ashinae | (no subject)

I can't help but feel shocked and dismayed. There's nothing for it, really. There's the desire to grab Kerry and scream, "Johnny, NO!" But what can I do? I'm not even an American and I'm sure there are people who would read this and demand "How dare you?" How dare I care what happens in another country? How dare I care who controls the most powerful country in the world? How dare I care about what happens to the country just south of the largest undefended border in the world? How dare I?

I think, though, the thing that scares me the most is the fact that eleven states voted to say that a certain group of people have less rights than others, just because of who they love. In eleven states, gay people who commit their lives to each other do not have the same basic rights as heterosexual people who do the same. Forget the bloody tax breaks that come with marriage -- what about the basic right to be able to see your loved one in the hospital? What about having their belongings taken away by a family who may have disowned them, or, worse, having that property auctioned off by the state?

Five months ago I was terrified. What if Harper won here, and Bush won down there? What would that mean for North America and for the world? I'm still scared. The Liberals here do not have a majority government. I don't know what all of this means. I don't understand what's going on in the world. Martin has a minority government. Bush there. Howard in Australia. Conservatives everywhere. I'm still terrified of the remnants of That Party that Stockwell Day created.

I know that some people I've read in the past few hours feel hopeless and helpless and scared. Your voices still matter. Every minority voice, every woman's voice, every not-straight-not-white-not-male-not-rich-not-fundie!Christian voice counts. We count. Every last one of us. We cannot sit still. We have to fight to make North America the kind of place we want it to be.

Don't look at me like that, and say I have no right to say anything just because I'm a Canadian. No matter how grim things looked here in June, no matter what my parents were saying and who they were voting for, I didn't give up hope. And there is still work to be done here. Just like there is work to be done across the border -- no matter how much you may want to give up now, you can't. Do not give in. Do not give in to them. Go check out the links that

elke_tanzer has been posting, and do something pro-active. Start now. You've been given something you don't want -- now make something of it. We can all shape the future.

Never, ever give up. Your voice matters -- they all matter. Don't let something like this discourage you. The voting process is very different in the two countries, but there is no way in hell that I am ever going to give up just because Stronach is "my" Member of Parliament for the next four years. Like hell.

And for everyone who's expressed their grief by feeling powerless, who thinks they don't matter -- repeat after me: "Like hell." You do matter. Don't ever, ever stop fighting for what you want.

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Thanks for this. It's hard to think that I can do anything, but you're right - we can, and we must.

Oh, you're welcome. I'm actually a little surprised at the responses this post received.

I knew there was a reason I liked you. (beside the fact that you write awesome fics! ;P) I needed this, really. It is so dificult to keep going, but we must! lol So that will be my new mantra. "Like hell!" ....I want a shirt.

and Dude! It's awesome that you realize the importance of this election. It makes me wonder about my own country though. How can foreigners understand the importance, but our own people don't? Something like 60% of eligible people voted in this election. And that's a good number! That shouldn't be good! We should have at least 80% voting. *sigh* So what I'm saying is, if more Americans cared about their own country the way you care about it, maybe we wouldn't have to deal with 'four more years'. (I hope you're not offended by the word 'foreigner'. Also I realize you do have a stake in who is running America b/c as you said, Canada and America share one of (if not the) longest 'undefended' borders in the world.)And don't even get me started on the same sex marriage amendments. I live in one of those eleven states...*curses Michigan*

I still sort of feel funny saying anything about it, since I'm not American -- and obviously the vast majority of Americans didn't care that the rest of the world thought they'd be making a mistake to continue down the same road. Hopefully the next four years can see more than that 17% of young people who went out to vote, actually becoming active and participating in making your country a better place!

Thanks for this. Good post, and you said all the things I would have liked to be able to say.

Martin has a minority government.
Well, there is one good thing about that. Minority gov'ts either tank quickly or manage to hang on for the long haul, and some of our greatest (liberal) reforms have come during minority gov't, because the parties have to compromise instead of following a set-in agenda. As for our friends down the other side of the 49th? I wish I had something to say that'd help. *sigh*

Aw, thanks. :) And I'll keep reminding myself about your words about minority governments. *crosses fingers*

RIGHT ON! >_

Thanks for this - as a fellow Canadian, I've been trying to put into words why I take this election so personally and why I feel like I am in deep mourning today. I'm terrified of what the puppetmasters will do to this planet over the next four years. I'm terrified for every woman who may be denied her right to choose, I'm terrified that the rights of anyone who doesn't conform to GWB's definition of an "American" (white, rich, dumb as a post) will be further erroded, I'm terrified of what this means for the Arctic, its inhabitants, wildlife and environment. The next four years may teach the American people the true meaning of the 2nd Amendment (without the need to actually BEAR arms) and understand what it means to have to stand up to an oppressive federal govt.

Yeah, it's all really scary. It's quite terrifying to think of any of it spilling over here, and my heart goes out to all those people who have to suffer down there. It seems like there are millions of Americans who don't care for the suffering of their fellow countrymen -- so I think the rest of the world has to pick up that slack, and extend our sympathies to those who aren't supporting Bush and his policies, and are being hurt by having the government continue on its current road.

:D Work can still so be done to make, well, everything better.

well said! *applauds*

came in via

caras_galadhon's post, i might make a link to your post as well, if that's all right with you.

Thank you! And sorry for not responding to the comment sooner, I'm kind of not paying a whole lot of attention to my journal right now outside of posting puppy pictures. I guess the ok for the link would be a little out of date now, but if for whatever reason you feel like you'd still like to, go ahead. *G*

What if Harper won here, and Bush won down there?
*shudders* I try not to think about that anymore. ;-)

Which is undoubtedly for the best! *shudder*

I too snuck in via

caras_galadhon and I'm so glad I did.
As an American I can say I think your comments are wonderful, and just something I needed to hear. I spent all day pleading for aomeone to make me feel better. You did. And I don't even know ya.
You're good people.
Thank You.

I'm good people? Awesome. :)

I'm glad I could make you feel better -- particularly because you're not offended that a Canadian might have something to say on the matter!

Don't ever, ever stop fighting for what you want.

You know, you were the one who gave me my code for LJ...I'm so proud it was you :)

Aww, thanks! Good to know somebody might want me around. *G*