itsallovernow: (One too many mornings and a thousand mil)
itsallovernow ([personal profile] itsallovernow) wrote2008-02-05 10:37 am

Super Tuesday

I need more revolutionary icons. I also STILL need a Toby icon, because no one gives me more joy over the political process than a cranky made up character, but honestly, Toby Ziegler is my cranky, liberal hero and always will be.

So, over the past few weeks I've been tearing up over a lot of things - too much work, a little heartbreak, the overwhelming feeling of being stuck in my housing situation, of being stuck in general. I've leaned over the steering wheel in my car and sobbed until the fist in my throat unclenched and let me breathe. I've cried silently along with music, clearing the tears off my face only when I could raise my hands from the wheel. I've cried in bed, angry tears that weren't supposed to show up, causing both of us to look away and pretend it wasn't happening.

But this morning, I went to vote, I made my decision with pen in hand, standing there and letting momentum and instinct sway me, and when I got to work I realized that my primary choices, that the choice between the two people who were going to run for President of the United States, were a young black man and a woman. And yeah, I know so much of the voting right now comes down to race or gender, and I kind of hate that. However, politics aside, we are in a position right now to elect a woman or a black man to the Executive Seat of Power. And god, that's... that's enough to cause the kind of tears that don't hurt. We have fucked up an awful lot of things as a nation lately, but somewhere, maybe we really are on a road to something better.

I have distinct memories of Geraldine Ferraro's bid for the Presidency, and her tears, and the way that she was absolutely torn apart for being weak, for being unsuitable. And I don't know that we've come as far as I'd like as a collective consciousness, but I think we're slowly (if not thoroughly) letting go of some of our presuppositions. And that's breathtaking. That's hope, baby. We've got a long way to go, but we're... working at it, I think.

Also, if you really want to know, I'll tell you who I voted for in the primary and why. Because I feel like I could support either candidate for President, so the primary was an excrutiating, if intriguing exercise in internal debate with a winner that came only at the very end, and of course, the winner swayed me with words.

[identity profile] pathstotread.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 07:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I totally agree. Whenever I talk to people about the election, I have to marvel at the fact that the Democratic front runners are a woman and a black man. I mean, that has to count for something.

[identity profile] denyeverything1.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
{{{thea}}}

We have fucked up an awful lot of things as a nation lately, but somewhere, maybe we really are on a road to something better.

Wouldn't that be awesome? I think the forces of evil money and entrenched authoritarian power mongering arrayed against the Democratic nominee, no matter who it is, are going to be fierce. But maybe even they will be cowed, just slightly, by what our choice today signals.

That's the only thing that gives me a teeny bit of hope.
ext_1358: (pen)

[identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I need to work on this a lot, but so far this is all I have.

[identity profile] life-on-queen.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
*hugs you*

Anything I can do to cheer you up?

[identity profile] thassalia.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
No, not really. I'm pretty excited about the whole political process thing going on to day, so that's helping:)

But thank you.

[identity profile] projectcyborg.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
sending hugs -- and let me know if you need some in person.

any chance you want to drive out to Venice tonight for a super tuesday party?

[identity profile] thassalia.livejournal.com 2008-02-05 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I definitely need hugs in person! That is almost always true! We need to plan more quality and geek tech time!

And I'd love to drive to Venice, but I've got a student and rehearsal tonight, sadly!
cofax7: climbing on an abbey wall  (Electable --- Infinitemonkeys)

[personal profile] cofax7 2008-02-06 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
YAY for voting!

I give you my Leo icon. Which has some unfortunate gender-exclusive phrasing, but still speaks for me, anyway.

[identity profile] thassalia.livejournal.com 2008-02-06 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
Leo!!! Gender issues aside, I'd still vote for Leo McGarry:)