I recently posted on Facebook that I am voting for Hillary Clinton in 2016 because I want my four grand-nephews, ages 20 years old, 17 years old, 3 years old and 10 days old, and my 4 year old grand-niece to know that I care about them. I also want them to know that I care about their future. The 2016 election is not just about ensuring and protecting my generation or even my nieces and nephew's generation. Oh no, there is so much more at stake than just what will happen in the next decade or two. We must begin now to do all that we can do to protect and preserve our government, our Constitution, our country, our land and our planet Earth for the generations to come.
What is the legacy that we want to pass on to the those just reaching adulthood, those still enjoying their childhood, those just being born and those still to be born? Do we want them to know that we cared enough about one another to protect the Social Service programs like Social Security, Medicare, Snap and Head Start because we know and believe that people who need help must be able to receive help? Do we want them to know that they have good affordable healthcare coverage because we worked hard to fix the problems and refused to elect those who would destroy it? Do we want them to understand that we took good care of those who answered our country's call to serve? That we not only saluted our veterans and thanked them for their service, but that we also ensured they were taken care of when they returned home? That is the legacy that I want to pass on to the young members of my family and the generations to come.
What is the torch we want to pass on to them? The torch of freedom and equality? The torch that says although we, here and now in 2015, know we still have so many more steps to take to achieve those ideals set forth in our Declaration of Independence, we will continue moving forward? That even though we may falter at times, we will not stop? That even when the flame seems quite small and barely flickers, we, like the generations before us, have kept our promise and never let the flame of freedom die out? That we stood together and stood strong against those who wanted to take our country back to a place of injustice and inequality? That the same torch of freedom shines in the harbor of New York held by a Statue that represents all the promises seekers will find here? The torch that welcomes, not burns with hatred and bigotry. That is the torch I want to pass on to my young family members and the generations to come.
So I stand holding my torch and joining with Hillary Clinton and all those who stand for the present, the future and for the generations to come. I will pass my torch to my young family members and to the future generations with great pride in and great love for them and my country! I will tell them" We did this for you!"
Friday, May 22, 2015
Friday, May 15, 2015
to my family and friends
I love you all. I love the United States of America. I love our Constitution and Bill of Rights. I love our flag. I love our planet and all of creation. I want to see our country continue to move forward, however slowly that may be at times, to what it can become and not slip backward to what it never was. I don't want to see our country turn back to a time when the only people who had rights were white men. I don't want to see our country destroy our little corner of the planet along with the creatures, trees, flowers and plants with whom we share our land. I don't want to see our country take part in the destruction of this plant that is our home. I know you don't either. But there are people who do and they vote.
I want to see our country take steps to ensure the equality promised in The Declaration of Independence is extended to all people. I don't want us to continue to use skin color, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or no religious beliefs to prevent anyone from being treated fairly and equally and receiving all the same benefits and protections under the law. Too many people still struggle with civil rights. As a gay woman, I am all to aware of the rights I do not share with my heterosexual family and friends. When my partner died, I could not receive her pension because we were not married. We registered as domestic partners in Broward County Florida. But the company handling her pension did not recognize same sex domestic partnerships. I know you all love me and support me. I cannot imagine that you would vote for people who want to make it even more difficult for gay people. But there are people who do and they vote.
I want us to be proud that we are a nation of immigrants who came to this country in search of something better than what they had in their own countries. I want us to understand that the people who are risking their lives to get here are not doing so for a handout from our government. They would rather die trying to get to the United States than stay where they are because that is how difficult life is for them. I want us to embrace the words of Emma Lazurus' New Colossus and with open arms shout out in a loud voice "Send them! They will be welcome here!" Many of us are the descendants of immigrants. I cannot believe you would be anti immigration. But there are people who are and they vote.
I want all of you, my family and friends, to be able to see a doctor and to be able to receive medical treatment. I don't want to see you have to use the Emergency Room as your doctor as so many people have had to do in the past because they had no insurance and could not afford to go to the doctor. I know our current system is not perfect, but more people have insurance now than in the past. People with pre-existing conditions can finally get the help they need because they cannot be turned down. The system can be fixed, but not if those who seek to destroy it and replace it with something worse are elected. I don't think anyone's income should be the deciding factor in whether they can and should be able to get medical insurance or see a doctor. I cannot believe that any of you would really believe there are people who deserve to die or should die because they do not make enough money to pay high premiums for medical insurance. I cannot believe that you think anyone should die because they are already ill and insurance companies should not have to cover them. But there are people who do and they vote.
I want you to really think about what will happen if Social Security and Medicare end. Do you know anyone who receives these benefits? Do you honestly believe they should not receive any assistance? Why not? Do you think they should have planned better? Saved more? Had better jobs? My own parents were blue collar workers and depended on Social Security and Medicare. So will I. Do you have enough money to survive on when you retire so that you will not need Social Security? Do you have enough money to pay for medical insurance so you will not need Medicare? If your answer to either of these questions is "no" then please tell me why you would ever vote for people who plan to end these programs. Do you believe that anyone, and especially children, deserve to starve? If you do not, then why would vote for people who will do that? If your answer is, "Well, I'm not going to vote." then you will let others make the choices and decisions for you.
In 2016, we will decide whether we, as a country, want to move forward together or continue to become a house even more divided. A house where some people have rights, including the right to eat, and others do not. A house were the 1% percent thrive and have all the power rather than a house where the 100% sit together at the table to work out a way that is better for more people. There will never be a perfect system because there will never be perfect people. But we can become better and our country can become better if only we will join together. I'm joining with Hillary Clinton because I know we can move our country forward! We're not going to solve every problem. But we can and will take steps in the right direction.
I want to see our country take steps to ensure the equality promised in The Declaration of Independence is extended to all people. I don't want us to continue to use skin color, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or no religious beliefs to prevent anyone from being treated fairly and equally and receiving all the same benefits and protections under the law. Too many people still struggle with civil rights. As a gay woman, I am all to aware of the rights I do not share with my heterosexual family and friends. When my partner died, I could not receive her pension because we were not married. We registered as domestic partners in Broward County Florida. But the company handling her pension did not recognize same sex domestic partnerships. I know you all love me and support me. I cannot imagine that you would vote for people who want to make it even more difficult for gay people. But there are people who do and they vote.
I want us to be proud that we are a nation of immigrants who came to this country in search of something better than what they had in their own countries. I want us to understand that the people who are risking their lives to get here are not doing so for a handout from our government. They would rather die trying to get to the United States than stay where they are because that is how difficult life is for them. I want us to embrace the words of Emma Lazurus' New Colossus and with open arms shout out in a loud voice "Send them! They will be welcome here!" Many of us are the descendants of immigrants. I cannot believe you would be anti immigration. But there are people who are and they vote.
I want all of you, my family and friends, to be able to see a doctor and to be able to receive medical treatment. I don't want to see you have to use the Emergency Room as your doctor as so many people have had to do in the past because they had no insurance and could not afford to go to the doctor. I know our current system is not perfect, but more people have insurance now than in the past. People with pre-existing conditions can finally get the help they need because they cannot be turned down. The system can be fixed, but not if those who seek to destroy it and replace it with something worse are elected. I don't think anyone's income should be the deciding factor in whether they can and should be able to get medical insurance or see a doctor. I cannot believe that any of you would really believe there are people who deserve to die or should die because they do not make enough money to pay high premiums for medical insurance. I cannot believe that you think anyone should die because they are already ill and insurance companies should not have to cover them. But there are people who do and they vote.
I want you to really think about what will happen if Social Security and Medicare end. Do you know anyone who receives these benefits? Do you honestly believe they should not receive any assistance? Why not? Do you think they should have planned better? Saved more? Had better jobs? My own parents were blue collar workers and depended on Social Security and Medicare. So will I. Do you have enough money to survive on when you retire so that you will not need Social Security? Do you have enough money to pay for medical insurance so you will not need Medicare? If your answer to either of these questions is "no" then please tell me why you would ever vote for people who plan to end these programs. Do you believe that anyone, and especially children, deserve to starve? If you do not, then why would vote for people who will do that? If your answer is, "Well, I'm not going to vote." then you will let others make the choices and decisions for you.
In 2016, we will decide whether we, as a country, want to move forward together or continue to become a house even more divided. A house where some people have rights, including the right to eat, and others do not. A house were the 1% percent thrive and have all the power rather than a house where the 100% sit together at the table to work out a way that is better for more people. There will never be a perfect system because there will never be perfect people. But we can become better and our country can become better if only we will join together. I'm joining with Hillary Clinton because I know we can move our country forward! We're not going to solve every problem. But we can and will take steps in the right direction.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)