Appalled is the best description for how I feel. 324,954,155 is the number of people living in America at the time of my writing. The thought that I live in a country that has that many people and the best the Republicans came up with is a man that; throws around racial slurs as easily and as often as 4 year old calls for their Mommy, grabs women's genitals upon meeting them because he feels his celebrity allows it, makes sexual comments about his own daughter and checks out a pre-teen girl while saying, "I'm going to be dating her in ten years."! I guess we should assume that these are Republican family values now?
When I was growing up, I was extremely shy. Over the years a lot of that has melted away. After I became a mother, even more of my shyness dissipated, as I realized that I also had to be my shy daughter's voice. I watch her and I remember the feeling in my stomach, not knowing what to say to other kids and just feeling completely awkward. I find myself encouraging her as much as I can but also interceding at times when I can tell it is just too much for her. She has just turned 5 and I know in time she will grow out of this. In High School, there were kids that I used to watch, the ones that were really loud and obnoxious, always trying to get attention. I'm sure you know the type. I was always left wondering when they were going to grow up but I was also intrigued by the fact that they were totally comfortable being loud and having everyone watching and listening to them.
Today, I know that many of them still haven't grown up. They are the people standing on the street corners, in front of churches and at the entrances to the polling places. They are the people nationwide intimidating voters that are not voting for their candidate. I realize that people in every part of the country are all living their own experiences. But here, where I live, they are the Trump supporters. And they have a leader much like them. Donald Trump must've been the loudest kid in class, seeking the most attention, not caring whom he affected by being loud, obnoxious and rude.
My husband and I went to participate in early voting on Friday. As we walked up to the polling place, we realized that the line was at best 2 hours long. Our daughter had to be picked up in an hour and a half. So, we turned around to leave, knowing there was no way we could be done in time. As we were walking out a guy in line asks another, "Did they just get here or did they already vote?". The other person said, "No they just walked up.". The guy says, "Yes!!! They're leaving!!!!". Considering that all we see in this area are Trump signs, I can only assume that the man was a Trump supporter and judged our vote by the color of my husbands' skin. The man was looking right at us when he made his remark. The more introverted version of me probably wouldn't have gone to vote again. But this version of me, pulled out my phone and found the next polling station, where I thought we could vote in our allotted time. We drove over to the next town, which is predominantly black and were in and out in five minutes. It was nice, but definitely disheartening that no one in that area seems to be exercising their right to vote.
All this to say, that while I believe in the freedom of speech, I think it is wrong on so many levels to attempt to intimidate people going to vote. Ones' candidate should win because the majority voted and their voices were heard. And yes, I know and understand the electoral college but nothing can work the way our forefathers intended if we don't each cast our vote. Democracy allows for all of our voices to be heard. No one person should think that it's okay to intimidate another into silence. No one person should judge another based upon their skin color or their sex. I have read countless stories like mine. There's been stories of name calling, sign stealing, threats of a Civil War, if Trump doesn't win and the list goes on. Trump is bringing what's wrong with this country to the light. He has created a mass following of people that think that it is okay to be loud about degrading others because of their skin color, their religion and to objectify women. He uses racial slurs, says and has done things that openly shed light on his pedophilia. He has attacked women and used his celebrity as his pass. And all I keep thinking is that this man has a nation of die hard followers that want to emulate him. It feels more like we are headed into Nazi Germany than living in the land that I love!
I just hope that every introvert out there will stand their ground and not allow anyone else to snuff out their voice. Every vote counts. Make yours matter. In the meantime, I'll be praying for our country and the hearts of many. Every person counts. This country is great because of its diversity. And to all my friends whose skin looks different from my own, that have had to try to figure out what to say to their kids when they ask why a man running for office hates them and reassure them that they won't have to leave their home, to those that are worried that they'll be deported, you still matter! I stand with you. And I will be proud when I say, I voted for our first woman President. And know that soon I will be able to tell my daughter that she truly can aspire to be anything she wants to be.
