As I stay up late, my eyes glued to the election coverage, I had vowed to myself that I would not go to bed until it was announced that Barack Obama reached the magical “270.”
Shortly after 2300 hrs EST, I joined a global chorus in a sigh of relief, a joyful howl, and genuinely moved to tears.
What I wished and prayed would happen, finally manifested itself into an important historical moment in my country’s history.
Tonight, it feels so much more like my country. The United States I was raised, it is almost always assumed that I'm a foreigner because of my skin, and hence, not American. The idea that someone of colour COULD become president of the greatest nation in the world seemed unrealistic… until now. No child after tonight will ever grow up doubting whether this country would accept him or her as a leader because of their race, and hopefully one day, its gender.
It wasn’t race, though, that earned my support for Sen. Obama. I had prayed and discerned over many issues affecting our country, and I was drawn to many of Sen. Obama’s ideas and the charisma he has to inspire and lead others to achieve these shared goals.
Sen. Obama’s belief in grassroots organizing is what made his campaign a success and should become evident to everyone that change is best effected in the local community. We should take more responsibility in making a difference in world where children can feel safe and be healthy, people can have dignity and sustainability in work, and that everyone will gladly choose a culture of life where a child is showered with love and hope, and the dignity of humanity is upheld, even for a prisoner of war held in Guantanamo or a felon convicted of the most heinous crimes.
Responsibility to make a difference in the world requires more than prayer. The power of prayer is STRONG, but it must be complemented with action. There is more to being a people of faith than rattling beads, lighting candles, or shuffling holy cards faster than a Vegas blackjack dealer. If you were on a boat and your fellow passenger falls overboard, you don’t fall to your knees and pray for their rescue. You throw them a life preservers and pull them in.
Some of my friends aren’t happy who America chose tonight. That’s okay. It was a night in November, 2000 and a night in November, 2004 that I felt the same way. I had hoped that our country would have moved forward in this time, but it's my belief it hasn't.
I have faith in God, and hope in this new democratic revolution, that...yes, we can. And yes... we will move forward.
05 November, 2008
22 October, 2008
Playing the Socialism card? How about Fascism?
With the election fast approaching, the political kitchen is heating up and the pots are beginning to simmer.
Now that the other side decided to play the "socialism" card, I feel it's time to toss out the "fascism" card.
Fox News (not my favorite source but unlike some, I tend to read a variety of sources all over) recently had an article about The Family Guy episode likening the McCain/Palin ticket to the Nazis. It is a bit ironic, especially since The Family Guy is on the Fox Network.
So, it makes me wonder... are there similarities to the Bush/McCain/Palin ticket with fascism?
Mislead your country into making a decision to wage war? Check.
Fundamentalist, judgemental, religious principles that espouse superiority? Check.
Use political rallies to incite hatred and encourage death threats on political opponents? Check.
Create a small, wealthy, elite powerful class to control the political, economic, and moral behavior of the masses? Check.
Homophobia? Check.
Book burning? Hmm... how about book banning? Check.
Wanting to pick a fight with Russia? Check.
Erosion of civil rights and increased monitoring by the government of your religious affiliation, how you dress, who you talk to, what you read, and what you buy? Check.
Support the round-up of detainees without due process in the name of national security? Check.
Proclaim you don't love your country enough unless you're one of them or imply that certain parts of the country are not patriotic because they don't align to your political beliefs? Check.
Now that the other side decided to play the "socialism" card, I feel it's time to toss out the "fascism" card.
Fox News (not my favorite source but unlike some, I tend to read a variety of sources all over) recently had an article about The Family Guy episode likening the McCain/Palin ticket to the Nazis. It is a bit ironic, especially since The Family Guy is on the Fox Network.
So, it makes me wonder... are there similarities to the Bush/McCain/Palin ticket with fascism?
Mislead your country into making a decision to wage war? Check.
Fundamentalist, judgemental, religious principles that espouse superiority? Check.
Use political rallies to incite hatred and encourage death threats on political opponents? Check.
Create a small, wealthy, elite powerful class to control the political, economic, and moral behavior of the masses? Check.
Homophobia? Check.
Book burning? Hmm... how about book banning? Check.
Wanting to pick a fight with Russia? Check.
Erosion of civil rights and increased monitoring by the government of your religious affiliation, how you dress, who you talk to, what you read, and what you buy? Check.
Support the round-up of detainees without due process in the name of national security? Check.
Proclaim you don't love your country enough unless you're one of them or imply that certain parts of the country are not patriotic because they don't align to your political beliefs? Check.
10 October, 2008
Buddy the Bull Dog Has a New Home
I just got an e-mail that the family who took Buddy for a trial run has decided to adopt him! YEAH!!!
He had two previous trials and they weren't successful. The first one was a woman who had horses; well, it turns out Buddy doesn't do well around horses. The next one was this cool couple who wanted a playmate for their Great Dane, but the dog was just old and not interested.
Somehow last Sunday, knowing how this couple was just all over my foster dog at the adoption booth, I just had a knot in my stomach that I was going to say good bye soon. He found his home. After a week-long trial, it's going to become official soon.
I know Buddy is going to be happy. And I'm happy too... they're granting me visitation rights! (And I intend to make good on it!)
Fostering Buddy has been a truly unique experience for me. While dogs aren't human, they have the capacity to draw the humanity from our hearts that make us more compassionate.
Wherever you are, if you have the ability, I hope you'll consider fostering a pet. In the Tallahassee area, consider the Gadsden Humane Society. It is entirely volunteer-run and relies on foster homes and kennels to take care of pets until they're adopted. I've never seen a more dedicated group of volunteers trying so hard to find good homes for these animals.
And to add another reason to volunteer with them... Gadsden County doesn't operate a shelter, so the Animal Control can only hold them a short while before animals are euthanized. If more foster volunteers come forward, that means the Gadsden Humane Society can get more adoptable animals saved!
Check them out at: here.
He had two previous trials and they weren't successful. The first one was a woman who had horses; well, it turns out Buddy doesn't do well around horses. The next one was this cool couple who wanted a playmate for their Great Dane, but the dog was just old and not interested.
Somehow last Sunday, knowing how this couple was just all over my foster dog at the adoption booth, I just had a knot in my stomach that I was going to say good bye soon. He found his home. After a week-long trial, it's going to become official soon.
I know Buddy is going to be happy. And I'm happy too... they're granting me visitation rights! (And I intend to make good on it!)
Fostering Buddy has been a truly unique experience for me. While dogs aren't human, they have the capacity to draw the humanity from our hearts that make us more compassionate.
Wherever you are, if you have the ability, I hope you'll consider fostering a pet. In the Tallahassee area, consider the Gadsden Humane Society. It is entirely volunteer-run and relies on foster homes and kennels to take care of pets until they're adopted. I've never seen a more dedicated group of volunteers trying so hard to find good homes for these animals.
And to add another reason to volunteer with them... Gadsden County doesn't operate a shelter, so the Animal Control can only hold them a short while before animals are euthanized. If more foster volunteers come forward, that means the Gadsden Humane Society can get more adoptable animals saved!
Check them out at: here.
20 August, 2008
This AWESOME dog needs a good home!
Meet Buddy, my foster dog I'm caring for on behalf of the Gadsden County Humane Society!
Buddy is a bull dog mix, about 55-65 lbs, and between 3-5 years of age.
Buddy is strong and he looks scary, but he's all heart and loves to cuddle up close and he's willing to lay in your lap. He is definitely not an Alpha dog and he wouldn't hurt anything. He loves other dogs and children. Another great thing is that I haven't heard him bark in the week I've had him.
Buddy is house trained and is relatively calm around others. He is neutered and tested negative for heart worms.
If you're interested, let me know and maybe I can arrange a visit. If not, please pass this on to someone who might be. I really want to find him a great home!
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