Election Day 2004. I voted this morning at the local Methodist church, which holds voting for two precincts. By virtue of living in a small "orphaned" piece of my precinct, my line was non-existent. This was a bonus, since the other line had at least fifty people standing in it. The process was relatively painless, since we only had three selections to make. Now if only the election itself would go as smoothly. I'm trying not to panic, but I still remember agonizing for days over Election 2000, the recount, and the final result. My favorite bumper sticker this election year was a tie between "Somewhere in Texas a village is missing its idiot" and "Re-Defeat Bush."
I've never been good with expressing emotions. I always felt that emotions were a sign of weakness - part of being raised as my father's "son", I suppose. Lately I'm having a hard time bottling up those things that bubble up when people start flinging arrows and stones. Some I deserve. Others, less so. Innocent comments get taken out of context and used to further some cause. I make a genuine post about an overwhelming feeling I have, and someone turns it into an accusation, based on some sort of internet statistic that proves I've posted in response to something else. Frankly, I don't see the connection. I get angry more often than I used to, but I often feel like I've been kicked in the gut too. I'm not accustomed to that one. It usually brings tears. Intended kindnesses are perceived as attempts to control. And this post will be labeled as an attempt to send someone on a guilt trip - but hey - if the shoe fits, baby, wear it out.
Comments