A man must be excessively stupid, as well as uncharitable, who believes there is no virtue but on his own side. – Joseph Addison
I am not an American citizen. That means that even if I was very interested in the election, wishing for Barack Obama to become the next president, I could not vote. I am grateful with the people of this country for choosing the new leader according to what they believe is best. What happens here affects me and my family. I live here, I work here, and I’m planning a future here. I am as concerned about this country as any other person who carries either a passport or a citizenship certificate, and I think Barack Obama is what this country needed after 8 years that, obviously, haven’t been the best.
Am I planning to become an American citizen? Absolutely. I moved to this country because this is where my husband is, and I want to be part of everything. I want to vote, I want my rights, I want to make part of any events that will make history like this past November 4th. And the prospect of becoming an American under Barack Obama’s rule is exciting. For legal immigrants, becoming citizens is a choice, not something that comes by default with a birth certificate. They CHOOSE to be citizens and act as such, making decisions about what they think is best for THEIR country.
Do I believe the U.S. is the best country in the world? Not really –I don’t think in absolutes. I’m Colombian, I’m Canadian, and I can see outside my comfort zone to grasp the concept that everything is relative when it comes to your country of origin and how you feel about it.
That being said, I’ve felt that many people believe that just because legal immigrants can’t vote when they’re permanent residents, we don’t have a voice. And I completely understand that point of view. But when it comes to immigrants who have chosen to become American citizens and have earned that right after working hard, I can’t understand why they have to be the targets of malicious comments by some people who can’t see outside their frame of mind when it comes to a political party.
It happened to my husband, and it made him very sad. It made ME very angry. To have his own friends question him because he voted for Obama, and ask him “Why the fuck didn’t you just stay in Colombia?” and “Don’t come into this beautiful house (USA) as an outsider and try to change it after you’ve clearly failed elsewhere.” — That is disrespectful, hurtful and insulting. My husband not only has not voted in Colombia because he hasn’t been there since he was 16, but also he didn’t come to this country to fix anything; he had to follow his parents when they decided to move. How soon some people forget about personal history.
The problem here is not what people feel after the election has passed. We all have the right to express our opinion. I understand how disappointed and frustrated McCain followers feel, but to bring your frustration to a personal level with someone who’s done nothing but love you and offer you unconditional friendship? That is plain wrong.
And it’s just an example of the ugly side of politics. People still don’t know how to separate beliefs from feelings, and I don’t think anyone ever will. But we have the ability to watch and measure our words. Just because someone is able to forgive, it doesn’t mean you can’t wound their hearts.
So stop the political discourse, remember that person who voted for the other candidate is first and foremost your friend, and start working together for better times.
There is no justification for that “friend’s” attitude.
This country would be a whole lot better off if we rounded up everyone with that sort of hateful attitude, shipped them OUT of the country and replaced them with people just like you and your husband.
It’s shit like that that makes me shy away from certain topics of discussion on the internet. Politics, religion and a few other topics cause some folks to be rather closed minded.
It’s not that they were necessarily bad people, or unwilling to hold a rational discussion, but that the inherent flaws in the ‘net as a means of discourse exaggerate the negate and minimize the positive.
I am truly sorry you and hubby are having so much drama right now.
No so much an ugly side of politics as simply an ugly side of human beings. Politics just makes it easier for that ugliness to be revealed. I’m sorry for what happened to your husband; but Bravo for him (and you) for deciding to stand up and be counted. Especially, when 50% of the people who can vote choose to do nothing.
Cheers!
That’s incredible. Clearly some people forget that the U.S. is populated with all kinds of people who originally came from somewhere else. Unless this “friend” is a Native American, at some point in time someone in his family left THEIR home to go to the U.S. to make a better life.
I’m so sorry to hear that you guys are targets of such close-minded comments. It’s sad how some people need to vent their disappointments.
I do hope the hate related to these elections will blow over soon.
It’s hard to say why some people say what they say. It is said that politics can bring the worst out of people. Their passions overwhelm consideration and good judgment to the extent of turing on old friends. I hope this is will be a situation where healing can occur between said parties and things can be forgiven. I know that these parties have proper support and this support will do the best possible to expedite the healing.
I was part of the discussion where I think those comments were made. I kept my answer civil. I think we can all learn something from political discussion. But in the end no matter how intense the conversation gets you have to remember your friend ship. I did end up calling John a heartless bastard, but that was about his gaming skills. I say go back to columbia too. But just for vacation. Bring me back one of those hamburgers you guys took a picture of. It looked pretty damn tasty.
Anyone who would say that to you is not a friend. Life is short. There are a lot of people who care & respect you.