It’s really fucking insulting for me to say to any gay American that they should wait for the old bigots to die off, for their opinions to cease counting in such numbers, for their reasoning to be proven faulty (though you can’t reason the prejudice out of someone, ‘cause it wasn’t reasoned in there in the first place) once and for all. But it seems that the only option right now is to wait and try again.

I still believe in Christopher Reeve’s definition of Family Values from the 1996 DNC: “I think it means that we’re all family. And that we all have value.”

The Joy:

I’ve never seen the whole country celebrate at once. I’ve never witnessed a national celebration - even though 46% of the country’s voters were not celebrating, (and were in fact booing, a decision I find so repulsive) there was a national party. It doesn’t even happen on New Year’s - we divide the party up across four time zones. But last night, there was cheering and dancing in every part of America. In the streets.

I’ve seen a majority of the United States when it’s been sad. I’ve seen the entire country sad and hurt. I’ve never seen the majority of the United States of America so happy. I’ve never seen a national party that big, that joyous, and that amazing.

Wow. I am so honored to have witnessed it. President Obama has a hard road a head to say the least, but I hope that he can keep the inspiration and enthusiasm of the people who volunteered for him and channel it in to public service of other kinds. I’m embarrassed to say that our finances didn’t permit contributions this year beyond a very little, and I’m equally embarrassed to say that my two jobs didn’t allow me time to volunteer. But even from my position of relative inertia in the midst of supreme busyness, I am inspired to do something, and do something soon. Now, even.

One last good before I move on to the bad: Prop 11 in South Dakota, the most restrictive ballot initiative designed solely to challenge Roe v. Wade by virtually eliminating access to an abortion for any woman - in a state where getting one is already impossible: FAILED.

It’s like New Year’s Eve. People across the country in all time zones are cheering at the same time. We are all at one party.

Happy New Year, y’all. Happy New Year. 

Go vote. Stand in line and make friends. Ignore everyone’s bad breath. Vote vote vote.

Voter turnout is sexy.

As Hubby and I left The Mall of Hell on Long Island, walking through JC Penneys, I saw a mom grab her son (I think) probably about 4 or 5, and snap at him for misbehaving, and then hit him. And I mean hit. Like a punch to his side. I heard it echo through his body cavity. It was horrible. It makes me sick inside and I cry when I think about it. And there were, like, four or five adults with her, all condoning what she did. All I can think about is this little kid who was acting like a kid and now his (or her) ribs probably ache from that punch.

I’ve never wanted to kill someone with a clothes hangar so much in my life. And I don’t know what I could have done differently.

That morning I saw an advertisement for CASA that talked about the number of children pulled from homes in Essex County, New Jersey. That’s where I live - same county as the city of Newark. The statistics were horrible and sickening. One caseworker might have 100 files to keep track of for DYFS. Outrageous.

Now I’m wondering if I should have said something to someone, or reported her… to who? The police? “I saw a woman punch her toddler in the JC Penneys and maybe you can get her on security cameras but I couldn’t see her face or her child’s face because they were all bundled up in winter coats with hoods?” Fat lot of good that’ll do.

I’m angry and useless, and don’t know what to do. 

Volunteer: I’m calling to ask you to vote for Barack Obama on Tuesday and to vote the Democratic ticket in New Jersey.

Morag:: I already voted! I’m a permanent absentee, and I voted for Obama, and everyone on the ticket from the Democratic party.

Volunteer: That’s GREAT! Hey! She already voted! For Obama!

Background: *cheers*

Volunteer: Thank you!

Morag:: NO, thank you for volunteering! Good luck with your next call, and I mean that!

Order online and pick up later? I totally have a crush on a grocery store.