The Democrat vs The Republican

It seems that more and more everyday there is a divide in the United States based solely on two political ideologies.  I have always referred to myself as a “Democrat”.  By publicly voicing my political beliefs, it has caused me to see just how much hatred there is between those who prescribe to the Republican ideology and those who prescribe to the Democratic ideology.  The problem, as I see it, is that those who call themselves Republican have a very distorted and unrealistic view of the Democratic belief system. 

The best part about a blog is that it gives people, like me, a forum in which I can voice my thoughts and concerns about topics such as this.  You see, I am tired of reading things that are derogatory toward those who have a more liberal view on our world.  To be a liberal or a progressive is to believe in change for the greater good.  Being liberal is not a belief that the government owes us something or that we should be able to have things free of charge.  In fact, that is so far from the truth that it’s hard to even express it in words.

As a “Democrat”, I believe in the constitution of the United States as it was written and intended by its framers.  I believe in progress for ALL citizens, not just a “chosen” few.  I believe in equality for ALL human beings – regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, color of their skin or their socio-economic standing.  I believe that woman has the God given right to choose what they wish to do with their bodies, even if that choice includes ending an unhealthy or unwanted pregnancy.  I believe that each individual has the right to love who they wish without fear of ridicule or persecution – even if that means they love someone of the same gender.  I believe that our children are our future and we owe it to them to leave them a world that is better than the one that we grew up – this includes environmental conservation and laws that ensure a safe and healthy world for everyone.  I believe that humans have made a lot of poor choices that have divided our country and our world, and it is our responsibility to take actions in which lead to correcting our mistakes. 

The United States constitution stipulates a separation of “Church” and “State”.  The proof is written in the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.  This is probably the most important amendment as it prohibits Congress from enacting any law which establishes an official religion of the country.  It also provides the freedom to practice any religion which you may choose to practice, provides freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of peaceful assembly (or protest) and the right to bring grievances against the government.  This has been the “rule of the land” since December 15, 1791 – over 200 years!!!  While originally this only applied to the federal government, the Supreme Court in 1925 applied the 1^st Amendment to laws enacted by the states as well when it made its decision in Gitlow v. New York. 

With this decision, states were held to the same standards as the Federal Government and should not be permitted to enact laws which restrict citizens from the rights afforded in the constitution.  With this in mind, how do we as, American citizens, continue to allow laws to be enacted that are based on the beliefs of one religion?  Laws which outlaw abortion are being enacted based solely on the beliefs of individuals who practice the Christian faith.  They use their bible as a means of restricting the rights of individuals who do not hold the same values.  In addition, they use their bible to discriminate against individuals who choose to love someone for who they are and not what their gender is.  Banning same-sex unions and banning abortions are only two examples of how the Christian faith and those who follow the Christian ways is in direct violation of the 1^st Amendment.  Yet, it is continuing to happen.  Christianity continues to invade our politics and dictate the lives of those who do not follow this faith.  Why do we continue to allow our country’s laws to be enacted based on a religious doctrine?  Isn’t that what our forefathers were fleeing when they left their homelands?  Religion was the basis for wars as far back in history as I can remember – yet, even today, it continues to be the means in which people try to argue for their values. 

Being a Democrat doesn’t mean that I am anti-religion – it doesn’t even mean that I am anti-Christian.  I believe that everyone has a right to hold their own religious beliefs and have their own faith.  I do not believe, however, that anyone has the right to force their beliefs on another.  I no longer subscribe to the Christian faith in my personal life because I do not believe in its teachings or its tactics.  That doesn’t make me less of a person and it doesn’t mean that I am against others who consider themselves to be Christian.  It simply means that I have another belief which is different.  It doesn’t make my belief wrong – nor does it make me less of a human.  It simply is the way it is. 

One day, I hope that we can open our hearts and our minds to each other’s differences. I hope that we can close the divide between opposing points of view and realize that we are all humans first.  We are all meant to work together to ensure that best possible world for everyone – not just a chosen few. 

To The Man Who Abandoned My Daughter

To the man who refused to be a father to my child, I want you to know that it’s your loss.  Not only did you walk away when she was just a baby, but you chose your other children over her time and time again.  I want you to know that your rejection has only made her a better person.

For years, I tried to foster a relationship between father & daughter, but you always disappointed her.  You made promises that you never intended to keep.  You blamed me for your failures and for your lack of care you had for your daughter.  When you had your sons, you ignored your first born simply because I was her mother.  Your rejection caused her to feel loneliness, despair and, at times, less-than everyone else in her life.  Do you even care?  Did you ever care?

Sometimes I wonder how I could have been so naïve and so careless to have made a union with you.  My only saving grace was that I was never stupid enough to have married you.  I was not stupid enough to allow you to continue to abuse me emotionally, physically and verbally.  You were a disease to my soul and you never should have been given the gift of a daughter by me.  But the Goddess & God whom I have come to know thought that I deserved to be a mother.  Perhaps it was the greatest gift I could have ever received.  I only wish that you had not been the one to give me this gift.

As she gets closer to becoming an adult, I marvel at the way she has overcome your rejection.  I am proud each and every day at how she has been able to forget you and how she has embraced the love of her stepfather.  He is her dad.  He is the one who has been in her life since was 18 months old.  He has raised her beside me for nearly 16 years.  He is the one who has shown her what a real father is and how a real father cares for his children.  Not you. 

I hope that you are happy with your decision to walk away all those years ago.  I hope that you will one day see all that you missed by being the kind of person who thought that a child was disposable simply because you no longer “liked” her mother.  I hope that you have found comfort in signing over your parental rights so that her REAL DAD could adopt her.  I know that she has.  She has all but forgotten you.  You will never have that chance to watch her graduate from high school or college.  You will never have the chance to see her build a career or a life for herself.  You won’t be the one to walk her down the aisle and you won’t ever know any grandchildren by her.  Those thoughts calm my heart.  The fact that I have raised a smart, beautiful, kind-hearted and ambitious young woman without any help or influence from you make me happier than you will ever comprehend.

 

To the man who abandoned his first-born child and decided that she was not worth it, one day you will regret your decisions.  That, alone, gives me the strength the forgive and move on.  

I'm Back!!!!

Wow!  I can’t believe that it has been over 2 years since I have last posted anything on this blog.  I must apologize for my neglect.  Having a full-time really limited my time; I couldn’t pay much attention to the things I enjoyed in my personal life.  I likely will never be a “famous” blogger and I don’t know that I will ever be able to be as good at it as all the great bloggers out there that I enjoy following.  A lot has changed in my world and now is as good of a time as any to try to immerse myself in my blog and try to get back to doing things that truly make me happy.

I have not had the easiest time in the last couple of years.  Having suffered from Depression and Anxiety for the last 20 years, these last 2 ½ years have continued to get harder for me.  I stopped going to my recovery groups for several months – telling myself that I couldn’t handle the “drama”.  I believe that I was unwilling to take an honest look at myself and my life.  I regressed into the same old unhealthy patterns and behaviors.  I began to focus only on my job – ignoring friends and family and other responsibilities.  As a result, I was miserable.  I became angry, depressed, withdrawn and experienced a lack of focus.  These actions ultimately led to loss of my job in January 2019.  While I was devastated at this turn of events, I now believe that the Goddess has a bigger plan for me.  I do not yet know what that plan is and I have been told not to question Her.  I need to have more faith.