An Open Letter to People Afraid of Obama

Dear McCain Voters,

Some of you are my friends.  Some are my neighbors, coworkers, or childhood foils... All of you are fellow Americans who felt the desire yesterday to voice your opinion and vote.  So, I applaud you.  Democracy is not free, though it is a right... it is not something all of us can afford do, because of jobs or access, or something that all of us feel like we should do, because of disenfranchisement or apathy...  But a lot of people yesterday DID vote, some of us despite of the many reasons why we had never or could never vote before.  And that makes me really proud.  See, I'm a very liberal, progressive person.  I haven't been happy the past 8 years, seeing where our country has gone. In fact, growing up in the buckle of the Bible belt in Arkansas was also really difficult because I was made out as a villain, attempting to ruin the very fabric of America. But, though others have said otherwise, I am patriotic.  I cry at the National Anthem and weep for our soldiers overseas.  I am openly proud to be an American because of the humanist values written into our Constitution and because of what we COULD be. I am proud of the diversity in this country and the freedoms that we enjoy.  It doesn't mean that I'm never disappointed in the people who run it or the policies it implements, but usually that's because I feel that we have strayed from the very beliefs that made our country so great.  So, here's what I have to say to all of you who are asking "what's wrong with America for voting for Obama." 

There's nothing wrong with America because we elected Obama.  In fact, it means that a heck of a lot of stuff is going to be "right" now.  Obama is a moderate--shocker--and not a democractic socialist, like I would prefer.  The only reason he looks like a liberal is because he values certain inalienable truths, like human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, and community power.  These things used to be taken for granted in this country--though we didn't always act on our pride in equality.  I mean, that's clear by the very fact that Barack Obama is the first black President and there have certainly been many other Black Americans (or brown, or yellow, or green, or red, or gay, or female, or you get what I mean) that were as intelligent, qualified, and able.  Hell, that were as willing.  Unfortunately, over the past 8 years the dial has turned so far to the right, to a fascist view of the country, that the very idea of a President who values the health of all people, the value of diplomacy, and, I don't know, the Constitution, is a scary, out-of-touch, radical.  Well, if Obama is a radical, then so was Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and George Washington.  So, here is my attempt to help you understand why Obama being president is a GOOD thing, for you too, even when you can't begin to imagine how.

Under Obama, the freedom of religion will be protected.  Now, I know some of you think that America is going into the crapper and that a secular society destroys our families.  Perhaps so, based on your beliefs.  But here's the thing--we don't all believe the same thing.  And, if we ever lived in a country that favored one religion over the next in government, well, what would happen to those that didn't go along with it?  I'm sure a lot of you are thinking, "So what?  It's better if everybody's a Christian anyhow."  But what if it wasn't a Christian religion?  What if YOU were the minority, who wasn't allowed to practice your belief?  What if YOU were the one that was persecuted?  That wouldn't be so hot, would it?  So, under McCain, my religious freedom would be chipped away, to your benefit.  But what about the next administration?  Or if we were occupied?  Under Obama, BOTH of us get to believe what we want, keep the schools and government out of it, and live in peace together. 

Under Obama, civil liberties will be protected.  Yours that allow you to protest family planning clinics, gays, etc., and mine that allow me to protest war, violation of civil rights, and anti-choice agendas.  And BOTH of us are protected from unlawful search, from either of us perpetrating violence against one another, and, well, being put in jail for what we believe.  Sure, this means that I still have my Constitutional right to privacy that allows me to have an abortion if I so choose, whether because of health, rape, or inability to support the life that would result... but you will also live in a country that guarantees your right to NOT have an abortion.  Think about it, the flip of you taking away my choice, means that there might be a day where your choice is taken away and you would be forced to abort a special needs child, or a baby if you've already had more than 3, or whatever.  Do you see?  How protecting my right to choice protects ALL of our rights to choice?  How protecting my right to believe something different than you, protects your right to believe something different than me?

Under Obama, the people who haven't mattered, will matter again.  People who perhaps vote Republican because of moral issues, but have no money or access to clean water, or good schools, will become important again as more than consumers to make the rich richer.  After all, Jesus himself believed that poverty was a moral issue and one that we were all called to alleviate.  Part of the solution is taxing those that have more so that those that do not can have something, whether it be roads, schools, or food.  We're not talking about someone who makes millions and millions being forced to live in a one bedroom apartment on the bad side of town... we're talking about the fact that someone not having HOUSING or FOOD is more important than a few measly more dollars for someone who already doesn't have to worry about basic stuff, like having to fly first class instead of in private jets.  It's not only fair, it's Christian of us to do so.  Furthermore, people that feel that they are looked down upon or have felt disenfranchised, will be protected and listened to.  This includes African-Americans, gays, and women.  But it also includes Christians, farmers, factory workers, white men, and straight people.  Inclusivity is good for all of us because it guarantees that new voices are heard along with the old... and sometimes, you might find yourself being that new voice.

Now, I'm not saying that you should change your mind about capitalism or the Bible or homosexuality and jump on the Obama bandwagon.  But I am asking you to consider that the rights that you don't want me or gays or other people to get under Obama are the counterparts to rights that you are taking for granted... and that these rights are only protected because you are lucky enough for them to be that way.  One day, if we had continued to elect politicians that only cared about the rights and beliefs of some of us, you might have woken up some morning being on the wrong side of who was right... and therefore had rights.

If nobody's rights are denied, then all of us are free. 

To freedom!!!

Sincerely,
Elizabeth