Seriously? Can't we all just get along?

You all may be shocked to know that it is an election year. Really, it is. (Yeah, I'm using a bit of sarcasm to make a point.) Anyways, this is an election year, but it is a momentous one for me, because it's the first time my daughter is old enough to really understand politics and what's going on. It's been quite eye-opening for me, to see the political system through the eyes of an eight year old. But it's also been equally disheartening to me to see that even an eight year old is not above (or below!) the backstabbing, trash talking, argumentative state of our politicians.

Riley's take on the election? Let's review. A few months ago, when we were discussing the candidates, she said that she was thinking Obama should be president, because McCain seemed so old and that she was worried he'd get tired. So thoughtful, my daughter. But, also pretty perceptive. My 36 year old memory is fading fast. Too much goes in, nothing goes out, and I end up with a hodgepodge of information, and remembering that Vanna White's hometown is Myrtle Beach, but forgetting that I'm supposed to play bells in church on Sunday. (Son of a bitch, that used to be my sister's home number-I'll pay a million dollars to anyone who catches that reference.) So, how well is McCain's memory holding up? I know he's not 90 or anything, but think about you grandparents. Are they really capable of remembering and processing information vital to our country's safety? My grandmother can't even half hear what's being said much of the time.

So, time went by, and Riley came home with this next nugget. She came home from school very upset one day, and said she'd changed her mind, and that we needed to vote for McCain. Why? Because someone at school told her that if Obama were elected, someone would try to kill him.

Then, yet another switch. Obama is a terrorist, or at least that's what someone at school told her. Of course, she didn't know what a terrorist was, and when I explained it, she was pretty confused about why we would let a terrorist run for president.

So now, after viewing the VP debate, she like McCain/Palin, because she thinks it's about time a woman were president. And I agree with her. I'm not quite convinced that Sarah Palin is that woman, but I applaud her effort and enthusiasm. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to be vice president AND a mother to an infant.

So, this isn't really an article telling you to vote either way, it's not to sway you to one side or the other. My point, if I even have one, is this. One of these people is going to be the next leader of our country. We may be overjoyed about the choice, or we may be devastated. But, if anything is ever to really change, we need to get behind our leaders and stop the stupid trash talking, bickering, and most especially those annoying e-mails slamming one or the other. My inbox is exhausted.