I don't know that I have ever been this sad.

[SmileyRose]

I was born in the mid 50's. I came of age during Nixon. I BARELY remember when the old fogies had such a seething hate they shot the president, and beat up black people, shot college kids, and napalmed foreign people. I heard the geezers bad mouth both mini skirts and ankle dresses. Everything I loved was going to get me in the express lane to hell and I did not care. They were old farts, what did they know.

Now it's my own generation. My own. Standing up at McPalin rallies screaming seething hate and skank and slime and filth. The sheer unbridled spewing spitting disgust coming from my own generation and just a bit older shocks and saddens me beyond what I can describe. We were on the receiving end of this. And the older ones watched it all as adults - and yet here we are. The very fact Fox News and it's side car hate radio have a market is embarrassing. When I hear "low information voters" repeat the idiocy spewed there as "truth" - when I see them buy into the meme that Barack Obama is the next Fidel Castro and Joe Stalin and the anti-christ and all of Al queda rolled into one I really do want to cry. I had faith in my own generation. I really did.

I can say this. Barack Obama is the only hope I have. I know his presidency won't be perfect, but he can't help but be such a success, my any measure of success. It's the only chance I see to show the rest of this country what grace and dignity do for a person and a people rather than the lies and hate we've come to take for granted for the last 20 years.

This election, for me, is not about the economy, or the terrorists, or oil, or jobs, or healthcare. It was. Oh sure it was. But the minute my own generation felt comfortable enough to go a political rally and applaud and defend a "heckler" who threatened a man's life, and applaud and defend a vice presidential candidate not much younger than me calling a presidential candidate out for treason - well that very minute this election changed to one issue and one issue only. Hate versus hope.

And I'm not quite ready to give up hope.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[babylonsister]

2. Please don't fret. I'm your age, but "they" are most definitely in the

minority. The majority of us are the 'better angels' and we will prevail.

[SmileyRose]

5. Yes, they are the minority

and I probably needed to have my ideological blinders removed anyways. :)

[pretzel4gore]

3. election? what election?

i'll chk in here and maybe few others, but for next week or so i'm rip van....and whoever wins wins. Let the devil do his damndest, i say. I'm old and really stopped caring. We should have fought them back in 1980, when junyer reagan was selected by 37 percent of total electorate....water under the bridge, come back...come on back

[The Shadow]

4. Well Said!

I couldn't have said it better myself. This election may well be the most important one in American history, possibly for the ages. This election will quite possibly determine who we are as a country and who we wish to be. Hope versus Hatred and Division. I too choose Hope! It's not just a slogan, it's for real!

[DainBramaged]

6. Me too, but know what, we got this, really.

I have never been so hopeful. I just want to make it two more days and my life is complete.

[ananda]

7. I remember 1960 when Kennedy ran.

The hate was so intense it was palpable.
I lived in Dallas.

When LBJ and Ladybird rode through the
streets of downtown Dallas, people shouted,
cursed, and literally spit on them.

[TripleKatPad]

8. Got hope? I do.

I, too, am a mid-50's baby. (I remember, in 8th grade when my drama class teacher was *appalled* at my mini-dress. "You young people will be the end of us!")

Beautiful post, Smiley. Your sentiments express exactly how I feel. Thank you.

[kimmerspixelated]

9. I feel your pain.

born in mid-fifties, too! But I tear up so easily these days, not just for the election! Frankly, I think it's the change! But in a way, this has become symbolic for the change we're all in for- when Obama wins! Have faith, I think it's in the bag, and I get misty about that too, in a good way!!!

[Abugface]

10. Thank you for a fine and moving post SmileyRose.

I'm sorry you were subject to a crude and ignorant post by an immature troll.

[SmileyRose]

11. Cali is NOT a troll

He/she simply did not understand me and it really is OK.

[iamthebandfanman]

13. you calling someone with a star and over a thousand posts

a troll = lol

[trof]

12. Isn't it heartwarming when you post some personal feelings

and a self-appointed know-it-all says you're stupid and kicks you in the nuts for it?
Honestly, I thought we were all on the same side now.
At least since the primaries ended.

Anyway, I echo your sentiments.
:hug:

[kayakjohnny]

14. I wholeheartedley understood the spirit of your post.

Unfortunately the hate part reared it's ugly keyboard right away. I think most people will know exactly what you meant. Nice post.

[smkyle1]

15. I am both happy and sad that you are sad

although you do not say in your post, there are indicators in your writing that lead me to believe you are white. As one human being to another, I regret that you feel sadness. But as a black person, your sadness gives me hope. There are many who feel nothing when they see the mob mentality of hatred at the Palin rallies. Your sadness lets me know that there will always be people who care even when they are not the ones being targeted.

[dgibby]

16. Thanks!

I'm 62 and was very conservative in my teens. Went into the Navy after nursing school because I WANTED to go to Viet Nam to take care of the wounded. Missed out on that whole '60's thing. Couldn't understand it. Now, I'm just the opposite! Liberal as hell. No more flag waving for me. It's not that I don't love my country. I do, but I love it with eyes wide open, warts and all.

I, too, am appalled at the actions of the republican base. I finally realized that, imo, they view us, not as the loyal opposition, but as people to be hated and feared. Sometimes I think they view us as Hitler viewed the Jews, and it scares the hell out of me.

Tues. can't come soon enough. I truly believe that this is our last hope to save what's left of this country.

[theothersnippywshrub]

17. Wonderul post. "Hate versus hope" is what the struggle has been for some time now.

The death throes of the party of hate have made their hatred more mainstream in recent years, but better things are coming.

[rosesaylavee]

18. I could have written this post too!

I have been phonebanking - and you know when you look at the written list given you, in addition to their phone and address, you see a person's age. It took me about the first several hundred calls to not look at the age listed because invariably - especially if it were a female MY AGE - they would be a disappointment. "Oh, haven't even started to think about the election" "Oh, I haven't made my mind yet." "Oh, I was undecided but I LOVE Governer Palin."

Yeesh. What helped me though is the understanding that many many many of us here are around that mid-century mark and we are all active in our communities, the Obama campaign staff has people of all ages helping them - including us wizened mid-century folk.

The moral of this story is - stupid is just what happens to some people no matter their age.

Yay for Tuesday's Landslide!

:kick:

[seabeyond]

19. are you kidding? this is landslide, across the nation, southern states electing a black man

our first black pres and across the nation is overwhelmingly voting obama. wtf are you talking sad. how about looking at glass over flowing in happy

[BeFree]

20. That's right

This election is about taking back our country. The promise that is America is a promise of brotherhood. It is a promise of love for the best America can be.

For too long our tolerance has allowed the haters of America to have and hold the upper hand and it pleases us to no end to see that era coming to a close.

Change is coming! Thank Gawd a'mightee, change is on the way! Finally!

[crossroads]

21. Take heart my friend... real change is on the way! k&r

[Arugula Latte]

22. It's the PsychoChristians. They embrace irrational thought. They thrive on lies.