As she fell
asleep lying next to me tonight, Betty, my five-year-old, got tears in her eyes
(mostly just exhaustion) and said she was sad Obama won. I laughed as she was
mimicking her mother, who, at the start of the day, hugged her good morning and
began crying telling her Romney lost and her mother was sad. In this moment, I
realized I needed to write down my thoughts for my children on this post-Election
Day, why I am so sad today and why I will keep fighting tomorrow.
I voted for Mitt, but it wasn't because he was Republican, I hate being labeled into a box. I wasn't even voting for Mitt per se- no doubt he would have been a great economic leader, which is what this country so desperately needed. I was voting for more than a man. I voted for the idea that reward comes with hard work, not handouts. That people are the solution, not the government. I voted with the notion that our President should be held accountable for his actions, and that on 9/11/12, a US Ambassador and three other Americans were killed in a terrorist attack, and that our current President blamed it on a video. I voted because Obama apologized to terrorists and to the world for our First Amendment and the right to free speech. I voted because I belong to a religion that has seen much hatred, and cruel videos and musicals, and yet I believe it is a right for others to speak, so I peacefully ignore those cruel words and videos and musicals. I voted because God leads this nation and the Democratic Party removed his name from their political platform. I voted because I believe contraceptives are a choice and not a right; and even more that women should pay for their own and not expect others to do so. I voted for the unborn who are killed by partial birth abortion. I voted not to pay for abortions with my tax dollars. I voted for economic recovery and for that silly belief that if you can’t afford it- you shouldn’t get it. I voted for Capitalism and the American Entrepreneur. I voted against redistribution of wealth and the thought that the government can decide who has too much and who deserves more. I voted against a President that seeks to divide (class warfare, war on women, race divisions), and voted to Stand United with my fellow Americans, no matter their race, gender, or financial worth. I voted for the belief that this nation was founded on principles that need to be embraced, not “fundamentally” changed.
I voted for Mitt, but it wasn't because he was Republican, I hate being labeled into a box. I wasn't even voting for Mitt per se- no doubt he would have been a great economic leader, which is what this country so desperately needed. I was voting for more than a man. I voted for the idea that reward comes with hard work, not handouts. That people are the solution, not the government. I voted with the notion that our President should be held accountable for his actions, and that on 9/11/12, a US Ambassador and three other Americans were killed in a terrorist attack, and that our current President blamed it on a video. I voted because Obama apologized to terrorists and to the world for our First Amendment and the right to free speech. I voted because I belong to a religion that has seen much hatred, and cruel videos and musicals, and yet I believe it is a right for others to speak, so I peacefully ignore those cruel words and videos and musicals. I voted because God leads this nation and the Democratic Party removed his name from their political platform. I voted because I believe contraceptives are a choice and not a right; and even more that women should pay for their own and not expect others to do so. I voted for the unborn who are killed by partial birth abortion. I voted not to pay for abortions with my tax dollars. I voted for economic recovery and for that silly belief that if you can’t afford it- you shouldn’t get it. I voted for Capitalism and the American Entrepreneur. I voted against redistribution of wealth and the thought that the government can decide who has too much and who deserves more. I voted against a President that seeks to divide (class warfare, war on women, race divisions), and voted to Stand United with my fellow Americans, no matter their race, gender, or financial worth. I voted for the belief that this nation was founded on principles that need to be embraced, not “fundamentally” changed.
I voted for you, Betty & Blue. I voted so that you would be able to grow up in
the America I have been privileged to know. I write this so that you know that my vote
was not in vain. I realized today that I stood with 48% of American voters,
united for a better tomorrow. I will
continue to work and serve, and pray so that each year that 48% grows. I learned today that being humble to the Lord and working hard is difficult and tiring, but it’s the only way. I learned that I must make sure, as your mother, that you learn about America, the good and the bad. I learned that America is only as strong as her
people. I learned that I am strong. I learned that women are much stronger than men (well that-I already knew)! I learned that even though the outcome is not
what I had hoped, fought and prayed for, that a victory was won because of the liberties that allowed me to say I VOTED.
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Thank you for writing this - it expresses what I have been feeling exactly!!
ReplyDeleteYou put into words everything that I have been feeling. When my kids get home from school I am going to read this to them.
ReplyDelete"I learned that women are much stronger than men (well that-I already knew)!"
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck? I don't like that at all. What do you mean when you say "stronger"?
I also do not agree with that statement. It is just as divisive as the examples you pinned on Obama (class warfare, war on women, race division, etc). Women are not "proven" to be less fallible than men. ALL have weaknesses - all have necessary strengths.
DeleteBut I agree with many other points in your post.
Trevor, Jen & anyone else- I am sorry my comment on women being stronger than men came across divisive and offensive; that was not its intent. It was meant to be funny, in the conservative feminist humor of mine. I am the mother of both a daughter and son, both who have amazing strength. I know that Heavenly Father gave all his children gifts, none greater than the other. I know men are strong and have been given qualities that make them wonderful. I married a wonderfully strong man and was raised by one. I also believe that God gave his daughters a divine quality that sets us apart from his sons. I see a lot of negative brainwashing from media telling girls to look a certain way, act a certain way, or do a certain thing. We are daughters of a Heavenly King and these messages deplete the heavenly inheritance women were born with. I think that anytime I can tell a women or girl she is strong, it helps her know of her divine worth.
DeleteThis post was mainly written for 2 people-
One, for my daughter (the most feminist 5 year old I know). She watched and listened to me every day for months talking about this election and she even engaged in her own political conversations, repeating what she heard from me. She never saw her dad cry over Obama’s re-election. In truth he was even more upset and sad than me, but he kept it in and didn’t show it. My son is 1; he will not have a memory of this election other than this blog. I wanted my girl to know how that it is okay to be a strong, vocal, smart women. I wanted to her know that she as a daughter of God, can make a difference.
Two, It was directed towards the women of SWARM, whom I have connected with both in person and virtually the past few months. Women who like I, have lost sleep so that they could better their country. Women who stay up late trying to bring to light media bias, despite the fact they have a newborn waking them in an hour, or lunches to be made, or an early alarm for work or family. I wrote this to the girlfriends I sought comfort in as we texted, emailed, and messaged in the wee hours after the election- while our husbands slept. I said that because I have witnessed incredible strength from some amazing women who come from all walks of life. Women who seek to serve and ask nothing in return. I said and believe that women are stronger than men, because I think in many ways we are. It wasn’t meant to degrade men, but boost women. I’d like to think the wonderful husbands of the Women of SWARM would probably all agree and for that we are lucky to have them!
I know that Men are strong, and both men & women can accomplish amazing feets. I also know Men support and participate in SWARM. I am grateful for this.
This moved me to tears, because as I read your list of what you voted for, I am saddened to think that we are in a nation of people who apparently do NOT want those things, or who do not see that they are being lost to our children and grandchildren. Your children are lucky to have a mom with such insight and perspective, and who cares enough to share her thoughts and feelings with them for their future benefit. Good job, mom.
ReplyDeleteI do not know you at all, but your post also had me in tears... it is exactly how I feel... THANK YOU for writing this & allowing it to be shared...
ReplyDeleteI loved your post - thank you. I do believe though that women are stronger in ways that men aren't and visa versa. We are different, and we need each other. We must stand together for that is the way God intended. And we must stand together for truth, the way our Founders intended.
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this. It was a piece of beauty and inspiration in an otherwise discouraging situation.
ReplyDeleteThank you for expressing what I have not been able to say.
ReplyDeletei appreciate your thoughts and your well thought out reasons for voting the way you did. i voted the same way, and though i'm extremely disappointed, and i absolutely believe the right man for the job was not elected, i know this a choice land. i know that ". . . if we serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ . . ." we will be just fine. i just hope the other 53% will cooperate!
ReplyDelete•stephanie romney•
I am a veteran, a mother, and a wife. Me and my 11 year old son cried too when Obama won and for many of the reasons you stated. I can't believe he is our Commander & Cheif for another four years. God help us! Thank you for sharing your thoughts though! :-)
ReplyDeleteHaley,
DeleteThank you for your service and Happy Veterans day. I too am sad to have Obama as my commander and Chief. Thank heavens God is the real Commander and Chief of this country. Again, thank you for your service; your bravery and willingness to serve amaze me.
That was beautifully written. Thank you for penning what so many of us our feeling in our hearts!
ReplyDeleteSo nice to hear others feeling the same as I was feeling that day. No nicely written. Thank you for sharing that.
ReplyDeleteI know I should have asked first, but I was so moved and you expressed exactly how I feel that I shared your message on my FB and don't even know if I gave you credit. I'm not very techy. If you would like it removed please let me know. This post is what I would have written if I'd had the words. Very poignant. I would like to send people to this post from my blog also...am asking in advance this time!
ReplyDeleteThank you for a wonderful post.
The power of prayer is so wonderful...praying, praying, praying.
Holly- yes by all means you can share this, and thank you for doing so. I am even okay with you not giving me credit, as I felt that many shared my views and it is and honor being able to express them.
DeleteThanks for your support.
I meant SO nicely written. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Natalie! I knew what you meant! I was lucky to have a smart friend edit my post because I have typos all the time!
DeleteWhat a fantastic post! Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThis was very powerful and moving. I fear my future child may never know the freedom I experienced in my first 34 years. We will move on and be prepared for any evil that strikes next. God , watch over us.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to thank you for this. For the past 3 days I have tried to put my feelings into words. This is EXACTLY what my heart has been trying to say. I have been so incredibly blessed to be able to stay home with my 2 young sons. And as someone else said, it saddens me to think that my children will not know the freedoms and liberty that I myself have known my entire life. For those of us who are believers, God has a plan - His ways are not our ways. But we do have HOPE in Christ!
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog and am so happy someone has been able to put into words that I haven't been able to find.
ReplyDeleteThe results were so disappointing for many this past Tuesday and I can only hope and pray that in 4 more years many will see the trouble our country is in.
Although I don't agree with every point, this was a very moving post, and it gave me much to think about. If any of you are willing, I would really love to know what you mean when you talk about your children not knowing the freedoms we ourselves have grown up with. Freedom of speech? Freedom of the press? Freedom to work where we want? Please help me to understand your fears. With much respect, thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI, too, do not agree with many of your points, but think your post wonderfully displays why it is so important to vote, and that it is never in vain. I love that you are teaching your children the importance of their voice. That is what it so great about America; that, despite who is president, you retain the freedom to vote for the people who best represent your priorities and how you think the country (or state/county/city for that matter) should be run.
DeleteI too, would love to know what you (and many others with similar views) mean when you talk about your children not knowing the freedoms you know and have grown up with? Please help me to understand your fears also.
Tiffany & Hailey, I feel honored you ask for understanding and not just bash our differences. I always feel that by learning others POV and thoughts I can better understand them and maybe even provide myself with a new perspective.
DeleteSo I put a lot of thought into my reply, and it's lengthy. I look forward to hearing your thoughts too- as you both seem like wonderful and smart women.
I believe that as Obama's second term unfolds and he is not worried with re-election, he will us this flexibility (as he asked to be transmitted to Vladimir) to change our constitution. Obama says is best when he says “fundamentally transform”. Over time we have become a more socialist country and it is said that the generation of Americans in their 20’s are the most socialist of all Americans. It is what they know and believe. They have not been taught American History as I was- it’s not as important in our society’s education as having high scores in math, reading and science. I don’t mean to lump all of those in this generation into that belief- but the election showed that their vote was mostly for Obama.
I think that the progressive movement will gain grounds that will take away many liberties we have today.
1st Amendment and the freedom of speech are going to be very different for my children than it is for me. This freedom has been has been argued about for centuries and is always being re-defined by the courts. After 4 Americans were killed in a terrorist attack, one man’s video was blamed and used as a defense against this horrid terrorist event. Instead of condemning the terrorist, this Administration condemned someone’s freedom of speech. The video was a despicable use of speech, however not the reason for our Ambassador being drug into a street in Libya. Furthermore the next week at the UN summit in NYC it was said by Ban Ki-Moon, the U.N. Secretary General, “All human beings have the inalienable right to freedom of expression, when some people use this freedom of expression to provoke and humiliate others’ values and beliefs, this cannot be protected.”
I find it disturbing that he is putting restrictions on our freedom and telling us what can and cannot be protected. Jesus has been mocked and humiliated countless times and yet Obama or Ban Ki-Moon never condemned freedom of expression in that case.
I have no idea who said this but I like this quote “First Amendment freedoms are most in danger when the government seeks to control thought or to justify its laws for that impermissible end. The right to think is the beginning of freedom, and speech must be protected from the government because speech is the beginning of thought”
Speech must be protected from the government- very opposite of our UN Secretary General’s words. I think Obama seeks to control our speech to create a submissive people who do not question their government.
Thanks for your comments- I hope this helps bring some understanding to my late night political posts!
-my reply continued-
DeleteI also think the 2nd Amendment is going to be transformed in years to come. Obama is very tricky with his words and he has used reasons of for the greater good of Government as a way to pass a lot of his agenda. I have no real substance on my fears of losing the right to bear arms other than this very contraindicative statement made by our current Commander in Chief-
"What I said was that I believe Second Amendment as being an individual right and have said that consistently. I also think that individual right is constrained by the rights of the community to maintain issues with public safety”.
When push comes to shove I think “public safety” will take away my rights. I really don't think the founding fathers wanted our guns to be "constrained" by our goverment. Violence is horrible, but I really believe guns don’t kill; people do. Just because you take away the guns doesn’t mean violence is gone. Lots of violence happens in prisons where there are no weapons available to inmates.
But most of my fears regarding America’s freedoms changing for my children lie in the fact that the progressive movement has crept into our nation and most of us don’t even realize it. Government has become so big and controlling that it may never be as it once was. My kids will sadly be raised in a country who views government as the answer- when it shouldn’t be. Reagan said “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives”.
In the democratic national convention it was said “Government is the only thing we all belong to”. WHAT? We are Americans, what happened to “for the people by the people”? I do not belong to Government. I am a Child of God, not a possession of my Government which is run by people (sometimes stupid people). It is a suppressive statement, a Political party telling me I belong to them. I grew up united with Americans in our freedoms- not belonging to our government.
I am not an expert on Obamacare or socialist healthcare, but I find it scary when Nancy Pelosi says “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it”. Don’t you find it disturbing that even our elected officials who passed this important life changing legislation have no idea what it says. You have to think “what is in this bill that will threaten our nation”? I drive 45 minutes to the Pediatrician of my choice, and I think our choice with our healthcare and our providers will become so controlled by the government that my kids will not have the same freedoms in their medical coverage as I do. I also think Obamacare will discourage bright minds from striving to excellence and put many doctors out of work. As a parent, my child’s health is on my mind all the time and I have little confidence in my government making decisions on such an important and personal matter.
I also think that my children will know a country with less focus on God, and in time this nation being built “one Nation under God” will become just one nation.
Elections have consequences and this one in my opinion will change the truths that this nation was founded on. This will happen so slowly that most may think it is natural and those (like me) who fight for our founding principles will be ridiculed and torn apart for our beliefs.
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness....
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!" Isaiah 5:20-21
Thank you for sharing these thoughts. Exactly my own. I think your cause is great. I'm sick of the mainstream media (and I was a journalism major!)I'm not sure where to look for unbiased news anymore. There coverage will only get worse especially after being empowered by their efforts getting this president re-elected. It's so, so sad. I'm interested in going forward, having hope and more effectively teaching my children about values and principles that our country was founded on. We "need to be the change we want to see in the world."
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, you and I voted with the 48% of the whole amount of people who had voted that day. Not the 48% of "Americans voters". Less than 50% of eligible voters voted that day. Imagine that! One quarter of the whole body of eligible voters decided the future of our great country. How is that fair! What about the other half? Where are they? What kept them from coming over and cast their vote?
ReplyDeleteGreat article and thank you for posting!
It makes me sad too that so many did not vote. To stand by and let others decide your government is not what America is about. It is those who stay idle that are making this nation less great. Thanks for your feedback.
DeleteThank you. Thank you, thank you. I've struggled this week through the stages of grief as I've felt that my hope for my country died on Tuesday night. But I know that God loves this country and that He watches over his people. Thank you for sharing my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI've been feeling the same way. It is like watching the America I grew up with slip through my fingers. What will be left for my children? I don't know. A country whose top priorities are free birth control and abortion, I guess--not finding work for millions of Americans so that they have the ability to feed and clothe their families. When did that stop being the most important thing in this country? So sad.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Posts like yours are like journal entries that will be read by future gernations so they know we stood! That we understood what this election meant. Your post has been shared and over and over on Facebook. Very powerful.
ReplyDeleteMy husband shared his thoughts on our blog as well. http://thesearethedays-varvel.blogspot.com/
Amber thank you for your kind words and suppport. I was unable to read your husbands post- your blog showed it and a picture but not the words. I would love to read it if you can resend me the link.
DeleteYes! Yes! Yes! I was also disappointed because I voted for these things, too. I am resolved to do what I can in my own little family to continue teaching these good principles and hope that our numbers grow as we stand together.
ReplyDeleteI don't even know you, a friend posted this on FB, but I feel like you were somebody I should know because you just said something that I couldn't find the words to say!! That is EXACTLY how I feel.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your support and virtual friendship! If you are ever in the Dallas area let me know and we can meet- I always welcome more friends.
DeleteI don't know if I could express any better than everyone else already has that this was a wonderful demonstration of where our hearts and minds should be right now: strengthening and loving our families! The battle was lost but the war is far from over. If we as a society keep loving, respecting and educating our children like you do yours, we can overcome all evils that try to destroy us. The power of the pen--it's a powerful thing!!
ReplyDeleteHow completely you have captured my thoughts, my sadness, and my concern for our country. I am so sad that we have a lazy electorate who fails to understand their role in maintaining our freedoms, and who more, and more, prefers to be taken care of by the few instead of working to have their own & serve others in their private charity concerns. It is not this government's job to take care of those capable of doing it themselves, but choose not to. Other than that, Orson Scott Card sums up my feelings about the "Free Press"- http://www.ornery.org/essays/warwatch/2012-11-08-1.html
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that link- it was a great article! I am glad to know that others are dedicated to seeking truth past the media's own agenda to push this Administration.
DeleteI would like to copy this & repost on my blog - credit/link to you, of course. I hope that's okay. So many need to see this. Thank you, thank you.
ReplyDeleteSusannah- Yes it is okay to copy and repost this. Thank you for supporting SWARM and America.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI weep for the future of our country knowing that there are actually people who believe this drivel.
ReplyDeleteHeather, how refreshing. A progressive who weeps for her country. Give me a break.
ReplyDeleteYou people got what you wanted. Now we get to watch as our businesses, hospitals, incomes, schools, municipalities, children's futures go under one by one. (My area's biggest hospital/employer just announced 1,000 layoffs due to "projected cost analysis" for 2013 -- code for "holy @#$ here comes Obamacare.")
Call is drivel if you want. You won. Now we get to watch as Cloward & Piven 'drivel' our nation right into a cesspool.