I woke up this morning happy, tired but happy. I stayed up to watch the final results of the election and to hear President O's acceptance speech. What a speech. This is why I fell in love with him four years ago when he spoke at the Democratic National Convention. He is so motivating and inspires such hope.
Before I went to bed, the results of Prop 8 weren't in yet. Prop 8 is a ballot measure in California that would strip away same-sex marriage, which was legalized in May 2008 by the California Supreme Court. It would do so by amending the State Constitution, which in itself is unconstitutional, but anyway...
As of 8:38 a.m. EST, the votes are still being counted, but the discriminatory measure is leading 52%-48%, a difference of just over 350,000 votes. I just cannot believe in the same night that America shows its forward-thinking progress by electing the first African-American President she is capable of writing discrimination into the Constitution, not just in California...
In Arizona voters passed a ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage by 238,000 votes. In Arkansas voters passed a measure to ban gay couples from adopting children. And Florida voters also passed a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
What the hell are people afraid of? How on earth does this threaten anyone? Shannan and I got "civil unioned" last year. As long as we live in New Jersey, we will be fine. But if we move to another state, our relationship is not recognized. I would lose all benefits I enjoy (and appreciate) through her union. She would have absolutely no rights in regards to us as a couple. We would not be considered family but "friends."
The idea that the California Supreme Court legalized gay marriage and thousands (?) of couples who got married may now have those marriages nullified is an outrage, a disgrace, and just plain disgusting.
The time has come to get over our prejudices -- prejudices against gays, blacks, Jews, Hispanics, Indians, Muslims, women, aethiests, transsexuals, fat people, ugly people, pretty people, people with earrings in their noses, people with tattoos, anybody who doesn't look like you.
Just get the "F" over it.
I have been in a mild depression since November 2000 when George Bush won the election. Last night i cried. I cried like a baby, feeling the sheer joy of hope and promise that I live in a country that could elect a black man. I was beside myself listening to this VERY INTELLIGENT man address the hundreds of thousands of supporters with dignity and grace and humility. I can hold my head up high and be proud to be an American again. That has been quite challenging over the last eight years. But there is still this nagging ache in my heart for everyone who continues to be oppressed and discriminated against. Please...just get the "F" over it.
J.Bo.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
President Obama
Oh, no, you didn't...
Oh, YES, WE DID!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to President Barack Obama, and congratulations to me and everyone else who has suffered through eight years of George Bush and the Right Wing Republican Rule!
The biggest irony of the elections...we didn't even need FLORIDA (even though we ultimately got it)!
J.Bo.
Oh, YES, WE DID!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to President Barack Obama, and congratulations to me and everyone else who has suffered through eight years of George Bush and the Right Wing Republican Rule!
The biggest irony of the elections...we didn't even need FLORIDA (even though we ultimately got it)!
J.Bo.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue
Yesterday was Halloween. Shannan asked (begged) me to watch scary movies Thursday and Friday nights. I've never seen Nightmare on Elm Street or Halloween. I resisted. I've never really been into scary movies. My friends tortured me in high school by making me see The Exorcist several times. They would trick me by telling me we were going to see something light like On Golden Pond. To this day, I cannot listen to the music from The Exorcist without cringing.
I have to admit Nightmare on Elm Street was pretty good. I appreciated the campiness, the horrible '80s hairdos and clothing, a pretty Johnny Depp, and the creativeness of a monster killing you in your dreams. Of course, we TiVo'd it from AMC so they cut out all the gore. My kind of version:)
Halloween, on the other hand, was lame. The buildup to the first kill was excruciating. Just kill someone already, will ya? I have to admit I was so distracted by a teenaged Jamie Lee Curtis that I couldn't have cared less about Michael Myer in the "scary" mask. I did get a kick out of the psychiatrist ordering the police chief around. Oh, and of course, the '70s fashion is always fun to watch. I was a little scared at one point and felt the necessity to make sure all the doors were locked. But it only lasted a couple of minutes.
So let's talk about what really scares me. The Presidential election. I'm so certain Barack Obama is not only going to win but it's not even going to be close. What's scary is, what if I'm wrong? Ooh, I shudder at the thought.
Last night, all the neighborhood kids ran door to door collecting their candy, and I couldn't help but get into the election spirit. I offered them an extra piece of candy if the said the magic word. "Please?" "Thank you?" No, not those magic words! I motioned over to my Obama lawn sign, and like music to my ears, they shouted "Obama!" Yes, yes, that's it. Parents and kids alike got into the act. Everybody was getting extra candy at my house. What I found so fascinating was all the kids knew who Obama was. And they were enthusiastic about him. One little girl told me Obama won the election at her school; he's now the President of her school! Wow! That's exciting. Can I come to your school? Who knew in this day and age there would be Red Schools and Blue Schools?
When I was a kid, I couldn't tell you who was running for President! I remember in fifth grade Mr. Caracci, my teacher, asked the class who agreed with Nixon being pardoned? Huh? I'm only 11. What does "pardoned" mean? Oh, that Mr. Caracci; he must have thought we were political science majors in college. This is Cambridge School! When is the nurse going to come visit our classroom with her big dog, Major, a boxer who happened to be our school mascot? That's all I care about. But these kids know who Obama is. I think that's great.
I was a little disappointed, though, that I didn't see one Sarah Palin costume. Oh, well, you can't have everything. I guess the best costume of the night has to go to the little boy dressed as a Whoopie Cushion. Unfortunately, his moment of glory was thwarted by my exclaiming, "Look at the little girl dressed as a Whoopie Cushion!" He corrected me, bowing his head in shame, "I'm a boy." OUCH. Sorry, kid, i can't see anything but your face. I gave him an extra piece of candy. Candy fixes everything. Maybe we should give Congress some candy...just a thought.
Happy Halloween and happy voting. I've never stood in line to vote in my life, but I'm prepared for anything this year. I'm even taking my camera to document myself casting a vote for the first African-American President of the United States of America. God Bless you and God Bless America!
J.Bo.
I have to admit Nightmare on Elm Street was pretty good. I appreciated the campiness, the horrible '80s hairdos and clothing, a pretty Johnny Depp, and the creativeness of a monster killing you in your dreams. Of course, we TiVo'd it from AMC so they cut out all the gore. My kind of version:)
Halloween, on the other hand, was lame. The buildup to the first kill was excruciating. Just kill someone already, will ya? I have to admit I was so distracted by a teenaged Jamie Lee Curtis that I couldn't have cared less about Michael Myer in the "scary" mask. I did get a kick out of the psychiatrist ordering the police chief around. Oh, and of course, the '70s fashion is always fun to watch. I was a little scared at one point and felt the necessity to make sure all the doors were locked. But it only lasted a couple of minutes.
So let's talk about what really scares me. The Presidential election. I'm so certain Barack Obama is not only going to win but it's not even going to be close. What's scary is, what if I'm wrong? Ooh, I shudder at the thought.
Last night, all the neighborhood kids ran door to door collecting their candy, and I couldn't help but get into the election spirit. I offered them an extra piece of candy if the said the magic word. "Please?" "Thank you?" No, not those magic words! I motioned over to my Obama lawn sign, and like music to my ears, they shouted "Obama!" Yes, yes, that's it. Parents and kids alike got into the act. Everybody was getting extra candy at my house. What I found so fascinating was all the kids knew who Obama was. And they were enthusiastic about him. One little girl told me Obama won the election at her school; he's now the President of her school! Wow! That's exciting. Can I come to your school? Who knew in this day and age there would be Red Schools and Blue Schools?
When I was a kid, I couldn't tell you who was running for President! I remember in fifth grade Mr. Caracci, my teacher, asked the class who agreed with Nixon being pardoned? Huh? I'm only 11. What does "pardoned" mean? Oh, that Mr. Caracci; he must have thought we were political science majors in college. This is Cambridge School! When is the nurse going to come visit our classroom with her big dog, Major, a boxer who happened to be our school mascot? That's all I care about. But these kids know who Obama is. I think that's great.
I was a little disappointed, though, that I didn't see one Sarah Palin costume. Oh, well, you can't have everything. I guess the best costume of the night has to go to the little boy dressed as a Whoopie Cushion. Unfortunately, his moment of glory was thwarted by my exclaiming, "Look at the little girl dressed as a Whoopie Cushion!" He corrected me, bowing his head in shame, "I'm a boy." OUCH. Sorry, kid, i can't see anything but your face. I gave him an extra piece of candy. Candy fixes everything. Maybe we should give Congress some candy...just a thought.
Happy Halloween and happy voting. I've never stood in line to vote in my life, but I'm prepared for anything this year. I'm even taking my camera to document myself casting a vote for the first African-American President of the United States of America. God Bless you and God Bless America!
J.Bo.
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