My children have been asking me a lot of questions about the upcoming elections..apparently their schoolmates are discussing the
campaign issues which they hear their parents, teachers, and others talking about these days...!
At first we discussed briefly some issues I consider important...
There are some issues that, if discussed, rob a couple of my kids of their childlike innocence which I respect and do not wish to deny them...I try to deal with each issue and each child tenderly and gently and respectfully...!
Last night, the issue of polls and voting blocks came up...
Briefly, I opined that the color of a person's skin or a person's nationality should neither weigh for or against voting for them...
In other words, the fact that Obama was African American should neither qualify him to be President nor disqualify him from being President...only issues and values should be considered...!
They almost unanimously NAILED me on this comment...
Why, they asked, then, are over 90% of blacks voting for Obama as shown by the polls...???
Not wanting to get into the Bradley Effect etc. with them, I merely reiterated, "Judge only by values and issues, not by skin color, charisma, rhetoric, or TV ads"...
I'm voting for McCain, for example, because I more closely agree with his values and stands on the issues...!
And here now is my playing of the 'race card'...
I'm supporting McCain and the almost 10% of blacks who agree with me!!!
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ
Mike: I'd rather be talking about NASCAR!!
Mike: Very nice presentation...I am a Christian before I am an American, an Italian American, or a caucasian...!!!
Titanium: I've heard that 'white supremicists' are planning to vote for Obama to bring about SOONER the ultimate race war which will exterminate blacks!!! Unbelievable!!!
Thanks, Fran
Oct 31, 2008 03:25 AM
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ
Scott: I too am getting ready to watch a parade!!!
Susie: You ain't a kiddin!!!
Laura: Me Too...!!!
Mike: Until a viable third party arises the other candidates just make it possible for the wrong person to get elected!
Thanks, Fran
Oct 31, 2008 03:30 AM
Titanium Real Estate, Ltd. - Naples, FL
Fran:
This is crazy if the white supremacists are voting for Obama to boost their membership. Of course, the white supremicists are a crazy lot anyway.
Oct 31, 2008 04:42 AM
America's 1st Choice RH Realty Co., Inc. - Green, OH
Summit County Realtor
Hi Fran - I certainly respect your views and acknowledge that they are different than mine. We certainly disagree and that's the beauty of our democracy. We all will exercise our right to vote and make our decision on whatever basis we choose. It's difficult to reason, however, how "same old same old" could be directed toward the democratic candidate... after all, he didn't vote with Bush 90% of the time. The "proof will be in the pudding" once it's all said and done.
Regardless, I hope you (and we) are able to benefit from the road that is paved for us as a result of the upcoming election.
BTW, I do like your post and I do like the discussion it has inspired.
Best Wishes! - Jon
Oct 31, 2008 04:49 AM
Fidelity National Title Group-Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara, CA
Tuesday is going to be interesting. California has another controversial issue on it's ballot. Proposition 8. It has to do with Same Sex Marriage. I think many people vote for someone who is most like them. Their beliefs, values, and maybe even race can all be influential. Just vote your conscious and wait for the results and never take lightly your right to vote in a free society.
Oct 31, 2008 04:50 AM
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ
Titanium: Lots of crazy things out there!!!
Jon: I just think McCain is more of a maverick in Washington than Biden and Obama...Biden, a good old boy in the senate, and Obama a 'Chicago' trained politician...McCain has more than once ticked off his party's leaders, and in fact has a history of doing so...I like past performance!!!
Greg: Is California still a state??? LOL
Thanks, Fran
Oct 31, 2008 05:37 AM
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,
African Americans are registered Democratic in about that percentage. It is not that a larger percent are voting for color. If a white voter supports McCain is that because they are both white?
Oct 31, 2008 06:07 AM
Keller Williams Realty - Quincy, MA
e-PRO, CBR
Fran - While you and I may disagree on the political front, I thank you for saying that Race should play no role whatsoever in defining a person. We are all created in God's image and we all need realize that there are differences between us that make us unique but we are all equal in God's eyes.
Oct 31, 2008 06:13 AM
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ
Leslie: Take color out of the equation...it has always been odd to me that the party that supports abortion, and therefore is responsible for more black babies dying than white babies, is the party of choice for blacks!!! Like the sign in the video says, "Abortionists exploit women"...! Perhaps it was no accident that Martin Luther King was a Republican...!
John: I would gladly vote for a non white candidate that I had faith in!!!
Thanks, Fran
Oct 31, 2008 06:33 AM
Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI
Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re
Too bad it has to come up in conversation. My guess until we have no discussion about race it will play as a factor in some peoples decisions.
Oct 31, 2008 11:35 AM
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ
Terry,
When will that be??? Until then, let's talk about it, not turn our heads to the reality of it...expose it for what it is...a sin against mankind...identify it, then try to eliminate it or reduce its incidence!!! Only the truth will set us free!!! Thanks, Fran
Oct 31, 2008 12:49 PM
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches
Fran, imagine for a minute that Italian people looked different than everyone else. Imagine that there was a time when it was legal and perfectly permissible to own an Italian person, to do with what you would, including killing, if that Italian person didn't obey it's master's wishes. Imagine for a moment that your children, no matter how educated, no matter how well mannered, no matter what social or economic level you live in, entered a grocery story and people grabbed their purses because they automatically assumed because your children were Italian, that they would be bad people. Imagine a time when your elderly relatives had to move all the way to the back of the bus because they were not allowed to sit in front with the white people. Even though some people may feel that these kind of conversations are playing the race card, because we are Italian, we will never truly know what it feels like to look different. To be judged all of the time by people who's parents didn't teach them any better.
If my son would ask me why 90% of African Americans were voting for Barack Obama, that is what I would tell them. Because they are proud to be African American, as they should be, and because it is historic, that in a country, where not really all that long ago, there was a time when it was laughable to think a black man could be president. a black man hopefully will be. If history treated Italians like they treated African Americans, I would vote for the first Italian American to run for president. Heck, I would vote for him today if a qualified Italian person ran for president. And I would be proud of it.
I will get off my soapbox now and resume the Halloween festivities.
Oct 31, 2008 01:27 PM
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ
Susan,
Until your last few sentences it sounded like 'white guilt' being expressed...my family has been Catholic for hundreds of years, never owned slaves, never believed that we were any better than any other human being, and treated others as we would want to be treated...! That is how we were raised and taught...to take into consideration 'blackness' when voting is trying to make restitution for something stolen by another...! If you don't steal, you won't have to give back what's been stolen!!!
Personal responsibility is a virtue...reparations are merely an indication a wrong has been done! I like teaching virtue, not dwelling on blame, sin, or evil!!! Thanks, Fran
P.S. When you weigh someone on a scale, their color doesn't add or take away an ounce...justice is color blind...!
Oct 31, 2008 02:25 PM
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Leander, TX
Realtor, for Austin, TX and surrounding areas
I was really hoping this post was about NASCAR... I will be so glad when the elections are over....but then what will everyone post about! Race should not matter, the person who can do the best job should matter.
Oct 31, 2008 03:53 PM
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches
Fran, no you are right. I have no white guilt. I was trying to explain why African Americans would vote for Obama. I know quite a few who are not, but what I was trying to express was the empathy I hope that my children will take away from being raised by me along with the golden rule. I always try to understand the "why" of people. I respect you very much and know that you are a good person. I wasn't preaching to you.
Oct 31, 2008 11:45 PM
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA
Fran very well said. You are the true diplomat! Race has nothing to do with ability to hold office. Experience, character, track record, and the candidates stand on major issues does. That is why I am voting for McCain. I figure anyone that did not crack or give up on his country after being tortured 5 years as a prisoner in a Vietnamese prison has already proven himself. I feel more comfortable than the self serving politician that only votes "Present" for his own political gain.
Nov 01, 2008 12:49 AM
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ
Susan: You can preach to me anytime...that's how I stay on track, by listening...I don't want people to be like me, I want them to come to know the Lord, and be like Him!!! :)
Jim: I agree, and who knows, with some seasoning Obama may become a great leader...If he's not a great leader now, we could ruin him!!!
Thanks, Fran
Nov 01, 2008 01:56 AM
South Florida Real Estate & Development, Inc. - Coconut Creek, FL
Broker Nick Relocation Broker Service
Fran,
I was reading an article online and this writer stated that Obama is leading in all of the polls and if he loses than it has to be a racist thing.
So America is racist if we elect John McCain according to this writer...sad.
Nov 01, 2008 02:02 AM
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ
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