So, last night, I caught the end of the State of the Union Address, and I didn't want to "taint" last night's post with my thoughts, simply because I feel that Chris Kyle deserved his own post...he deserved that kind of recognition because he was, and is, a true American hero.
It should be said, now, before anyone gets all pissy, that I have always voted Republican. It is not to say that I wouldn't vote for a Democrat if I felt he/she was a better candidate for the job, but I have not been of voting age to vote for a Democrat that I felt was a better candidate for the job...if that tells you anything.
To be fair, I didn't watch the entire thing. I don't know if you know this about me, but I do have children, and to be able to watch anything without interruption only occurs when they're asleep or gone for the weekend. Read: It does NOT happen during prime time television hours. I turned it on right around the time that Obama started talking about gun control. Besides, spending and budget cuts are all pretty much a foreign language to me. All I know is Obama's genius plan ended up cutting my grant money for school, and I'm pretty sure we'll be in ridiculous amounts of debt until the end of the world...I just haven't checked in with the Mayans to see when the new "end date" is.
I knew, from watching the news and reading articles, that there were supposed to be several special guests at the State of the Union Address last night, specifically those who were victims of gun violence. It had been reported that a child from Newtown was supposed to be attending with her mother, but that they wouldn't be in the chamber for the address, and, instead, would watch it from an alternate location. To me, that kind of negates the whole point of being there, but at the same time, having a younger child sit through a State of the Union Address? I'm a grown-up, and I can't deal with watching the whole thing... I knew that the Pendleton's would be there; their daughter died a week or so after singing at the President's second inauguration, and there they were, front and center next to Michelle Obama.
Here's where I got a little annoyed, and maybe it was just me and my emotions, but I know it wasn't. Obama started talking about gun control, and he briefly mentioned Newtown, Connecticut. THEN, he started talking about the Pendleton family, and went into detail after detail...including how the girl was shot in a park near his home in Chicago. He briefly mentioned Gabby Giffords, and several cities throughout the nation that have had large numbers of victims due gun violence. Never did he even mention Chris Kyle. Not one word. He didn't mention that the man who saved countless others with his sharpshooting skills was killed in a heinous act of gun violence at a shooting range where he was trying to help someone. He didn't mention that the man, who was a hero, father, husband, son, friend, brother, soldier, and probably a dozen other things, was buried that day. On the same day as the State of the Union.
He just kept repeating, "They deserve a vote." sounding like a damn myna bird. It really pissed me off...not just because he didn't mention Chris Kyle, but because he only mentioned the Pendleton family by name, and gave details...about the Pendleton family. For this "great" leader who constantly claims the race card (I find it to despicable when people play the race card) is being played against him to ONLY mention an African American victim by name, while the cameras were trained on her parents and Michelle Obama (smiling away), is the true definition of a hypocrite. I'm pretty sure there's a whole "rainbow" of victims out there; (I'd like to think, ideally speaking) gone are the times where only one certain race, creed, or religion is targeted...gone are the days of racial profiling...or at least, I'd like to think so. Gunmen simply don't seem to care what color their victims are or what gender or religion...It's all about the body count.
If it were only that, that would be one thing...but then he started talking about voter participation, too. Enter the 102 year old black woman, sitting in the chamber, while Obama talks about how she waited for hours in Florida to vote, because she wanted her vote to be counted. She got a standing ovation. Granted, she's extremely old, and the fact that she has her wits about her enough to vote is truly awesome, but what about the other people who waited for hours on end, here in north Texas, long after the polls closed, waiting to make their voices heard? I highly doubt that it only happened here...where was the acknowledgement for the rest of the nation who did show up to vote? Do we not count because we're not that old, or is it the whole race card at work again? I don't know, but what I do know is this: I am not appreciative of a leader who claims that bigotry is one of the biggest obstacles a black man/woman can face, but is quick to use the race card if it benefits him. I am not appreciative of him singling out one particular victim of gun violence when there are so many recent victims.
Another thing...did you see those green ribbons for Newton? Remember how the nation, maybe even the world, donned green to show our support to the residents of Newtown? Wasn't it awesome that the gesture continued at the State of the Union? Oh, that's right...it didn't. Green ribbons are apparently not for Newtown anymore. They're the "blanket" ribbon color for gun violence.
I was appreciative of Marco Rubio's passion as he talked about what he thinks we need to do as a nation. I think it's dumb that people immediately started dismissing any of the ideas he was suggesting when he reached for a bottle of water, looking a little crazed. I do, however, give him serious credit for making light of it, calling it his own "Watergate" scandal. Ba dum bum. He and his party have good ideas. Obama should listen. Although I'm not really into politics, I will be interested to see who becomes the front runners for each party as the next election gets closer. I realize I still have quite a while before that happens, but I like to look forward to positive change instead of the craphole I feel like we're stuck in for another 4 years.
Okay, I'm stepping off my soapbox now. I've always been a bit of leader, and very rarely a follower. It is something I hope my kids learn from me. In fact, on the way home from the doctor's office today, I was telling N, "I hope, as you grow up, you take some valuable lessons from my choices in life. I hope you grow to be a strong, independent man, but I hope with all of my heart that you don't become prideful, and that you're always able to swallow your pride and ask for help if you need it. Don't be stubborn and try to do it all yourself, like I do. Real men, real women? They know how to ask for help, so they don't drown. If you learn nothing else from me, I hope you learn that lesson." His response? "Can I play my iPod?" Sigh...
Speaking of followers, I was talking to my friend Erin today, and I mentioned something about being "Aubrey, party of one!" for the rest of my life, and she might've paid me the best compliment ever. She said, "Yes I creepily feel like I stalk your life because I added your blog to my google reader, lol." She's my stalker. I have a stalker...and since I actually know her, that doesn't creep me out in the slightest.
So, now I know...I for sure have at least one follower! (She also gave me permission to quote her, hahaha!) She also asked me to document me wearing N's baseball cleats, since I'm trying to help him break them in, so look for that...maybe tomorrow.
You know, because my 10 year old and I wear the same size shoe...
Oh! I got another variety pack of K-cups today. Out of 35, 11 of them are the supa-dark, gajillion-bold, gag-inducing blends that I hate. I also got a fair number of decaf. The variety packs from Amazon are so fun!
It's like Forrest Gump says about chocolates...
You never know what you're gonna get!
Aubs
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