When the Democrats tried to get the votes counted and the Republicans tried to stop them from being counted in Florida, I had a discussion with a very close, life long friend of 35 years. He said that if they continued to count the votes that he would get his guns and hit the streets to stop it. I replied that if he did, I would get my rifle and would be hunting for him. I also reminded him that I was a far better shot than he. You see, I really believed that gun ownership was a right and a duty. Hold on...don't give up on me yet.
Voting is a privilege and a right by our constitution. I believe there has been a successful conspiracy to disenfranchise voters, on a large scale, the last two elections. It is every citizen's duty to make sure every vote counts. The voter's belief or party does not matter, we are obligated to stand beside them to make sure their vote is counted. I was troubled by the thought, but this must be why it is a right and duty to own guns...right?
What does this have to do with the Democratic Party?
As the blonde bimbo attack ad against Mr. Ford was being discussed on the cable news channels, one show compared the Democratic and Republican nastiest ads currently running. The Democrat's was the Michael J. Fox ad and the Republican was, of course, the blonde "call me" ad. This was the beginning of the epiphany for me.
I've listened to the Republicans call the Democrats traitors, weak and losers and wondered why they just took it. I watched the new "swift-boat" ads and then the Democrats reply with "If they could they would kick my dog too" (rough quote) and Michael J. Fox's plea for research that might help many diseases as well as his own. I have watched Republicans, during a discussion, accuse the Democrat of lying. The Democrat struggled to find what might possibly have been construed as a lie and wore a pained look with the effort.
Are the Republicans right? Are we just weak? Then the epiphany crystalized for me.
Democrats are doing what is needed to save our country without becoming like those who are destroying it.
The Democrats take pains to tell the truth instead of creating their own reality.
The Democrats are not invoking the basest of human instincts, they are invoking the greater good. End war. Cure disease. Individual's rights of privacy and freedom. Education. Raise up the least among us.
Isn't this the way we want our leaders to be? This is not the way of a traitor, but a patriot. This is not the way of the weak, but the hero. This is not the way of a loser, but the only way to truly win. The Republicans will bloody us, but we will remain steadfast and march on. There will be losses and the Republicans will dance on our graves, but we will march on. We will march on until our momentum turns our country towards peace, prosperity, human rights and honor.
If the perpetrators believe they can get away with it, the votes will not be counted. I once believed that is what "the right to bear arms" was for but now I have learned my lesson, taught to me by the leaders of the Democratic Party.
It is not violence.
It is not verbal or physical aggression.
It is peaceful resolve.
I will peacefully and resolutely join those who will insist the votes be counted. Not anger or hate but resolve. I will not abandon the cause until the votes are counted. I will stand shoulder to shoulder with my fellow citizens so the basic tenant of a Republic or Democracy, the right to vote and the vote to be counted, survives.
I hope you see what the Democratic Party has become, as I do.
Be ready, question and observe on voting day so everyone's right to vote becomes a reality.
I hope you join the long vigil as we insist every one of those votes are counted...whoever cast it, wherever it was cast.
For those wondering, no..I do not talk to that former friend anymore.