OT: Open note to Sarah

Hi Joyce -

As middle-aged middle-class white woman who voted for Obama .... his race or skin color wasn't a factor for me at all.

Being a 4th generation Californian I find this tends to be a very multi-cultural place to live - everyone here is different in language, religion, culture, food (YUM!), etc. but we're all Americans. However, we seem to be somewhat more tolerant here than other areas of the U.S.

I am just awed by the huge number of new and returning voters who really wanted to express their opinion and have their choices matter. The outcome and excitement generated by democracy in action seems to have galvanized the world and almost made me happy to admit to being an American again.

MelissaD

It means everyone

Everyone? Who is everyone? Every American?

thinks colour is

No. NO. NO. We don't ALL feel that way.

Can you accept that some of us are just glad to be getting a change, a brilliant man with maybe better ideas than his predecessor or opponent. He's bringing the same optimism and fresh start we felt when JFK was elected. Heck, I wouldn't care if he was purple.

I think you are not facing reality on this one. It's not that I am against him, I just wonder how the hell he can possibly make everyone happy.

I guess you don't know who Mugabe is then and all the things he has done to his people over 20 years + - he is evil incarnate. There's no oil in Zimbabwe so 'first' world countries were not interested in stopping him in his tracks. Anything Saddam Hussein did, he has done double.

I agree. He has a VERY tough job ahead as the world changes. We Americans are going to have to deal with some very tough lessons related to jobs, credit, living standards, energy, our standing in the world. All of these things have been crashing around us, and it's time to step up to the plate and take responsibility, make sacrifices, and, above all, PAY ATTENTION! Had we paid attention earlier, we mightn't be in such a mess as we're in now. I hope Obama is able to provide the vision needed to bring us all together again to pull for a common good.

sue

He is evil and should be exterminated, soon.

Your "friend from lily white middle America" must live a very sheltered life - we are no longer "lily white" or even just black and white - we have a lot of Hispanics, Asians galore. Mixed race couples and children are not uncommon. While we may not have the wealth of choices you may have on the coast, we DO have Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Mexican, Spanish and other ethnic restaurants, as well as stores that carry more than La Choy.

I get really tired of "coasties" thinking that just because I live in the middle of the country I am somehow less worthy. I've lived on both coasts, TYVM, and while I miss the ocean, I enjoy many of the perks of the "flyover" country, including a lower cost of living and less stress.

I have patiently and tolerantly read through all this anti-Republican stuff posted by Victoria and Karen C. among others, but really, I've had it. You are WORSE and MORE INTOLERANT (and yes, I *am* yelling) than any far right Republican I know.

Karen and Vicitoria, I think your health issues have blinded you to some of the Republican economic policies that might benefit you, especially Karen and her small business. No, the Republicans aren't perfect, but they didn't create the entire mess we are in: you can thank FDR for inventing social security, others for expanding it and SSI benefits and everyone for the tax problems - no one party is to blame, but don't dump it all on the Republicans when far more of it was done by the Democrats.

It's amazing to me how high and mighty some of you are about issues important to you, but belittle those important to me. Interesting also how many of you who so vehemently support the Democratic party are childless. Those of us trying to raise moral, productive members of society often find that the D's don't agree with the standards we are trying to instill.

BTW - what charitable or non-profit work are you doing? I've served as a Girl Scout leader, I serve on my dd's swim club board, I've been active in PTA. I make and donate blankets to a children's charity. My kids regularly go to the food bank to help out putting things away and we donate food and money when we can. We help with animal charities. What about you?

Linda

Thank you, Linda, for speaking up for us middle-Americaners! Althogh I've never set foot in that idyllic utopia called California, I've traveled the world and the U.S. extensively, and there's no place I'd rather call home than the Midwest!

Jinx

Thank you, Linda, for speaking up for us middle-Americaners! Althogh I've never set foot in that idyllic utopia called California, I've traveled the world and the U.S. extensively, and there's no place I'd rather call home than the Midwest!

Jinx

I've read both of them. Have you?

Right, but not because she died.

Elizabeth

With all due respect, Joyce, I believe that Obama has made it clear that his first consideration IS the good of the country he will serve.

Elizabeth

How about because Joyce actually lives in Africa, or did you miss that?

Elizabeth

We can? I swear, Victoria, I have never heard of such a thing. I think you're making it up.

Elizabeth

Making "credible" threats against the president is, indeed, a criminal offense.

Actually, making "credible" threats against anyone, president or not, is against the law.

Of course, the interpretation of "credible" is open to discussion.

No-He was not dumped there. He lived with his mother and went to a school in Indonesia.

His educated mother wasn't satisfied with the quality of the education he was getting and sent him to live with his grandparents in Hawaii. Obviously, his education in Hawaii was good enough to get him into Columbia and Harvard so I guess her decision was a good one.

Lucille

Actually, as a side bar, there was the interesting case on my local group of a flake who signed all his posts "Death to the President of the United States" - along with others I suggested to him it was maybe not the best of ideas and to have a care. It wasn't that long after

Imagine how we felt when the local news had an item about him and how it had been 'requested' and that he was under arrest and sent for psychiatric examination. They soon found he was nuts and he was barred from owning and operating a computer.

However, this is Canada, it was requested of our police and YMMV lol

I wasn't trying to state that because I lived in California I was more worthy than you. I was simply stating a fact that because we are an entry point into the U.S. we have a very large diverse population. We're used to it - it's our "normal" - mixed race, any race - issues like skin color for the most part are a non-issue - at least with me.

I'm not saying we're perfect - I know of white supremacist groups just miles away from where I live. I was simply stating a general overall observation. My best friend growing up was Japanese and she ended up marrying someone from Nebraska - she used to tell me how odd it was for her to go to the mall and have everyone stare at her because she was the only Asian. I've heard the same thing from an Indian friend who moved to and back out of Montana because of the way her children were treated by the white people in their area. My experience is different obviously because I'm white - but I was raised by forward thinking somewhat liberal parents who taught me to look at the person - not their nationality or skin color.

I was only stating that my vote for Obama had nothing to do with his race or skin color - and everything to do with his being intelligent, hope-inspiring and NOT George W. Shrub.

None of the politicians are blameless - I think people are just tired of things going from bad to worse. Heck both Democrats and Rebpublicans have some great AND some stupid ideas. As a middle-class American I feel the financial pinch more and more and I'm not alone - the American public is frustrated and running scared. The problem I believe in this country with Democrats and Republicans is that they're always sniping at each other instead of working TOGETHER to get problems resolved. It's like watching 2 year olds sometimes - quit the blame game and just get to work. That's MY opinion.

And Linda I don't think anyone here was disparaging you as a caring concerned human being. I too have been a Girl Scout leader, worked with Boy Scouts, volunteered at many community events including food banks, hospitals, animal charities and I take my kids with me so they can see this is how people should behave. I'm sure most of us do help those around us as best we can. No offense was meant to you personally on my part.

MelissaD

There are forward thinking, good, decent people in the middle of the continent too. If the states immediately to the south of me are "lily white" I would be very surprised; the Cree, Dakota, Assiniboine, Blackfoot and others were here on the Prairies before anybody else came, and they are still here. Metis traded across the continent. Saskatchewan had black settlers almost immediately after the US Civil War, because free land was free land, regardless of colour, and I cannot imagine there were not black people on the US plains too. There were certainly black cowboys, and black soldiers. Chinese people have been on the prairies since the railways were built in the 19th C. Even in the 1950s, the city I grew up in, which some of you would consider laughably small and isolated, because it had a University with a fine agricultural facilty and a med school attracted students from Africa and East Asia. I am not saying their life was always wonderful--but I would imagine it wasn't always wonderful in California or Washington either.

Nobody likes to be stereotyped. Many of us in the middle of the continent have all of our teeth and only a few play the banjo when sober.

Dawne

My home and native land...

"lucretia borgia" wrote

Well, I had to hedge a bit on the banjo playing, as there is a football game tomorrow, and ever since a Winnipeg place kicker referred to my compatriots as a bunch of inbred banjo players, there is inevitably some banjo music involved, along with watermelons worn on the head.

Dawne