18,000,000 cracks and a long row to hoe

by Ripley

I wasn't able to watch Hillary's speech, live, because I was helping my friend with his new business.  My loss.  I caught it on The You Tube and, I gotta tell ya, I was impressed.  I don't have any animosity toward Hillary or her supporters (except the shit gigglers like Larry Johnson [may his name be cursed!] and a few other scurvy bastards) and I never have.  As I've said, the fact that a woman and a black man were the top contenders, with unprecedented support, for President blows my motherfuckin' mind.  In a good way.  I think Hillary's speech was gracious and inspirational.  You may disagree.  Regardless...

My best friend called me this morning and said he was surprised that I hadn't weighed in on the Primary results.  I told him I'd decided that it just wasn't worth it because there was so much animosity and bile out there.  And he knows I'm a lover, not a fighter.  Somehow, we got to talking about parents and their children inheriting certain philosophies and cultural views.  My Dad's personal brand of discipline was, well... brutal, to be frank.  And he was a bigot of the first order.  "God damned niggers!" and "damned Jews!"... he hated the British, for Christ's sake!  "Damned Limeys!"   Despite that, I grew up to be a compassionate, non-violent, racially open person and I do my best not to judge people based on gender, skin color, religion (except for those Catholics - they be trippin!), etc. 

Dad was a blue collar guy and the epitome of a Man's Man - WWII vet, tough, honest, jack of all trades and completely devoted to my Mom.  Mom was a medical professional who made more money than Dad, but he didn't care.  I grew up with two older sisters who went on to achieve great things, as well.  One of the easiest biases a white man could hold didn't exist in our household.  And it was not up for discussion.  "Girls have cooties!" would have been OK, when I was a kid - "women aren't as good as men" would have earned me a free ride into the nearest wall, once my voice changed.  Dad was an interesting guy.

I'll tell ya - I'd be thrilled to see a woman in the White House.  God's honest truth.  I'm equally thrilled to anticipate a black man in the White House.  But, let's be honest - there's a difference between a minority male and a woman in America.  There is - at least, or maybe especially, at the level we're talking about.  A woman in the White House would have been a much greater social coup than a black man.  But, as I said before, we have a nominee - more importantly, we have a cause.

We pride ourselves on caring about Everyone.  The poor, the oppressed, our gay brothers and sisters, the people of Iraq and Afghanistan... I don't think they care if it's a woman or a black man in the White House.  As long as our President, our leaders and We(!) do what we can to make the world right, it doesn't matter if it's a woman or a man, black or white, Catholic or Jew, sitting behind that desk.  What matters is that We(!) do what's right.

Some people have commented that Hillary's speech had subtle, ulterior motives and messages.  Some people are complete tossers.  Hillary did something that most of us could never dream of doing.  She mobilized 18,000,000 people for a cause - Our cause.  The same people who "rule" this nation and look down on women, look down on black men and women - and latino men and women, Asian men and women, Muslim men and women, etc ad insanity.  They look down on the poor, the uneducated, the underemployed and the uninsured with the same arrogance and disdain. 

We have the will and the power to change this, you and I.  And we have Hillary on our side.  Three months ago doesn't matter anymore, nor does last weekend.  Hillary brought people into the game who'd probably never dreamed of getting involved.  Look around - you might be standing next to one or two of them.  We need them and we need their newfound inspiration to act, to give and to make a difference.

Let's not blow it.  Let's work together and make the change.

Rip -

Comments

[Ripley]

I'm a toe-steppin' sonofabitch, damn straight!!

Sorry, kids.

[eastriver]

The Obama Zombies have been so nasty towards HRC and her supporters, it's going to be a snowy day in hell before most of them drop their bitterness.

And even though many might vote for him, and get him elected, you can be sure they will not give him the all-loving support normally given to their winner. They will be on his ass, criticizing with more vehemence than they ever did GWB.

It won't be pretty.

[Auguste]

The Obama Zombies have been so nasty towards HRC and her supporters, it's going to be a snowy day in hell before most of them drop their bitterness.

Yeah! They even made up derogatory nicknames for Clinton supporters, like...zombies...wait a minute.

[¡El Gato Negro!]

well put, rip.

[Molly Ivors]

Thanks, Rip!

Were I not already happily married, I'd snatch you up in a second, dood. **mwah!!**

[steve simels]

She was very good on Saturday, and I believe her when she says she will do the right thing between now and November.

And we have Hillary on our side, however, remains wishful thinking, IMHO. Sorry if that makes me an Obama Zombie.

[Davis]

I hope that the stories about Hillary supporters not voting for Obama are exaggerated. They need to get a grip and think about whom McCain would nominate for the Supreme Court, plus the rest of the federal judiciary. Also, grow up already. My preferred candidate in the primary has almost never gotten the nomination, going back to '68. So what? I gladly voted for HHH over you-know-who.

[parsec]

Yes, we must all come together for the benefit of the party and the nation -- except for all you Popular Front for the Liberation of Judea folks. Splitters!

[Bert]

Well-stated, Ripley.