Thursday, July 28, 2016

Madam President? The Good News and the Bad News




Tonight at the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton will take the stage to accept her party’s nomination as their candidate for President of the United States. All around the country, women young and old will cheer—or at least smile—to know that a chick is finally busting into a previously male-dominated arena and kicking some serious ass. Yay. Good on you, Mrs. Clinton, Madam-President-to-be. Personally, I’m a Bernie Sanders supporter, and I voted for him (yes, even as an avowed feminist, I picked the man over the woman) in the California primary, but I’m still happy that a woman has made this advancement on the part of all women who feel they should be able to attain the same goals as do men in this country. By the way, this does not make us special or progressive as a nation. Around the globe currently there are twenty-two women serving as leaders of their countries, most of them elected (a couple of them appointed). Yep, as sophisticated as we believe we are, we are still kind of backwards in some social settings. (Huh. That reminds me of someone else who is running for President.)

So that’s all good news. Yay us! Yay women! Yay USA! I’m a proud patriot, so any time we get something right, I am figuratively yet fervently waving my flag.

But know what puts the damper on my enthusiasm for all this history-in-the-making with Hillary? It’s the fact that she’s about to be attacked and vilified for months. And that won’t stop once she’s in office. I don’t mean the same type of political attacks and posturing that occurs in all election cycles. I mean the ugly, name calling, hate and fear mongering crap that started with the election of The First Black President of the United States. When Barack Obama announced his intention to run for President, I was over-the-moon happy. I had wished it for him four years prior when he gave his amazing address to the Democratic Convention of 2004. But now that he has served two terms, I regret wishing it for him. I think, having been subjected to the absolute worst manifestations of our country’s ugliness, he must be emerging from the office a changed man. I know I would be. If he’s not, he’s a better person than I am, by far. It wasn’t just the constant reminders from Republicans that they absolutely hated him and would never let him come near accomplishing all that he wanted to do (although he did get quite a bit done in spite of them), there were also the constant horrible racist postings about him on social media, to say nothing of the death threats.

Hillary will face this. Just as there were those who believed no Black man should ever be President, there are those who believe no woman should ever be in a position of power and authority. So, just as Barack Obama was throughout his time in office, Hillary Clinton will be threatened and targeted and criticized and maligned. But damn, the lady has some huge… well, she has courage and fortitude. So yay her! And really, all things considered, yay us again! For as much hate and ugliness as we’ve seen in the past few months, there has been a lot of love. And as Hillary Clinton supporters have demonstrated, love trumps hate.  

5 comments:

  1. It's Fox News and their unbelievably vicious attacks. How they are allowed to stay on tv, first of all, is frightening, and second, their blind, hateful followers are frightening.

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    1. In my own experience, many (not all) fundamental Christians (my former husband included) believe that it is not within God's plan for women to take on roles of leadership. I led the singing worship at my church for over a year--because there was not an available male to perform that ministry. I was told I could never hold the position of "Music Minister" (even though that's what I did twice a week) because it would not align with God's intentions for me as a woman... even though that's what I was doing. Twice a week. (LOL! Sorry to be redundant! It was years ago but the "logic" there still amuses me.) These were the same people who vilified me when I left the church. I was the one who returned carrying a small stone--and I told one of the church members as I handed it to him, "Find the person here who is without sin. He or she can be the first one to throw it." Yay me!

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  2. I was curious Hillary as to deal with tempestuous Donald. If anyone can take the rough and tumble of politics, yes, she can. I dislike the rough and tumble, the cartoons, the belligerence, and I agree that the the language of vilification is hateful. I'd prefer to ignore it but my political service will be to write, maybe go to Arizona in October to get out the vote. Don't boo, vote!

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    1. Yes, Judy, yes! I loved when President Obama said that during his speech at the convention--"Don't boo, vote!" It was great. We can argue and point fingers all day--but that certainly doesn't help those in this country who still live in poverty, especially the children. Change will come when we make changes.

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  3. There are a couple of other factors. One is that the haters on the right are totally flabbergasted by the fact that not only did America elected Bill Clinton twice, people still love him nearly 16 years after he left office.

    So they attack her.

    In addition, it didn't start with Obama. In 1991, Grover Norquist said the Republicans were on the verge of a permanent hold on the presidency. He said that if another Democrat were ever elected, he would not be allowed to govern as a Democrat.

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