Political Breakdown: Results

So General Elections are over, and I'm very disappointed.

Due to the hypocritical and paradoxical nature of the voter-result turn out, the joy from Obama's election was fleeting. For being such a blue state, California surely turned out to be the opposite of that. Surprising this is not. California voter's originally voted for the ban on same-sex marriage, what makes me think they would do any differently now?

I filled out the survey from my previous blog-entry for California as a whole.

Prop 1A:Yes.
Prop 2:Yes.
Prop 3:Yes.
Prop 4:No.
Prop 5:No.
Prop 6:No.
Prop 7:No.
Prop 8:Yes.
Prop 9:Yes.
Prop 10:No.
Prop 11:Yes.
Prop 12:Yes.


I could careless about the rest of the propositions(with exception of 2, 3, & 4) if Prop 8 didn't pass. I feel that the whole day was overshadowed by voter ignorance. A very sad day indeed.

I'll keep you posted.

Political Breakdown: A Story

Election day was a very interesting one. I cried a lot that day, out of joy and out of despair, yet I cried.

I awoke on November 4th, 2008 with very high hopes of seeing change and equality grace these old eyes. I am an optimistic person, more so than I should be.
I attend school in Santa Ana, a very blue, yet red in some ways, district. As I was driving, I noticed on the median barrier in the middle of the street, dozens(possibly hundreds) of "Yes on 8" signs, all up and down 17th street, stabbed in the grass. I was disgusted, but mostly disappointed that I didn't have my "No on 8" sign in my car to hold it out my window as I cruised along.
I wished that I had the ability to stretch my limbs to great lengths, so that I may have a chance at seizing these signs and doing away with them. God knows I tried. Failed attempt however, I cut myself on an outlying branch from a tree as I was driving past.

Gloomy I was, until I saw a glimmer of hope. A ray of sunlight to my cloudy moment. A girl, no younger than I, was trekking her way down the median barrier in the opposite direction, collecting the horrid-yellow-death signs that littered the streets of Santa Ana, crumpling them as she went along. I immediately reached for my camera so I can document this beauty at work, but couldn't find it in time. Instead, I rolled down my window(yes, it's like churning butter) and hollered words of praise and support as I moseyed on by at 15 miles an hour on a 40 mile an hour speed zone. A scream and a smile was returned. I was brought to tears.

(Mom, Sister, Me) Wedding Day

As I made known before, this election was the first my mom has voted in. Upon submitting her ballot, she CC'd me a heartfelt email she had sent to my two beloved aunts. Refer below:

Subject: Voting

Dear Connie and Michelle:

I just wanted to tell you that I voted today for the very first time. I was by myself (actually, there were many people with me, I just didn't know them.). It was an emotional experience for me because I felt very responsible for my decisions and how they could and will impact people's lives one way or another. I was thankful that I had a voice and a choice when not that long ago, I would not be allowed to stand where I was today. You will be happy to know, and I feel very honored to tell you that I did vote NO on 8. This is not a religious issue for me. We all have a choice and we all have free will. Do I believe that the government should have the power to make such life changing decisions for me? No, I don't believe so. Everybody deserves to be treated with equality, dignity and respect regardless of one's religious beliefs etc., etc. We need more love in this world and less hate. I think voting yes only promotes more intolerance and hatred. I did my part. I hope that my vote made a difference today.

I love you,

Sandra


(Me, Michelle, Aunt Connie) I was ring-bearer :]

I was also brought to tears by my mom's display of love and endearment. I am so proud of my mom to have voted with such responsibility and for standing by what she believes in despite what others(mainly conservative religious family members) may say.

To keep the day festive, I congratulate Barak Obama. I thank you for giving me

hope for the future.

I thank you for promising change.
I thank you for having the courage to follow through until the very end.
You winning the elect, truly reinforces in my mind, that anything is possible. But above all, I thank you for not sending me to war.. =P

My aunt emailed me on November 1st, inviting me to a "No on 8" celebration on November 15th, if the prop didn't pass. I am saddened that this celebration will never take place.

(Aunt Connie and Michelle)

Today, is truly a sad, but glorious day.

I'll keep you posted,
BJ