Let me start with these facts: I am a woman. I am gay. I served honorably in the United States Army for 8 years. For these three reasons I cannot, in good conscience, vote for any republican candidate, and most certainly not for the current republican nominee for president.
I don’t even think there’s much more to say. But if you were to ask why, I might just tell you.
For instance, I might tell you that, as a woman, I am appalled that the right is trying to take away a woman’s reproductive rights and healthcare choices by attempting to establish a nationwide ban on abortion, stop IVF treatments (because, in their infinite wisdom, a fertilized egg has “personhood” status), and restrict birth control contraceptives (because, they too, can inhibit a fertilized egg [now a person] from attaching, thereby “killing” the egg). Or there’s the fact that they want to do away with no-fault divorce which will impact women at a much higher rate than men. Or the fact that they believe domestic abusers have a legal right to own guns. Or I might tell you I’m appalled at a man who would say grabbing a woman by the you-know-what is fair game, especially if you’re famous. He was also, I might remind you, found guilty of sexual assault and defamation for attacking a woman.
I might tell you that as a gay woman, I am appalled that the right is intent on allowing discrimination against gay and transgendered people simply because we exist, not because we are a threat. We are simply a target of their anger. The right, in several states, has struck down protections and equal rights for gay people – in other words, sanctioned discrimination. Like homosexuals and transgender human beings are not worthy of the same protections and rights as heterosexuals. It’s a slippery slope which threatens individuals, their families, and their friends and allies.
I might tell you that as a veteran, I am appalled at the republican nominee’s attacks on military service members. He has stated things like “I like people who weren’t captured,” referring to John McCain’s stint as a POW. Or how about, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers,” in reference to refusing to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in 2018 – a cemetery where American soldiers are buried. He also asked that wounded veterans not be included in military parades. He asked his former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Milley, who had the audacity to choose a wounder warrior, Army Captain Luis Avila to sing at an Armed Forces event, “Why do you bring people like that here? No one wants to see that, the wounded.” All this from a man who avoided serving during the Vietnam war because he claimed he had a bone spur and because he was in college.
And while I am appalled at these few instances, there are so many more which would fill pages. The threat to immigrants, the threat to healthcare, the threat to social security for the elderly, the threat to education standards, being dismissive of the sciences which validate the ongoing threat climate change will have on us and our environment, the threat of moving away from our global relationships, etc. This is not a man, or a party, which deserves my respect or my vote. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
But I am also appalled that someone attempted to shoot him recently, killing one person and wounded two others. No one – yet – knows why this young, white male fired at him. The suspect apparently was a registered republican but donated a few dollars to the democrats. Not much to glean from that. Maybe he just hated him. Maybe, like Hinckley, who tried to assassinate Reagan, he was trying to impress someone. Maybe he was just bored. Maybe he was suffering from mental illness. Doesn’t really matter because it’s wrong regardless of reason. Having said that, however, the republicans need to take some ownership here. As does their nominee. They have been promoting violence since 2015 – encouraging their constituents to fight for what belongs to them. “Knock the crap out of them. I’ll pay your legal fees!” Fight for their country. The right has suggested there will be a bloodbath. A civil war. (Well, only if they lose the election I guess.) “Fight, fight, fight!” is the new mantra on the right. And they laughed – laughed! – when Nancy Pelosi’s husband was almost killed by a deranged individual wielding a hammer. But, hey, let’s make sure guns are readily available to everyone. Even military-style assault weapons. Nothing is off limits when it comes to their 2nd Amendment rights. The heck with anyone else’s right to live without fear.
Here’s the thing – and it applies to all of us – you reap what you sow. And I’ll use the words of Yoda from Star Wars to explain: “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” And I’ll take this one step further: suffering leads to violence. Or, in other words, anger begets anger. Hate begets hate. Violence begets violence. If you preach violence as a way of achieving an objective, expect that it will come back around to you at some point. Republicans, mostly white males, now incorporating “Christian nationalism” into their party platform, feel threatened by women, the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, and immigrants. They fear they are becoming a minority – which, in all honestly, they are. But their fear won’t change that fact and, in truth, has only led to a polarized and fractured country. They have created an “Us vs. Them” mentality. They mean to divide and conquer out of their fear and hatred by resorting to violence. And it appears that message of violence came home to roost.
I’ll agree that not all democrats are pure, but I don’t hear them espousing that same violent rhetoric that led to an insurrection on January 6th, 2021. I don’t see democrats wearing assault-rifle pins on their lapels or posing for family photos where everyone, including toddlers, holds a weapon.
My superpower is the same as yours: voting. I take voting seriously as I have a lot at stake here: my rights as a gay, female veteran. I have a moral compass I follow. I vote with empathy and integrity. I vote for humanity. I vote for democracy.
Do some soul searching of your own. Take stock of your personal moral values and ethical standards. Think about the type of country you would like to live in. One that includes all inhabitants of the United States? Or one that excludes a good portion of people around the country? One that believes in law and order? Or one that gives it lip service while anointing their standard bearer King, immune from any prosecution? One that moves this country forward with new ideas and support for the people? Or one that’s fixated on perceived past wrongs, looking for vengeance and retribution? One that respects you and your right to be who you are? One that allows you to make your own decisions about how you live, who you love, your religious choices, your healthcare choices? Openly and without fear? Or the one that will dictate what life choices are acceptable and which are not?
I believe the choice is clear.
~jwb~
