Fear in America

I promised my darling hubby last night I was going to focus on fiction now and leave the politics to other people... sorry babe! Just one more.

My brother a staunch Republican just called me naïve. In fact he told me I might want to look the word up.

Naïve : unaffectedly simple, credulous.

That was mean.

I’m not naïve. Just because I don’t believe what you do doesn’t make me naïve. I believe the culture of fear we are creating in the US is wrong. We are told to be afraid of terrorists, the weather, disease, the end of the world and now our presidential candidate.

They say this election is going to be decided by white, Independent women. By Independent I mean the one’s who truly haven’t made up their minds yet. My Republican best friend told me yesterday you are only Independent until you pick a party then you are that. She’s right. I’m now a democrat.

So let’s talk about the people who haven’t made up their minds yet. Do you honestly think you are going to sway them to your side by trying to frighten them into thinking Obama is some kind of Muslim terrorist? I am not saying ALL REPUBLICANS DO THIS. But a lot are.

Let’s hear about your issues. What is your president going to do for us? I have two very good friends in my neighborhood who are Republicans. They are great debaters. They talk about the issues and they talk about their belief in the party overall. They don’t use the scare tactic that his birth certificate might not be valid. Come on, people! These are not the debates we need to be having.

I will not be persuaded by fear. Call me optimistic, For Justie, Optimism means: Belief in the essential goodness of the universe. I know what I believe, and I don’t think that makes me Naïve.

Just for the record, a few more beliefs, or rather what I don’t believe.

I don’t believe in a government that preaches “less taxes” but then ends up billions of dollars in debt.

I don’t believe in anyone that says “less government” and then tells me how we must take care of our bodies (abortion), who we can love (gay rights), and what religion we must believe (creationism in schools).

I also don’t believe in FEAR as a motivating factor.

Hey, but that’s just me… and I’m not afraid to say it!