Smiling Mom

I am thirty one years old and for as long as I can remember America has been governed by President(s) Bush Sr., Jr., and President Clinton. The first time I was able to vote in a presidential election was in 1996, President Clinton’s second bid for office.

I’m being completely honest when I say that up until a few months ago I knew very little about the voting process and politics in general. I voted for upcoming presidents sometimes. I voted on local issues less. I couldn’t be bothered, really. I’d become pretty tired of the same old-same old that has been going on in the Oval Office for so many years.

I’ve often felt as if I was in the middle of a large lake, in a raft, without any paddles.

But then Barack Obama stepped into the spotlight and onto the campaign trail. And I became inspired.

I remember watching Barack Obama give the 2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address. I was stopped in my tracks, silent, intently focused on the TV in front of me.

….That is the true genius of America, a faith — a faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles; that we can tuck in our children at night and know that they are fed and clothed and safe from harm; that we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door; that we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe; that we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will be counted — at least most of the time….

After listening to his keynote address I knew that this was a man whom I wanted to see more of. A man who could do big things for our country. For the first time I felt hope.

Hope.

When Obama began his race for the presidency I was so excited. Due to my overall ignorance to all things political, I didn’t realize what a dark horse he was in this race. I believed he could win even when he was trailing the other democratic hopefuls by double digits in the polls.

And win he has. Currently Barack Obama has 1418 pledged delegates to Clinton’s 1251.

It’s been such a close race between Obama and rival Clinton that the media coverage has been unprecedented. Due to the overwhelming coverage I’ve immersed myself in all things political for the last few months. I just can’t get enough. I know all about super-delegates and primary elections. I’ve watched multiple debates and had many conversations with friends and family about this upcoming election.

And then today I had the opportunity to listen to Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech and I felt it again.

Hope.

In his speech today Barack Obama said in part:

For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle – as we did in the OJ trial – or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina - or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright’s sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she’s playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.

We can do that.

But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we’ll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.

That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, “Not this time.” This time we want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children and Asian children and Hispanic children and Native American children. This time we want to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids can’t learn; that those kids who don’t look like us are somebody else’s problem. The children of America are not those kids, they are our kids, and we will not let them fall behind in a 21st century economy. Not this time.

Bold are the parts that I find most important in these paragraphs. As a teacher, mom, and American, Barack Obama speaks to me.

Not this time people. Not this time!

This time I choose hope and change.

For the first time in all my voting years I feel as if the paddles are in reach, things are about to change.

Where do I sign up? I am ready.

Originally posted at Silicon Valley Moms Blog

If you have not had a chance to watch Barack Obama’s speech, “A More Perfect Union”, I urge you to sit down, put up your feet and enjoy a speech that will be remembered for years to come.

FoxNews.com reported:

(And if you know me, you know I just can’t not comment, so my comments will be italicized for your viewing pleasure!) 

Saudi Marriage ‘Expert’ Advises Men in ‘Right Way’ to Beat Their Wives

He’s Saudi author and cleric, “Dr.” Muhammad Al-’Arifi, who in a remarkable segment broadcast on Saudi and Kuwaiti television in September, counseled young Muslim men on how to treat their wives.

“Admonish them – once, twice, three times, four times, ten times,” he advised. “If this doesn’t help, refuse to share their beds.”

And if that doesn’t work?

“Beat them,” one of his three young advisees responded.   (wtf??)

“That’s right,” Al-’Arifi said.

He goes on to calmly explain to the young men that hitting their future wives in the face is a no-no. (well, thank goodness!)

“Beating in the face is forbidden, even when it comes to animals,” he explained. “Even if you want your camel or donkey to start walking, you are not allowed to beat it in the face. If this is true for animals, it is all the more true when it comes to humans. So beatings should be light and not in the face.” (seriously??!!)

His final words of wisdom?

“Woman, it has gone too far. I can’t bear it anymore,” he tells the men to tell their wives. “If he beats her, the beatings must be light and must not make her face ugly.

“He must beat her where it will not leave marks. He should not beat her on the hand… He should beat her in some places where it will not cause any damage. He should not beat her like he would beat an animal or a child – slapping them right and left.  (Ya, beat that child wayyyy more, please!)

“Unfortunately, many husbands beat their wives only when they get mad, and when they start beating, it as if they are punching a wall – they beat with their hands, right and left, and sometimes use their feet. Brother, it is a human being you are beating. This is forbidden. He must not do this.” (????????!!!!)

(Now you have it husbands, for the love of God, don’t beat us in the face, treat us with dignity and respect, beat us like you would a human, not an animal or child!!) 

First the fires. I mean, that was fun and all. Millions of people in San Diego and Los Angles were kept on their toes for days and days.

Oh, then there was that booming thunder we experienced two days ago as the kids, Hubby and I (really just Hubby) carved pumpkins. Poor eClaire shot from the garage into the house like a bullet. She screamed a guttural warrior cry I’ve never heard come out of something so young.

And then last night there was that silly old earthquake you sent our way. You know the one! So…. what?  You say… it was only a 5.6 on the richter scale?  Well, let me tell you, we felt every 5 and point 6 of it, living where we do.

My heart raced, Hubby scaled the couches, I broke the computer cord all in an attempt to get to the kids bedroom before the world came crashing down.

In hindsight we might have overreacted just a bit, because everything turned out to be fine.

But come on God, please give us a break for a week or so before you send the locust our way!

Love,

Smiling Mom