Top Three Thursday – Un-American?

I voted today! Huzzah! Fourth in line and everything. It took me longer to get to work than it did to vote. As I stood in line to finally cast my ballot and finally get to “check-out” from all the AWFUL campaigning going on, it occurred to me, I didn’t feel very “American” today. I didn’t feel like drinking a beer and eating bbq afterward (which honestly is a GREAT voting day tradition). Which brings me to this week’s T3: TOP THREE MOST UN-AMERICAN THINGS I’VE SEEN THIS WEEK!

3) “But I am an American.”

Guys, really? Two sides to this one: 1) Having to explain to the cream of the ignorant that being born in the United States makes one an American, regardless of heritage is fact. 2) More to the T3, If you grew up here, it is YOUR home, regardless of heritage or birth. So we can talk about the DREAM Act, there are many who literally know no other way of life than that of the United States, aside from a piece of paper you can legally retrieve later in life, that makes you literally none other than American. Are you ready for this inappropriate and yet perfect analogy? When you go to a reserve and see “bred in captivity,” there is an academic and ethical understanding that you do NOT release them back into the place of alleged origin. It is dangerous and ethically irresponsible. You cannot take people who know no other life than that of the United States and “send ‘em back” to wherever it is you think it is they belong. It is ethically and logically wrong. It’s like rounding up all the adopted children and saying, “Nope, sorry, you have to go back to your original parents, even if they aren’t there anymore and you literally have nothing to return to. Not our problem.” Well guess what the good news is? Just like there are a billion loving, supportive, nurturing adoptive parents there are a billion “Americans” who possess the empathy, love and dignity to respect those who have made their home here and are willing to share what no one can truly possess; a sense of belonging. I’m also curious, what these horribly nationalistic excuses for patriots think of people like Tina Turner who legally and voluntarily relinquished American citizenship. Is she still American to you?

2) “It didn’t change your answer.”

I’ve already seen two pop up articles of the same story in Texas: “My vote changed!” Sorry to burst your bubble, but having voted today I actually tried to click two boxes and couldn’t. It urged me to “uncheck my previous selection first,” OR, like it stated in the directions (yes I read them all because I wanted to be a teacher about this) if you check TWO boxes, unless you go back and un-check one, you ballot will be cast for BOTH, which seems silly that this is even an option, but here we are. It’s not “rigged” you just need to RTFM!

Also, the little wheel thing is ridiculous. It’s 2016. Most cell phones retail for more than these voting machines probably cost. Then again, no one seems to be breaking into cars and stealing these voting machines either, so I guess there’s some appeal to keeping them stuck in 90’s tech.

1) “I’m voting early in case there are riots or violence on election day, I don’t want to be there as the numbers come in.”

This is quite possibly the most Un-American thing I could think of right now. Yes, voting early is convenient but the thought actually crossed my mind and I’ve heard it from the mouths of others too! “I don’t want to be there on Election day when the numbers start rolling in.” Not only that but people being called to police and intimidate voters, REALLY?! A trio up in Kansas was already arrested for threats to Muslims and Somalis. Trump has called for people to “monitor the polls,” for what exactly? What can your eyes possibly see that isn’t my protected right, namely, who I am voting for? Trump supporters held up Clinton “target practice” posters at a rally in Florida Monday, with a bulls-eye framing her face. This is not a drill.

This is also the first time in our life time that a nominee has tried to undermine the election process BEFORE the actual election.

No Donald, no one knows what you’re talking about. Please explain so you can sound like the actual racist bigot that you are. Or this lovely tidbit from one of his ballot casting hopefuls,

“I’m a patriot and if it comes to it,

I’ll grab my weapons and defend

my flag.”

Really? Your flag? First of all, I can’t. I’ve just had it with this awful hateful rhetoric and nationalistic malarkey (thanks Biden) that makes me feel unsafe on what should be a national holiday celebrating the true practice of freedom and democracy.