The sign read, "Beware of the attack Democrat". It was made of metal and looked like a street sign. It was the first thing that one would see and if you are from Vermont it most reassuringly put a smile on your face.
The sign has been removed. The sign has been taken down. The sign is gone and now I find myself concerned again!
One of the greatest things I felt I had going for me was the fact that I met someone who is very politically engaged with life. I met someone who felt the same as I did in every arena and who is a voice for those who do not know how to articulate their feelings, beliefs and personal wisdom.
I said farewell to coworkers and I left my humble abode to be with my crusader. I dressed up my new lily pad home during the last election with streamers, pinwheels and a life sized cut out of Obama no less. We were the talk of the community with the local paper coming out to take pictures. Yet now, the sign is gone.
My hero took the sign down. When I asked he provided me with a diatribe of how disappointed he was with Obama. His faith in the Democratic society has taken on a slant that he can not condone in the good conscience of what he believed the party to be, to represent and uphold.
I heard him continue with such agony and I started to feel as if he was like the author Kahlil Gibran stating how he was exiled from his country because of his beliefs. He has become a man without a party and I find myself completely unable to soothe him no matter what discourse I employ.
The issues range from the health program to the drone attacks to a variety of foreign affairs and the most potent of all, the second amendment. He is a Democrat who supports the second amendment. He is a champion of every right out there however is alienated because of guns.
I cannot speak to the issue of guns and not because it is such a volatile issue. I cannot speak because I have a very limited knowledge base about guns in general. I would hardly croak a rib-it on even pretending my voice knew what I was saying. The same holds true with auto mechanics.
I do know this. I know that all rights are important and gun rights are important. I do know that laws in place have not always been followed. I know that to exploit the death of children is wrong to promote more gun control when it was a person and not the gun. I know what side of the fence the NRA is on.
So it becomes this challenge of an "all or nothing" mentality. It becomes the dividing line to be shunned because one embraces it all while others draw the line. It becomes a 'bone of contention' a rationale to end friendships and alliances that have been long standing. It turns into words from the song, "Nowhere man- isn't he a bit like you and me". rib-it ribit ribit