these highly combative situations.
The last thing I needed tonight was a comedy show with slap-stick humor and insecurity masked in jokes. If you knew how serious my financial situation was right now, there isn’t a comedian that could cheer me up for days. And if I EVER was reminded of how much REAL change is needed in the White House, it was tonight. Unification occurs with transformation of the mind and maturity in moving forward. Part of that maturity encompasses converting those who are NOT your friends, not your loyalist–or any one’s loyalist, for that matter. As an independent, I wanted to see a mature ticket—one above “politics as usual”—one that did not revert to old tactics, fed to fear, cater to ignorance, and danced with thinking that WE, as a people, will never see right through it.
I didn’t see that tonight. All the issues I actually WAITED to hear about…were left unspoken.
September 4, 2008 at 9:33 am
Well….you said a mouth full there!! I watched about the first 5 minutes of her speach and decided that I wasn’t ready to hear it. Knowing full well that ignorance is not bliss, I still could not bring myself to listen to what I already knew was going to be much more of the same bash and babble. I could care less about your 17 year old daugter’s pregnancy or about whether you were a hockey mom with 5 kids. I don’t find any of that to be relevant to whether or not you have the capacity, endurance and vision to lead this country.
Maybe I will find the energy to watch the speech on youtube today, but last night I just plain old wasn’t in the mood to hear that garbage. Everyday of every week that I go to the gas station to pump this golden gas I develop a lower and lower threshold for the nonsense.
September 4, 2008 at 10:50 am
It wasn’t just Palin’s speech that made me sick to my stomach (literally) It was Romney’s, Gulliani’s, and the worst of them Hucklebee’s. Why do I say Hucklebee’s was the worst… because he spoke about understanding racism and the crowd bought it. Now I know there are many issues on the table for us in America, but most of the issues for Black America still stem from the underlying problems of racism working in the system that deters us from not just getting ahead, but staying afloat.
I expected conservative folk like the other primary candidates to spew what they did last night and bash Obama and Biden, but Hucklebee’s comments about witnessing and experiencing racism in his home state of Arkansas really hit a bad cord for me and left a bad taste in my mouth. More of the “I have black friends” syndrome. Any maybe he was trying to be sincere or truly was sincere, but I watched the reaction from the RNC delegation when he spoke any positive words about the historic moment in history of Obama’s nomination and there was silence, not the same cheering when the other folks spoke about the same ole politics of the Republicans in their speeches. Or the chants of “Drill, Drill, Drill, Drill!!” When Gulliani opened the flood gates about off shore drilling.
I am just so tired of this and want November to come. I am with Ify on the fact that I am one and I know others that are dealing with many of the issues she raises in her note and I am honestly ready for change, real change, and for the better. Not for the 2% weathiest folks.
I watched Jon Stewart’s Dalily show after the CNN coverage of the RNC. He brought a little smile to my face knowing he is exposing (through humor) the twistedness of the Republican Party leaders that one week talk about what defines governing a large dominant US city and what real experience is in one vein when referring to Obama and Biden, but totally flip the script (and I mean that literally) when they talk about sexism in the media and governing/decision making experience when they speak of Palin. (KARL ROWE and DANA PERINO)!!!!
September 4, 2008 at 10:56 am
I agree with all that was previously stated. Personally I was not shocked at all. It is the sense of privilege that had Palin, rather than tell us who she is and why people should care, turned her speech into a series of jokes and a reiteration of McCain’s “experiences”. I wanted to hear how the next four years are going to offer anything other than what he have had to endure the last 8 years. I truly respect the fact that McCain served in the military. However, that does not do much in my eyes to explain how his policies will lift America out of the rabbit hole we are currently sinking into. McCain’s speech tonight will truly be interesting. Maybe he will tell us why he hopes to be different that Bush, or perhaps he will offer some insight into who the hell his VP is. At this point they can only hope to limit the bleeding but there certainly is no hope.
September 4, 2008 at 11:06 am
Say word.
September 4, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I agree with you. I feel as if I had bought tickets to a really bad comedy show. God help us.
September 4, 2008 at 4:55 pm
i wish i had found the sanctuary of this blog and respondents last night. after watching sarah palin couldn’t sleep until three am as i was tossing and turning and churning over feelings of despair and confusion. But hope springs eternal!! i just signed up today to canvas in my home town in pennsylvania–a state crucial in this election…action not reaction!
September 5, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Unfortunately I only caught the tail end of her speech but I made sure to catch as much as I could from the media. Though not shocked at Palin’s speech I was a little surprised. Palin took endless shots at Obama despite the fact that he took the classy high road of refraining from commenting on her disfunctional family. The GOP would be the 1st people to criticize, to no end, a 17 year old unmarried pregnant girl but when it’s their own it’s totally ok and span to show how pro-life they are. She insulted community organizers by analogizing them to being governor but lacking responsibility, mean while she can’t even governor he own home.
Ify, talk about failing schools? Yeah right! She’s governor of Alaska, the state with the lowest rate of high school graduation in the country. Her daughter’s baby daddy didn’t even graduate and his own mother has confirmed that he isn’t correctly in school. The small town she was mayor of, Wasilla, average education level is 10th grade. Please! This woman cares more about aerial hunting then education. What is aerial hunting?
It seems to me that being Republican means being ignorant. McCain’s top economic adviser has been quoted as saying that the United States is in a “mental recession”, lol that’s pure comedy! Ify you couldn’t have said it better. The GOP’s close their eyes to the mortgage crises and the high number of unemployment, they have NO CLUE. The GOP convention was a disgrace! These people carry on and on about how their party is going to White House and promised to make things better. Going? Your are all already there!!!! Its because of Republicans we are in a recession. Last I check before they Republican Party took office the Unites States was in great shape, there was a surplus and unemployment was very low.
I have to believe in CHANGE!!! I have to have faith that the American people will not be blinded by ignorance, denial, or color and elect Obama. The one person talking about the issues and more importantly laying out numerous plans to bring about CHANGE!!!