BY SHARON MARTIN
Whether George W. Bush won the 2000 election or not is still debatable, but he took the oath of office. I knew what he stood for, and I was afraid.
When the unthinkable happened on Sept. 11, 2001, Young Bush began a campaign to finish his father’s war. The Bush gang didn’t even try to find a peaceable solution despite the many reasons war in Iraq was a bad idea.
- There was no al-Qaeda in Iraq.
- Saddam was a monster, but take him out and likely another would take his place.
- Taking out a strong man upsets the balance of power in a region.
- It isn’t our place to decide who leads countries other than our own.
We went to war anyway, with false justification. While we were spending on war, we cut taxes on the wealthy. The economy dived. We devastated families in the U.S. and in the Middle East. We didn’t have a plan in place to rehabilitate soldiers coming home. Things were bad, so we voted for hope in 2008 and 2012.
Now we have choices again. The Democrats have two good candidates still in the race. The only thing that can be said about the Republicans is that the one currently in third place isn’t as bad as Nos. 1 and 2.
And what are some Democratic supporters doing? They’re tearing down one good candidate because they believe so strongly in the other.
No! No! No!
No candidate is perfect, but if we want to have any chance to prevent a real catastrophe from befalling this country, Democrats have to support their candidate without tearing down his or her opponent. Save the fight for the fall.
When I suggested we stop spreading rumors, someone told me not to be afraid of the truth. It’s not the truth I fear; it’s the dishonesty and the meanness. And it’s reality.
Look what’s happening in this state that we love. It is being destroyed by an administration that was elected by less than a quarter of the eligible voters in the state. Our education system is being dismantled and our healthcare system chiseled away.
And the good people? I have little faith that hurting, hardworking, overwhelmed people who get tainted news from corporate sources are suddenly going to start voting for their own self interest.
The best we can do, those of us who have the time and energy to devote to politics, is not tear each other down. I have my reasons for supporting my candidate. You have your reasons. But we mustn’t supply the ammunition for either candidate to be shot down in the general election.
The country we save will be our own.
– Sharon Martin lives in Oilton, OK and is a regular contributor to The Oklahoma Observer
