There are multitudes of great reasons to vote against the
Romney/Ryan campaign today, such as equality for people regardless of their
sexual orientation, and the right for women to not have their bodies regulated
by the government. However, at the last second, the most minute,
inconsequential topic for most people has gotten my blood boiling, and that is
Ryan's derision of the comic book genre.
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/11/02/paul-ryan-and-his-anti-comic-book-gaffe/
A man who worships at the altar of Ayn Rand and
simultaneously speaks disparagingly of the medium that has given us amazing
works from such brilliant authors as Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, Alan Moore,
Brian K Vaughan, and Warren Ellis, is a man who I want as far away from running
this country as humanly possible. Ryan’s ignorance in regards to the small
issue of comic books is indicative of the backwards mentality of the Romney
campaign and their constituents. This “old-fashioned” way of thinking, that
presumes that comic books are sophomoric drivel devoid of content, created
solely for children, is similarly seen in the equally ridiculous mindsets that love
should only be celebrated and acknowledged when it is between a man and a
woman, and that women cannot become pregnant if they are “legitimately raped.”
Again, there are far greater issues at play than comic books
that should dissuade you from electing this nefarious duo to power, and
although the Obama campaign is not the figurative knight in shining armor our
country so desperately wanted them to be; they are still, at least, the lesser
of two evils. This brings up an even greater concern: the unfortunate truth
that our great nation has become reduced to this endless tug of war within a two
party system, a castration of true democracy; when we originally aspired to
much loftier ideals. People’s allegiance to their political parties today is more
akin to rooting for their favorite football team than it is making an
intelligent decision based on the facts and issues at hand. The ongoing
political war has long ceased to be about what is best for the American people,
and has instead devolved into childish bickering between two sides that move closer
towards opposing polarities of extremism, while denouncing their opponent for
mirroring their descent into madness.
If we are to learn anything from this election season, it’s
that we need a change. Not the touchy-feely hopeful theoretical change that
Obama tried to promise us 4 years ago, but real lasting change; the kind that
can’t come from a President with a lame-duck Congress, but instead has to come
from the people themselves. It’s not enough that we stop Romney from taking
power. The prevention of his election will not guarantee us a prosperous future.
In fact, I see Obama, if re-elected, only doing a marginally better job than he
has these past 4 years, which is not saying much. Our fight for the future
begins at the polls today, but continues and endures as long as our country
does. Robert Browning once said that “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp.” I
believe that mirrors and compliments the sentiment set forth in the Preamble of
our Constitution, that as a nation, we must strive “To form a more perfect
union.” Which is to say, we must always continue to grow as a nation and as a
peoples, both intellectually and in our deeds. We must set lofty, seemingly
unattainable goals for ourselves, then work hard to see what was once thought
of as impossible becoming not only a reality, but something which we look back
on.
Thomas Jefferson once wrote “Every generation needs a new Revolution.” And I think the time has come for this generation to declare theirs. It has become clear that our country has become too dependent upon it’s government, and in turn the government has failed us. Jefferson also said “We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” It is from this mentality that we must fight. For too long our people have sat idly by and allowed our country to be run by corporations and organizations that do not represent our wants and needs; and when this displeased us, we sat and drank and cried like infants in our “Occupation” movements to no avail. Our sedentary inaction is what has brought us to where we are now as a nation. We allowed this sickness to flourish, and Activism is our only remedy.
Thomas Jefferson once wrote “Every generation needs a new Revolution.” And I think the time has come for this generation to declare theirs. It has become clear that our country has become too dependent upon it’s government, and in turn the government has failed us. Jefferson also said “We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” It is from this mentality that we must fight. For too long our people have sat idly by and allowed our country to be run by corporations and organizations that do not represent our wants and needs; and when this displeased us, we sat and drank and cried like infants in our “Occupation” movements to no avail. Our sedentary inaction is what has brought us to where we are now as a nation. We allowed this sickness to flourish, and Activism is our only remedy.
If, and hopefully when you go to the polls today, remember
first that you are not only picking a president. The propositions that are in
play at the polls will have a direct impact on your life, and are equally, if
not more important than whether you choose the red or the blue rabbit hole to
jump down for the next four years. Second, realize that voting today does not
give you amnesty to not get involved until the next presidential election. If
anything, your decisions today should motivate you to demand the results you
were promised. Lastly, do not forget “People should not be afraid of their
governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.”
-
Christopher S. Holden
