My friend, Chiara, sent me this note on Thursday, the final day of the Republican National Convention. I managed to miss the note and I’m offering it now for your consideration.
Last night, my sister-in-law, Joyce, a nurse, mother of three, and grandmother of many, wrote to a number of us in the family to express her views about the presidential election. Joyce focused on an aspect of a potential and unthinkable Republican victory that I think few of us — certainly not I — have considered at any length. I believe Joyce’s take on a McCain/Palin administration is worthy of contemplation and so I’d like to share with you the note she sent to us from Santa Rosa last night, at the conclusion of the Republican National Convention.
Yes, we can.
Chiara
Dear Kim, Tami, Erik, Steven, Deena, Todd, Chiara, Lucia, Kathleen and Eddie
As most of you know I am very pro Obama. I had the opportunity to watch all major speeches for the Democratic convention and now I’m giving equal time to the Republicans. Two very different takes on patriotism. I was heartened by Obama, Biden, and Michelle Obama. This week, I watched John McCain become animated over his sudden secret weapon, Sarah Palin. I listened to the speeches last night and heard similar slurs in each one, obviously written by the same team. No lies told, but less than the truth said. The crowd went wild. There are lots more at home who believe and will vote.
Tonight, after listening to Cindy McCain’s profile (she has been an international relief worker!!) and her well delivered speech following Sarah Palin’s rousing rendition of the republican working super mom last night, I know big work must be done if the White House is to stay in the hands of the party that I believe is more fair and balanced.
But my greatest fear is that, if the McCain/Palin ticket wins, my grandsons, Jeff, Brennan, Justin A and Justin C will be registering for the draft before the end of 2009. Devin won’t be far behind. There are simply not enough volunteer bodies to fill the battle needs in the many places our hawk leaders feel we should go. I was a fierce mother against the war in Vietnam when Steven was a child and I can do it again. And be even more involved this time because watching my grandsons go off to war for oil and power doesn’t feel patriotic to me.
I’m calling the local democratic party headquarters tomorrow. I will volunteer however they need me because I now have the time to go with my passion that the charismatic folks running on the republican ticket are defeated in Nov.
John McCain just finished the most compelling speech I’ve ever heard from him. Almost, but not quite eloquent. That the crowd is going wild is an indication of what’s happening in front of millions of American TVs. Scary.
Oh woe, we have lots of work to do. Both parties want change in Washington, but only one party wants to escalate war in several world regions.
Going forward, I’ll keep the grandson faces in front of me to remember why the war mongers cannot win.
With love,
Mom, Joyce
