Kind Visitor, I realize if I don’t want to just curl up and lose my voice entirely, for my own sake I need to say something today. I’ll just tell you why I voted.
I voted because this Supreme Court may well strike down the ACA, taking health insurance from some 20 million of us, destroying protections for preexisting conditions and throwing our health system into chaos in the middle of a pandemic. I want someone in office who will at least attempt to mend health care for all of us. Death is not the only lasting effect of this pandemic: some suffer lasting damage to lungs, heart or neurological function. Think “preexisting conditions.”
I voted because I believe that until we contain the virus we cannot right the economy and because I believe those losing their livelihood merit substantive help now.
I voted because I want to chase the fighting chance for a livable planet — for us and for every bird, mammal, fish and plant and scene of beauty — rather than trash it all for transient gain and go down forever on the wrong side of history at an irreversible inflection point.
I voted because to me the phrase “no justice, no peace” is not a threat but an essential human truth. When we shoot an unarmed man 7 times in the back in front of his young children, when we yank children from their mothers and leave them stranded in limbo, we must take the high, hard road and address the underlying causes even if they seem immovable as mountains. Taking the lazy way out and using the government like a bludgeon to smack people down in their anguish guarantees violence.
I voted because I believe even a wounded democracy maintains possibility, while democracy ever more completely sacrificed to authoritarian ego and self-serving power will mute our cries and steal our voice. I trust we would still find a road forward, but it would be harder and longer and I for one would not likely see the fruition of it.
I voted because we are bleeding out those who serve us quietly in good faith. They are being fired or are leaving government because their positions are now untenable. I think of my grandfather and my father in the world wars. We are alienating allies who have stood beside us for some 70 years since WW ll. That makes us smaller and weaker and more unsafe.
I voted because I am exhausted by ‘alternative facts’ and unceasing lies, and ugly, thin-skinned hissy-fits and just plain cruelty and chaos. I voted because I care about my LGBTQ friends and those who love them. I voted because I do not like to hear women called “dog," "fat pig," "slob" or “horse-face” and I don’t think a ‘star’ has the right to stick his hand between your legs and grab.
I came upon a quote somewhere — I believe it was on a tea-bag tag -- from Walt Whitman: “Dismiss whatever insults your own soul.” I thought, that is exactly how I feel about this administration. It insults my soul.
I voted because I reject it.
Dear Ones, make tomorrow count.
Thank you.
Forest