A bushel of bitterness and a salt grain of hope.

[cbankhead07]

I don't believe in the system.
I don't believe my vote counts at all.
I've been able to vote for 10 years and never once exercised that right because of these feelings.
Blacks were given the right to vote, then a system of elimination was created where we're target as criminals, and put in the best position to commit crimes: unequal education, unequal justice, inequality in general.
We're filling up prisons and having the right systematically stripped away.
Thousands of Blacks that would vote, cant because they've lost that right.
The results of the Bush/Gore election reaffirmed my dismay at the American democratic system.
The events of 9/11 reaffirmed my dismay at the American government.
Hurricane Katrina reaffirmed my dismay at the American government.
I once heard Rev. Jesse Jackson say "America needs to get out the BUSHES" - a beautiful piece of double-sided rhetoric at the state of the American un-civilization and the monarchy of the Bush family... We're so deep in the wilderness, so lost in the Bushes, that coming out is only a guarantee of scrapes, scars, bruises and abrasions.
It's a jungle in here.. a heartless dangerous jungle.
My spirit and hopes of "America the beautiful" that I held dearly as a child when I proudly said the "Pledge of Allegiance"  were quickly crushed when I turned eighteen and became conscious with knowledge of self, and aware of the true evil of our system...
The current democracy of those times, left a bad taste in my mouth and I never registered to vote as a result
those dreams were further mangled when I was poverty stricken and treated by my people as a criminal base solely on the color of my skin, or where I lived...
they were grounded to dust each and every time my constitutional rights were violated simply because of this beautiful brown skin I don, my head-wrap, my natural hairstyles, or my income bracket...
I've had my share of scrapes, scars, bruises, AND abrasions...and still, I stand.
I'm still here.
I continue to make it thru
...and so will America.
If anyone knows about making the best of a bad situation, we do...
The REAL America, not the one you see on TV...
we ALL know how to pull it out.
SO is Obama a REAL American, or a beautifully put together IMITATION?
There's really only ONE way to find out...
I'm not satisfied with assumptions
my thirst won't be quenched by hypothesis
I need the proof.
People tell me "your throwing your vote away"; to them, I say:
I've thrown my vote away for 10 years now...what will one more matter?
In 2007 I registered to vote.
My political party is nonexistent.
I'm a registered UNAFFILIATED voter.
and I'll probably do a split ticket.
I'm voting in 2008 in my first ever election.
Primaries are going on in my state right now...
And in the presidential race, I'm voting for Obama.
Because something about him...maybe his smile..maybe the look in his eyes...maybe his pride...something I can't quite put my finger on about Obama...
something about him makes me believe again...
and though the actual feeling of believing that I have may be microscopic...
maybe a grain of salt worth of belief....
It's far more than I've had since I was a wide eye child...

[Lish26]

May. 8, 2008 at 3:39 PM Did I ever tell you how much I loved this? Beautiful. Peace, Makeba!

[ummioften]

May. 9, 2008 at 6:27 PM

Just came by to wish you an early birthday and took the opportunity to make a comment on your response. You said almost every thing I feel, with the exception of there isn't even a grain of hope for me as far as this election/system is concerned. It's not that I'm hopless, it's that my thoughts are directed toward getting freedom, justice and equality. Along with some land I can call my own.  Call me a dreamer or a un-realistic fool, that is where my attention is focused.

Happy Birthday Sis. You know I wish only the best for on your Day. I hope you get all that you desire.