Today I stopped into the Hallmark shop next to the play area at the mall. The girls were happily playing and Larry was overseeing their leaps, jumps and antics across the germ infested giant hat and light bulb. In I go to Hallmark looking for a cute decoration for Halloween and lo and behold, the Christmas decorations are out.
I strolled by the Department 56 display looking at the Christmas in the City section. Each year we have added a piece that somehow represented our year. For instance, in 2001, we purchased a policeman and police horse in honor of the first responders to 9/11. Last year, we bought the city hospital, since I had graduated from nursing school. I saw the corner coffee shop and then my eye was caught by the beautiful spiral of a minaret. Aha! the Russian Tea Room. It was gorgeous. Standing near by admiring it as well was a saleslady in her 60's. Before I knew it, out popped the words, " Gee, maybe we should buy this one this Christmas in honor of Sarah Palin since it is Russia she can see from her home! At first, she looked at me as if I was serious and then my sarcasm sinking in a few nanoseconds later, turned her smile to a frown. "My mother always said not to discuss religion or politics and that they would always get you into trouble!" I said that was a lesson I had yet to learn.
And so, reflecting on this today I wondered if our country is in the state it is in because of that line of thinking held by so many women. I remember my mother-in-law saying she never discussed who she voted for and that it was a very private issue. It seems that many people hold the opinion that what goes on in the voting booth is as sacred as what happens in the Catholic confessional. But if women really stood up for their beliefs and their values and their families and discussed religion AND politics, would things be the way they are? Would we be stuck in an un-winable war? Would their be so much greed on Wall St? Would only men still be priests and make all the decisions in our patriarchial church? If women sat down and more openly discussed issues would have sent our sons and daughters off to war? Would we allow children to go to bed hungry, scared and alone? Instead we are taught to be peacemakers, homemakers, mothers and to accept less in pay for our hard work. And sometimes, we are even asked not to make waves. We are asked to accept the status quo.
As for me, I have decided never to NOT discuss religion and politics, never to keep my mouth clamped shut when injustice is meted out and never to stop thinking about how things can change for the better.
I'm voting for Obama/Biden.
