Treatise on American Politics

There has been a lot going on in the USA and I need to get my feelings out. Hopefully I will remain as eloquent as the title.

Oh, where do I start?

Now I know I am a bit behind due to my hiatus but I will go back chronologically. First of all the shooting in Aurora, Co. and the subsequent shootings that followed in Wisconsin and Texas. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Of course following these tragedies there was a cry for gun control and then those who opposed gun control cried out for their constitutional rights. Now, I am not a scholar on constitutional law but I think I have a fairly well reasoned understanding and what I don't understand is how the following "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." has been interpreted and accepted to mean anyone can have a gun. Now I'm going to have to bring out my nerd and my history books because I am simply too irate not to. The U.S. Constitution was written during a time of war where the future was uncertain and therefore a militia was necessary to keep. This would prove all to true as the War of 1812 came soon on the heels of the American War of Independence and the U.S. began expanding across the North American continent. Now it is 2012 the US has the strongest military, including a National Guard (which in a sense is a militia) ergo no one really needs to have a gun. That being said you are allowed to have guns, so lock 'em up, keep the safety on. Personally I think you should only be allowed to have a personal gun or rifle if you live in an area where there are bears or you have a lot of cattle. That's my inner New Mexican coming out. Also simply because you have the right to bear arms does not mean you have the right to kill people. Or bears. Really I think that as a society we need to look at all the violence that is happening and there needs to be a discourse to come up with an actual solution.

Now, unfortunately, this mis-intrepretation of the second amendment has spread to the first amendment which states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Yes, you have the freedom to practice your religion, and yes you also have freedom of speech but that does not mean you can enforce your own moral beliefs because of your freedom to practice and preach. The Chick fil A situation was a bit terrifying to watch from overseas. Especially when you have to explain that yes, people are up in arms over a fast-food chicken chain because the chicken eating people do not support gay marriage but they think that their first amendment right allows them to discriminate against others. I was especially saddened when I saw a photo of African American Chick fil A supporters languishing in their anti-gay marriage stance when the Civil Rights movement was only fifty years ago.  As a nation we have come so far and yet we have so much further to go. Marriage is a right that should be granted regardless of sexual orientation, race or religious belief. 

Further, religious beliefs should not influence law. I think that really is what Jefferson meant by "separation of Church and State". If you're morally against birth control or abortion than that is your belief but do not make a law that will affect millions of women because of your beliefs. As a woman it is very frightening to think that a government could have more control over my own body than myself. There is certainly nothing constitutional or moral about that.

This brings me to my last point and that is that Barack Obama has to win this election. There is way too much to lose. I have been thinking about this a lot and some may wonder what I, a twenty-four-year old, knows about anything? Well I know that in my twenty four years of life there has been four Presidents; Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr., and Obama. That's two Republicans and two Democrats. Of those presidencies I was only eligible to vote for the last and I voted for Obama. So perhaps some of my fears are simply because this is the first time I may lose the President I voted for. Except that growing up I was still aware and affected by the actions of my government regardless of whether or not I could vote, which has I think made me all the more an active citizen. The problem is that we are not all always active citizens (myself included) and we sometimes become apathetic and jaded. We haven't been given all that was promised but I think that Romney is going to do a lot worse. I am scared that after election day I may wake up to a potential world where health care will come at a cost, may not cover me under my parents' plan till I am twenty-six, or may be completely denied due to my own pre-existing conditions. I am afraid that I will lose the right to control what happens to my own body; that women will be made vulnerable to laws re-defining rape. I am afraid that my LGBT friends will not be able to know the happiness of marriage or be able to be with and take care of their loved ones in hospitals. I am afraid that the Romney tax plan is only going to benefit the very wealthy and the rest if us will be left struggling. I am afraid for the future of my generation and those to come if we cannot get past the hatred, hypocrisy and bigotry that seems to be more prominent than ever. If you share these fears than please take whatever action you can. In the very least vote. Talk to other people, write your own blog or share this one if you want, donate your time or some money to Obama's campaign. I feel anxiety every time I get an email from the campaign front but I think I will feel better knowing that I am trying to spread the word, that I care about my country and the outcome of its politics-and that hopefully others do to.

Good night, and good luck.