"Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes!"
Maggie Kuhn
Saw this on a bumper sticker over the holiday, and it got me thinking. A long-time friend of my family and close friend to my mother sent a Christmas letter praising Bush's re-election. Frankly, it pissed me off. The woman has always been kind to my family, but the way she phrased the letter--her joy at his re-election and her desire that we all pray for the safe return of our troops--sent me into a rage. I asked for help here at dailykos for what I might say if I ran into her over the holiday and got many a great suggestion. I did not meet her. I did, however, receive a gift from her for my 1.5 year old son. I normally send a thank you card whenever I receive a gift from her, and I plan to do so this time. But after seeing the aforementioned sticker (and calming down a bit), I was thinking I should still say SOMETHING... But what?
Now that I've calmed down a bit, I've decided I don't want to be disrespectful, but from this point forward, I think I need to say something whenever I encounter support for the Commander and Chimp, even if it's a close friend. What should I do? Give her a website listing Bush's failures? Quote some founding father about the importance of good leadership? Send a political cartoon? I just lack the skill or wit possessed by many of the writers. I need something that is succinct, respectful, but provokes thought. I want to get her to think. I don't want to make her angry.
Any suggestions?