Tuesday, December 13, 2011

I just don't understand

This morning I was listening to NPR, yep, I'm "that" girl, and they were talking about the '12 election. I have almost actively tried NOT to pay attention to politics recently, as there are other things to worry about, and I know what a nutcase I'll be when the election is actually at hand. However, it creeps in or more truthfully, I can't really not pay attention. It's in my blood.

Specifically, they were talking about the New Hampshire primary and the Iowa caucus, which are really two merely symbolic contests, more than anything. Example, four years ago, Mike Huckabee won the Iowa caucus..who? you ask..that guy who has a show on Fox that looks like your sweet grandpa. But, NH and Iowa aren't giving up their symbols anytime soon, so..what are you gonna do.

Naturally, all candidates and media are in New Hampshire and Iowa, y'know, relating to the common man, which is so condescending when you think about it. When else do they give a whit about shaking hands and talking to Sally the Teacher about her problems? Politics really is so gross. Anyway, the media is out talking to locals, straw polling, etc.., and they spoke to a stay-at-home mom who said she liked Michelle Bachman, but wouldn't vote for her because, "Well, I'm a woman, and I don't really know that we have what it takes to be President. I mean, women probably really shouldn't lead the country."

Wow. I hope this person doesn't have daughters. It will be 2012 when this election takes place. Hilary Clinton was an inch away from becoming our last President, and we're still having this debate about whether woman can be President? So, we should teach our daughters and nieces and granddaughters, "It's okay to be whatever you want...to a point." If I had ever wanted to be President, by God,  you better believe I would've run for (still may, hahah) President. Frankly, if I have a daughter and she wants to be a quarterback, I will tell her she can do whatever she puts her mind to. I really can't believe a woman would even say this. I'm guessing her self-esteem is not the greatest.

Also, what is this business with Lowe's pulling its ads from "All-American Muslim" on TLC, a show that is actually trying to show that not all American Muslims are out to jihad us. How does that teach any semblance of tolerance or willingness to learn about a culture that we really don't understand? These are the things we do, like burning a Koran, etc..that serve to demonstrate how intolerant we are of anyone that's different, that we are too ignorant to even try to get along. Sometimes, I'm amazed the Civil Rights Act was ever passed. We seem to have devolved as a country, which I find immensely terrifying.