"When we blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons. We cease to grow."
-Anais Nin
I recently read a blog where the woman accused liberals and Democrats of not educating themselves. She referred to us as "sheep". She stated that she reads several non-bias news organizations. That is hard to believe because most news organizations are bias one way or another...but that is a whole other ball of wax that I do not want to start.
Today, with only four days left until the election, I want to point something out. First, I usually like to tell people reasons why I am voting FOR John Kerry. I try not to state all of the negatives about GWB. However, that is not that kind of day. It is time to cut the niceties. It is time to get serious because this country is going in the wrong direction under his leadership. I am going to state my main reasons for casting my one ballot for John Kerry.
1. I felt lied to about the Iraq war. I got tired of hearing reason after changed reason why we are there. Dick Cheney and George W. Bush assured the American public that this was a just war. Now the 9-11 commission says there is no connectionI know that this may ruffle a few feathers. Oh, well. I know this might shock people who know me as mild mannered Sara. Some it won't shock at all.
between Iraq and the 9-11 attacks.
2. I think the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq was mishandled by the Bush administration. How can a President fly to an aircraft carrier and say "Mission Accomplished", then have 1000 more service men and women perish. Then, he says he doesn't regret that day on the aircraft carrier. Isn't that a slap in the face to the service people's parents? What did their children die for if the mission was
accomplished?
3. I disagree with his "No Child Left Behind" policies. He has underfunded it. I don't care if people say he has funded it. It is underfunded. I am on the frontlines. I see what overtesting and high-stakes testing is doing to quality of instruction. Teachers are no longer focusing on critical thinking skills, but instead focusing on drill and
skill. Does it make sense to have a six year old take a standardized test to prove that I am a quality teacher? There is a better way to do this.
4. I want a President who works for all Americans...not just the religious, the well-paid, the nuclear family, the never question the President citizens. He should be made accountable. In my job, I am made to be accountable. He should too. I want a President who values all Americans...the disadvantaged, the single parent, the woman, the child, the Muslim, the non-religious, the worker, the student,
immigrant citizens. He has alienated citizens by using his "either for us or against us" type stance on everything from terrorism to tax relief.
5. Finally, I do not buy that he is the only man on this planet who can fight terrorism. I don't see that he is a superhero. It only makes sense that any man or woman can do this who has a stake in America, the world, and human beings. I feel that we can be tough and respectful at the same time.
I hope everyone can appreciate the awesome concept of one person for one vote. The idea that we are offered the first amendment to voice our opinions and disagree with others. You can disagree with me. Many people (Democrats and Republicans alike) enjoy writing comments where they try to make the blog writer look stupid. Bring it on. Like my husband says, "Opinion are like a_ sho _e s , everyone has one."
If you need more information, check out this article written at thenation.com. Yeah, I know. Biased. Save it.
6 comments:
A post this good deserves praise. And actually, it appears to be GWB supporters who are incapable of learning. It seems that many of them invested so much emotional capital in Bush after 9/11, their psyche's will not allow them to absorb any info that might make indicate their investment was bad. Two great studies at pipa.org. I wrote a piece about it last saturday. greatwhitebear.blogspot.org. Again your post was great........Mark
These are all excellent points. I just wish that those who are supporting Bush would realize them as well. I especially agree that Bush is not the only person who can fight terror. I seriously doubt that Kerry will drop the ball when it comes to defendint us from terror.
I am glad you wrote out your thoughts. It feels good, doesn't it? And it doesn't appear you have offended anyone yet :)
Very thoughtful comments. Your Anais Non quote introduces your overall point very well.
Judging whether something is biased or not is rather challenging as one has to sort through their own biases to do so. And, if one actually does find an unbiased or possibly less biased news source, then one is still challenged to interpret such with an objective perspective. I personally don't try that hard. I know what my biases are and why. I like it when people agree with me and I prefer to get my own way. But then I'm old and tired.
I only noticed this today, but I wanted to say that I agree with you. I think you listed the reasons to vote for Kerry very succinctly and effectively.
I only wish the election had turned out differently. How painful this morning was.
This is over a month late, so you may never see it, which might be just as well for all the good it'll probably do, but I just came across your blog and, well here goes. . .
No one in the Bush Administration ever said there was a connection between Saddam Hussein and 9/11. Vice President Cheney didn't either, despite how some in the media tried to misquote him through selective editing. There were many connections between Saddam and terrorist organizations, though, mostly Palestinian terror groups, but also al Qaeda. The 9/11 Commission's report found that evidence of al Qaeda ties did exist, though it found no evidence that a "collaborative relationship" had yet developed. Bottom line: President Bush never lied about the reasons we were going to war in Iraq. That itself is the big lie.
As for the "Mission Accomplished" banner, that was the idea of the captain of the USS Abraham Lincoln, not the White House, and referred to the ship's (and the carrier group's) 10-month deployment being accomplished. If you read a transcript of the speech the President gave that day there is no way you can come away from it thinking the job in Iraq was finished. An excerpt:
We have difficult work to do in Iraq. We're bringing order to parts of that country that remain dangerous. We're pursuing and finding leaders of the old regime who will be held to account for their crimes. ... And we will stand with the new leaders of Iraq as they establish a government of, by and for the Iraqi people. The transition from dictatorship to democracy will take time, but it is worth every effort. Our coalition will stay until our work is done and then we will leave and we will leave behind a free Iraq.I think you are factually wrong on the other three points you've made in this post as well, with the possible exception of the NCLB Act, but I won't go into those here and make this post longer than it already is since I'm not sure that you'll even read this much. Feel free to email me if you do, however, and wish to know more. With an open mind, I think you'll find that our president isn't nearly as bad as The Nation and MoveOn.org portray him to be, even from a liberal standpoint.
Regards,
Lawrence
(A fellow native Iowan)
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