things which haven't been said.

i have truly avoided writing blogs such as this one because i don't want to offend anyone, and i don't want to come off as sounding pompous or pious or judgemental, but i really and truly can't be silent anymore. it's not that i think that i have a supreme influence over people, because that is not the case. if my intentions were to influence then i would have written this a long time ago. i just feel that if people in my life are to know anything about who i am and what i believe, this is the perfect time to step out in defense of certain things. let me also preface this by saying that i love and appreciate everyone in my life, regardless of their beliefs or who they are voting for today. by coming out and making a statement i am not hoping to alienate any of my friends who believe differently than i do, it's quite the opposite. it's my hope that in times such as these we find strength in our differences and use them to bring us closer together, not further apart; and not only do i wish this for my personal relationships, but also for our nation as well. the truth is, things are about to get bad. they are about to get really bad. and if we use this election to break our people further apart then we will be in more trouble than anyone can imagine.

i have an odd feeling right now as i am getting ready to go vote, almost a feeling of despair. this is my first major election that i am able to vote in, and i am so excited. (there is a story that goes along with the 2004 election, which i waited in line for 2.5 hrs to be turned away, but that is a whole other blog entirely.) it's hard for me to put a label on what i am feeling right now... am i nervous? sad? scared? unaware? naiive? maybe i am everything. maybe i am nothing. i just know that i had a similar feeling a little over seven years ago, in september of 2001. yes, i am frightened, yes i am confused, yes i am worried. the future remains a mystery, as it always does, and the unknown is always what is most scary. it has always been a sort of "rule" for me to not discuss two things in my blogs: politics, and religion. i am breaking both of those rules today for the first, and hopefully last time.

i wonder who we are as a nation, as americans. i wonder what this election will say about us. it scares me to think that we aren't the "good guys" anymore. i want for us to succeed, for us to do good, for us to be right. i want my country to grow and prosper, and to become a place where i am not afraid to raise my children, a place where i am not afraid to raise myself. i want to be proud of where i live, proud of the people i live among. for the most part, these are silly dreams, wishes upon stars, childish hopes; but they are real, and in the coming years i will have to remind myself not to let go of them, because things are going to change.


"Yea, ye will lift him up...and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him.
Yea, we see that...because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people...to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them."


it is interesting to me the amounts of people, both known and unknown, people who are icons of our society, and people who live next door to us; who rely so much on the "change" that is to come. people who cling so much to this hope for a better tomorrow, people who believe that the change that is coming is a good one, one we need. it's true, there is a change coming, but it isn't necessarily going to be for the better, and for the most part it isn't the change that we imagine in our minds and wish for in our hearts. these are selfish motives of an evil man disguised by words like "hope", and "better", and "change", magical words that keep people from digging further and seeing what lies beneath. this is a book with a very appealing cover, a cover that promises all sorts of things for what lies within the pages of the book. it is such an enticing and amazing cover, in fact, that the majority of people haven't even opened the book yet, and so many of us don't know what is written on those pages inside. what amazes me is the amount of people who refuse to look, who refuse to see the writing written so boldly on the walls.

i know there are friends of mine out there who are voting differently than i in this election and i hope i haven't offended any of them. you are people who are important to me, and who are a valuable part of my life. please do not think that because i've said how i feel that anything between us has to change. there are lots of people in my mind and heart today. i am thinking of most everyone that i know. i won't take the time to list them personally, just know that if you are reading this, you are one of them. i wish the best for you and your families. you are all in my thoughts and prayers, and i care about you all.

please remember to vote. and once this is over, please remember to stay good, and stay happy. i also want to encourage everyone to take a moment at the end of today to write your thoughts about this election in your journal. i promise you that you will be greatful down the road when you have your thoughts to share with your children and grandchildren, and to remind yourself that you made it. this is history, guys, and we're a part of it. you are a part of it. don't forget that.

love,
gabrielle.