I don't know how much more of this I can take. The more I pay attention to what people are saying around me (such as, "with all these illegals voting, who knows if we can have a fair election" and "if Obama wins, it's just because of all the illegals" and other nonsense... like claiming this is going to be the "first racist election in history because of all the 1st time black voters"), the more I seriously want to fight people. Anyone who knows me is well aware that I may look mean, what with all the tattoos and my perpetual scowl, but I'm really a pacifist... but these people make me want to punch them in the head to attempt to knock some sense into them.
I really had to control myself today... especially because this lady complaining about "those illegals voting" was standing behind me in the early voting line. Seeing that I was visibly shaken by this woman's comments (and plotting how I could correct her ignoramus comment without punctuating it with a right hook), this lovely older woman in front of me started talking with me about how she remembered her grandmother talking about how everyone used to be "racist against the Irish too" and we agreed that immigrant populations always seem to face bigots in this country. I made a few comments about how my husband is Latino and we've experienced a lot of racism here (among other things). Needless to say, Little Ms. "Oh My God! Illegals Are Going To Elect A Black Man!!" refrained from speaking to me for the rest of our wait. Thank god!
I'm going to have to take a break from politics now that I've done my civic duty and gotten my vote on. I'll leave the rest of my anxiety for election night.
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4 comments:
Life is filled with idiots. Th trick is to not get so focused on them that they control our lives.
I love that elderly lady in front of you! I try to remind people of that. That at one time I would have been discriminated against, because if I look anything, it's IRISH!
Hang in there. I'm thinking of heading to your state this weekend to canvas. :)
I think it would be a great shame if Obama were to lose, because you know it would be due to his race. I will weep for our country if that happens.
On the other hand, that lady who spoke to you is a ray of hope. I went to college in Alabama and people always ask me if I ever had a problem, and the answer is no, people were lovely to me. There are more good people in the world than bad.
Steve, you are very right. I told this story to Mi Amor and he said much the same thing. I've got to learn to not get so personally offended by other people's personal issues.
Kristen, I hear ya on that one! Next time I see you, remind me to get the scoop on your Ireland trip. I'm curious is your experience there was similar to mine.
Lizzy, I try to remember that there are more good than bad people in the world and when I can keep that mind set I'm a much happier person. I truly feel that's the way it is. I guess that I'm just super sensitive to the negativity at times and I shouldn't be. I presently live on the southern most border of Indiana and it is very southern here. I am often pleasantly surprised at how open-minded and accepting the majority of the people are around here.
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