I live in a conservative part of San Diego. Yesterday, a nice Asian woman came to my house to purchase a piece of furniture I had posted on Craigslist. On her way out, she commented that I was "brave" to have an Obama yardsign and bumper sticker. I told her I understood, as someone had etched a "W" into my rear view window. But I will not take my bumper sticker off.
As she left, I said, "We have to be proud and we have to be vocal. This is America, isn’t it?
Coincidentally, another Asian woman who lives nearby called me about phonebanking. She is also hesitant to put up a yard sign. As a matter of fact, her husband asked her "are you sure you want to do that?"
The recent escalation in violent rhetoric at McCain/Palin rallies has many people nauseated and fearful. And rightfully so. Anyone who knows history also knows that it doesn’t take much to ignite an angry mob. Last night I had trouble sleeping and today I woke to a feeling of extreme sadness. I want my country back, god dammit!
As the mother of a Korean son, who we adopted as an infant, I know very well that being a minority puts one in a vulnerable position. So I do not judge...but I am disheartened. The McCain campaign has crossed the line. Others probably share my concerns...afraid that violence might be perpetrated against their cars, their homes, and now, with this increasingly violent rhetoric, their families.
I certainly do not advocate putting your family in danger. But on the other hand, I believe that if we cave to this fear, they will have won.
In May, my husband and I had the good fortune to travel to London. While there, we visited the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms. What a moving experience! The museum is housed in the underground bunker where Churchill conducted his war operations. He lived in this bunker, along with his staff for several years. From this underground site, he called President Roosevelt and the two planned and executed their strategy for crushing the Nazi war machine.
It was difficult to travel through the museum without getting choked up. Even now, as I peruse the booklet I bought, I fight back tears. Overhead, we could hear the speeches Churchill made to the British people. One couldn’t help but be struck by the differences between the imperfect, cigar smoking, scotch-drinking Churchill and our teetotaling, born-again so-called president.
When we left the museum, we were invited to fill out a comment card. I wrote: As an American, I could not help but compare Mr. Bush with Mr. Churchill. All I can think of to say to the world is, I’m so sorry....
Last week, as in so many times during his presidency, George Bush told us once again to be afraid, be very afraid. He has reduced his remaining followers to a quivering mass of terrorist-obsessed frothing-at-the-mouth pitchfork carrying racists. And John McCain has picked up the mantle and is shuffling with it to the finish line.
Churchill once said: " I have never accepted what many people have kindly said, namely that I inspired the nation. Their will was resolute and remorseless, and as it proved, unconquerable. It was the nation and the race dwelling all round the globe that had the lion’s heart. I had the luck to be called upon to give the roar." And "When you feel you cannot continue in your position for another minute, and all that is in human power has been done, that is the moment when the enemy is most exhausted, and when one step forward will give you the fruits of the struggle you have borne." And "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." And I am sure, if he had met George Bush, he would have told him "Say what you have to say and the first time you come to a sentence with a grammatical ending – sit down."
So, when I think about the sacrifices the American and British people made during the war, the poverty, hunger and fear they experienced daily, I remind myself that this month ahead is but a small moment in time. I look to our leader, Barack Obama, and draw inspiration from his courage, from the path that he has traveled. And I tell myself I can do it. I can put up that yard sign, I can make that phone call. I will write a letter to the editor. I can do it for my country and my children. I am afraid, but I will do it.
Yes we can. And finally, let’s not forget what the great John Wayne once said; "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway". Giddy up!