“So…has the hubbub died down,” my mother, who now resides in
Scottsdale, Ariz., asked me yesterday over the phone. I paused and let the air inside my brain
seep out, because I had to “recall” what particular hubbub she spake of!
Even she, residing in the depths of a hellish desert, which
reached 111 degrees as of late, has been deluged with the debate (some people
really seem to get virtual erections from political and social dissent and
disharmony) between Wisconsin’s Democrats and Republicans.
“It’s over,” I comforted her, though inside of me, I know
that over – it is not.
Unlike me, my mother is a staunch liberal, a witty, wise
woman who joked when the movie, The Help, was released, “Why go see the movie,
I lived it. I was the help.” She spent more than 35 years working as a
housekeeper for a wealthy Wisconsin family of Conservatives (for the most part).
I honestly consider myself a liberal Republican, a
conservative Democrat, if that pleases. I
hate name calling though.
I’m really just a woman in search of the kind of success
that is not temporary and a future for my daughter that is not acrid and
mordant.
A large part of me, particularly, my back, is strained, as is my head. I don’t think there are many black Walker
supporters, as I am accosted at my stupidity for trusting “that white dude.”
Still, I do and I am tired of the political climate here: the television ad
fighting, posturing, “he-said, she-said.” This recall election and its pre-quel
election, has brought hate to the
fore. Surely, our current Governor did
not invent the aforementioned duo. I
don’t even think he saw it coming. It’s
been like a year of middle school. Oh
how I loathed middle school, too.
Just when I thought it was safe to swim in the lake of
diverging political views, and the storm was finally over so that we can focus
on the issues that plague our state, I heard the words of my best friend’s stepfather,
also yesterday, “He cheated!” OMG, if
that isn’t sour grapes, I don’t drink wine.
The recall election, for many, truly does not end
things. For me though, it does.
I have to stop listening to the banter, watching it on
television and reading it in the papers. It doesn’t make me happy, smarter or richer by engaging in those
pursuits. I don’t even have words that
fully express my journey and the journeys of many others whose economic lot is barren. I will use my mother’s words,
as they are more fitting.
“A
father should care for all of his children, no matter what. To me, this is symbolic and can also refer to
a Governor (Father of a State, so to speak) and all of his voters. He should
want the same things, the greatest good for all of his children, including the
best schools, jobs, health care, etc. So
whether you are a democrat or republican, rich or poor, the Governor works for you “like a father” should. A good father wants what is best for all of
his children, not just the ones who favor him most.”
– Wanda White
We are beyond isolated complaining, yelling and
screaming. I hope those in positions
of power begin to work with what we have, so to speak. We – the people – had
our day, to have our say.
“Oz has spoken” – for now!
