I visited a blue state this weekend.
I desparately miss blueness. I can't stand redness. I'm sick of living in a red state. I realized that it's affecting my sense of humor, my sense of hope, my investment in my future, my level of apathy, my relationships . . . the list goes on.
Akid and I made the unfortunate decision to move to a red state in 2001. We have felt stifled in this conservative environment, but weren't ever sure if it was because we were in a red state or because we are in a red country. We can't tell what's happening anywhere else, because we live here, and living here sometimes feels like living in a straight-jacket in a small, padded room.
But I could feel the difference this weekend, in that blue state. It's different. It feels better.
I am dreaming of moving. I am tired of telling myself that if I leave this red state, then there will be no one here to stand up for blue values. Because I am not really standing up for blue values here, because I am too tired, too apathetic and too irritated to do any standing up. I'm hiding out in my bedroom watching re-runs of Will and Grace, being lulled into a comatose sleep by fluff and transfats.
Please vote green and blue tomorrow.
Stay home if you're going to vote red.
10 comments:
I,also, live in this red state but it hasn't always been so. I have already voted Democratic. As Aunt Eva used to say, "I'm a yellow dog Democrat." So don't throw in the towel. It'll get better.
I voted green today. Guess that makes me a yellow dog Green.
hang in there blues and greens...as the man said...the times they are a changin' (and we could all benefit from some change).
-a blue/green canadian
My friend L, I have been in a straight jacketin a jail in Tx. I don't know what a red state is or a blue state is. It all seems rediculous to me to give up one minute of my time to be unhappy about things I cannot do anything about unless I work for my passions on the precienct level of politics. Hey, be happy and enjoy life. As the Greek Philosophers used to preach, "Ask no more of life than it be as free from pain and sorrow as possible." 23 hours of your day in unhappiness or 22 hours of your day in doing something that is not an adventure for your passions or life is, and will be a very wasted and sad life.
A person who has known happiness, love, adventure and happiness.
The loco Gringo
This ughREDugh state once again voted red, much to my disappointment but not to my surprise. I don't know what to do. Unlike my loco, I know I can't change anything in precinct politics either. Perry is corrupt, anti-environment, pro petroleum, pro big business, and pro everything else I detest in this world, and he still was re-elected. I voted for Kinky!!! even though I strongly suspected I was throwing my vote away - otherwise I voted Green. Toooooo many don't care, and won't care until it will be too late to save all of us. Too often I feel like that very small animal that loco often talks about.
ma--it's not going to get much better if the idiots around me keep electing Rick Perry as their governor.
steve--yellow dog green sounds like a dog that ate the wrong squirrel.
anonymous (aka case)--i cherish my blue/green canadian.
loco--i put the line about a straightjacket in there just for you. I wholeheartedly agree with you that local politics are worthy of passion. HOWEVER, there are changes that i'm interested in that must be implemented at the state and national level. the locals don't get the respect, don't have the money and most certainly don't have the power to make those changes. you gotta' see the forest and the trees. sometimes the forest is too dark to see the tress. that's where i am. and believe me, i'd spend a lot less of my 23 hours/day in unhappiness if i didn't live in such a homophobic, racist, backwards ass precinct. so that's not changing either.
rnr--i do know that there are some very green folks in dallas. and the green battle is larger than any other we will ever fight, so there aren't enough. thanks for the empathy and we must find ways to kindle hope.
Well L, you make a powerful argument. But, one day in the bad lands of Mexico I was standing near the spot where I saw the Jaguar and I tried an experiment. I sat, crossed my lets and pointed at the canyon walls. I concentrated, I tried logic, I prayed to the Gods, I tried meditation. The walls didn't move, they didn't change color or change into water. I then lowered my expectations and concentrated on a tree. Nothing happened. I kept lowering my expectations and got to a point where I was concentrating on one grain of sand. I tried as hard as I could, but nothing happened to that grain of sand. I'd like to say that an insect ran by and moved it, or a puff of wind moved it, but nothing happened.
That was a defining incident. I had to decide, sit and mope or think what a precious thing life is, get off my duff, put a smile on my face, and move on to another adventure for as surely as the leaf falls to the ground, the sun sets, the only person that can make me unhappy is me.
I am happy to say that AA has been a great experience and that I now suffer much less from self loathing, bitterness, pain, condemnation, blame, responsibility, failure, fear, and the whole gammet of weakness that unravels our lives and drives us to despair.
I have to also keep reminding myself that I seek progress not perfection and I must be alert for and certain that the "beast" is very close and waiting for that long sliver of lite which denote an opening in the door, a door that he may sliver through and exploit my weaknesses.
Hang in there. If things are not going well for you take this simple apptitude test. - Go into a public library, go to the periodic section, walk the isles until you find the magazine you WANT to read, sit in a quiet place and read it. Try this more than once.
Chin up, chest out, stomach in, the world is out to get you, but you can find a path of happiness and walk in peace and beauty.
How I love the Loco...
I heard an intereview with Kinky on NPR when he was asked his position on Gay marriage. He said "I'm for it. I'm for anything that promotes love instead of hate and war." How wise. That's why I threw away my vote. I delusionally believed that everyone in Texas was hearing that interview and would be as moved as I was. Sort of like when I attend a concert, I think that every car which is going in the same direction I am is going to the concert (whatever that has to do with anything).
Lise-you are my very favorite bright blue dot and the rest of you are right up there.
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