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A letter to my children (that I'm posting for all the world to see!)

this is a blog post I wrote in March 2017, but didn't publish. I read this again this morning and decided there's no time like the present to remind all of us, what is at stake in our 2020 Presidential election. 


Dear Michael, Matthew and Delaney -

 Do you remember when Mom went on a bus with about 40 other women to Washington D.C. for the Million Mom March? I was upset with the the mass shootings at places like Columbine High School, and I wanted to do something, anything to make the world a better place for the three-not-so-little Piggins. I called home as the bus was pulling into DC and one of you, I can't remember, said something like, "Have you started marching yet?" I held back my laugh and tried to explain that this 'march' didn't actually mean 'marching'. 

 Growing up in a home where Mom and Dad supported different political parties meant you grew up listening to political dialogue that wasn't always pleasant but never personal. We listened to NPR in the car and you knew that Wednesday night at 8 p.m. was Mom's time to watch West Wing. On Sundays, we always watched 60 Minutes. And I'm fairly certain that when you were in the car with Dad (if you weren't listening to sports!) he'd have you listen to Rush Limbaugh.

 Well, today, I want to alternately apologize to you or encourage you about politics.

 I want to apologize first for this past Presidential election. Your upbringing did nothing to prepare you for the ugliness and lies. When you grew up watching the Bartlett administration on West Wing you saw that despite disagreeing on issues there was respect for another's viewpoint. Listening to NPR, you heard issues being discussed and opposing viewpoints given time as well. And on 60 Minutes, you witnessed journalism at it's finest and truth taking precedence. You grew up knowing that in a campaign, lies would ultimately be exposed and the candidate would be held accountable for those lies.

 Well, there wasn't respect for opposing viewpoints. At times, in fact, Mr. Trump resorted to name-calling. Often in fact - Lying Ted, Crooked Hillary, Little Rubio, Low Energy Jeb. His grasp of issues was limited so the dialogue was filled with self-aggrandizing statements like, "Trust me, I know" or "I am the most successful". And when asked about something he said or did, Mr. Trump would flat-out deny it - despite audio or video proof to the contrary. And journalists focused on the headlines or sound-bites, despite there being plenty of half-reported stories about both of the candidates. Like, the rape charges against our future President? Or what is the news behind the law suit against Trump University? Or his tax return? (And now we the American people are actually going to be paying his salary for four years, lifetime health insurance and pension of a former President - and he's proud that he hasn't paid taxes??)

 I digress. I want to apologize that a man who has assaulted and degraded women will now be the Commander in Chief. (Though that's nothing new, but we didn't have the video and audio proof before Bill Clinton was elected). I want to apologize that a man who has limited understanding of our Constitution will be in a position to shred it.

 But mostly today, I want to encourage you. I want to encourage you to get involved in either politics or a cause that is important to you - I want to encourage you to find your passion and get involved. Only 43 percent of eligible voters exercised their right to cast a vote in our last Presidential election, and many said they didn't because they didn't think their vote would count or they thought Ms. Clinton was a 'shoe-in'. (Not an uncommon thought in November)
And that latter assumption, did indeed make asses of you and me. Be involved, children, and please don't be discouraged.

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