Hey everyone,
I know I don't completely share the same ideas and values as all of you but I feel as though at a time like this, it is important that I let the people in my life know how I'm feeling and what I am thinking about...it's important to me. These last few days...I've been on a true cerebral rollercoaster. My emotions have ranged drastically from depression, to despair, to hopelessness, to struggle, to inspiration, to determination. I know the last few days have been really dark, more so for some of you than others, and I want to remind you that you are not alone. I've heard a lot of people talk about their sadness regarding the election...there have been a lot of jokes, a lot of criticism, and a lot of cynicism. And that's all fine...but it doesn't have to stop there. Just because the election is over, that does not mean, that our fight and our struggle to change things is over too.
The election is over. As much as we wish we could, we can't change the outcome. We should commend ourselves for the tremendous effort we put in to fight for change, to fight for our rights, to fight for true equality. But just because that man is still in power, it does not mean that we have to succumb to his ideals, to his values, to his morals. Sure, he's gonna fuck us all over...he can...but we don't have to give in or give up. We don't have to just stand and watch. Our fight does not have to stop. I know some of you share with me my feelings for the current administration. I think Bush is a liar. I do not trust him and I DO NOT feel safer with him in control. I know our country is well divided in our position in the war...and that no matter who ended up in office it wouldn't change the fact that we are screwed in Iraq. We are already well in this mess and there is no easy solution, no matter what we wish to believe. But there is more to George W's hate and discrimination than just the war...his positions to ban gay and lesbian marriage, to deny women their right to choose, his love for oil and negligence towards the environment. He may have started the No Child Left Behind program, but how much money and time is he REALLY lending towards it?
I'm tired of other countries laughing at us, not supporting us, hating us. I want them to know that not everybody in this country agrees with Bush. He may be the elected "leader" of our country but not everybody is following. He DOES NOT represent my beliefs, my values, or who I am. He does not accept me as a pro-choice, lesbian Filipina-American and so I certainly DO NOT accept him as the President of the United States. And this is where my fight will continue. I am not going to just stand by as he screws us over. I am going to let my voice be heard...not only to our government, but to the American people. That is where we all can continue to fight. Although some of us may speculate otherwise, Bush won the election because the people chose him. So we may bark and yell at the government for all of their decisions, but it's not just them that we need to be talking to. We need to reach out to the American people and educate them and inform them of what's really going on. That is what I plan to do. It's easy to move on, continue with our regular lives and live in our own little bubbles. I can be just happy living here in LA, with my liberal friends, going about my own business, carrying on as usual...but when it comes down to it, that's not enough for me. I don't want to live in a discriminating country. I want this country to move towards true equality and freedom. I am truly disheartened that most people in this country share the same values as those of Bush. I want to change that and I will fight for it. I'm not asking for all conservatives to become liberal, but rather I am asking them to open their eyes and be fair-minded. Isn't this supposed to be the great land of the FREE?
Now, you may be asking, why is she telling us all this? Why doesn't she just go out and do it? Well, I say, what's the point of fighting for a cause that nobody knows you're fighting for? This is important to me and I want you all to know this because it's part of who I am. I've spoken to some of you and I know you feel the same devastation as I do, and I hope that you will continue to let your voice be heard about the issues you feel strongly about. The fight is not over and we do not need to start "the healing process". I do not exactly know how I'm going to do this, continue to "fight the fight." But I do know that my activist side did not end with our defeat in the election. Instead it just sparked that side of me and gave it more fire.
I know this has been an extremely long email and I greatly appreciate those of you who actually held the patience to read it. But here is my invitation to any of you who feel the same as I do to join me in taking some action...whether it be just through talking about the issues or joining some groups who continuously devote their time and effort to getting things done. I refuse to be apathetic towards our country's issues and the government's decisions and I hope you will join me in doing the same. And for those of you who did vote for Bush...everytime he screws up, everytime he discriminates, everytime he proposes a constitutional amendment, I want you to remember....you voted for him.
Okay, thank you all and peace out...
Mollie