From My Heart to Yours

I am ashamed. I am embarrassed. I am scared.

No, not because Obama  was elected President, but because of people's reactions to this outcome. I went into this whole thing thinking that I wasn't going to react, write a post, or be involved in any banter. I am still trying my very best to do that. However, I feel the desire to pour out what is in my heart right now. It is your choice to read this or not. This post is for me.

 There is negativity on both sides but I will be really honest right now about why I cast the vote that I did. 

I fully respect your right to believe what you believe, to pray to who you pray to, to pray for what you pray for. I wish that you felt the same. My hopes and dreams for this country is that we can be a shining example for unity in diversity. That we can create laws that protect people and embrace people's rights as humans. That you will be free to follow your own morals and guidance and I can follow mine. This is what makes America what it is. If we can embrace our differences, learn to respect each other and work together, we will have the opportunity to build such great strength.

I cast the vote that I did because I don't believe in going backwards. I don't believe that anything in the Constitution should be added or changed to take things away from people. I don't believe this would be what our founders had in mind. 

Some scream "Jesus" while simultaneously screaming words of selfishness, hate, stereotypes and falsehoods. Please ask yourself if this is really what Jesus would have done. You don't believe in abortions or easy access to contraception but you also don't want to contribute to helping people raise kids they can't afford. You want people to pass a drug test to get welfare and foodstamps. Who feeds those kids? You want to restrict people's rights based on who they choose to love...what makes this different than restricting rights based on the color of someone's skin or the sexual organs in their bodies? 

I want to live in a country where you are free to practice your religion, teach your children what you believe and practice what you preach. I want to be able to do the same. I want to live my life the way I believe that Jesus, Gandhi, Mother Teresa and St. Francis as well as many others have and will. I want my children to grow up with respect for people who feel differently than them, who never feel the fear and sadness of persecution, who will give their shirt off their back instead of clinging to their own wallets, who will love beyond the boundaries of race, gender, religion and sexual preference.

I believe in hope, kindness, perseverance, equality, and strength in diversity. The hope of our country lies not with the president. It lies here on the streets among us and how we treat each other.

I am a  daughter, friend, girlfriend, teacher, reader, thinker, student and dreamer. I am a Christian. I am an American. I am a Texan. Most of all, I am a human.