My Heart on My Sleeve

I made this button yesterday, because I feel like wearing my heart on my sleeve.

Last year I decided to stop obsessing about politics, to stop monitoring every website and reading every critical article that came my way, and living half a world away the commitment has not been difficult to keep, but since I arrived in the United States it has become very obvious to me that the tide has turned for the Obama White House, much to my regret.

I am disappointed because I find the constant criticism terribly unfair. I happen to think that President Obama has done as well as he could given the circumstances. He has walked the mire and come out of it with major victories, I just don’t see what there is to criticize, and it’s pretty hard to ignore the fact that on the whole he is not being slammed for gaffes or miscalculations, but simply for being who he is.

I’ll speak frankly now and say that, in general, I consider Republican people to be rather mean and unfeeling folk, who care for no-one except their own kind, but if there is one thing about them that I think is worth emulating, it’s their willingness to stand up for their cause, as well as their unwavering support for their leaders. We Democrats should learn a thing or two about it, and while they can twist and manipulate the discourse in ways that are, in my view, nothing short of dishonorable, I envy them their mastery of the message, and the efficiency and confidence with which they control the discourse.

So if you are Democrat, if you are Liberal, I have a message for you: Make a statement, support your president and stand up for what you believe in, and for goodness’ sake don’t walk away from helping the politicians who share your values, and whether you think Barack Obama has delivered on every promise he made on the campaign trail or not, the only ones who will benefit if you withdraw your support are the same people who nearly ruined the country in the first place.

Do you really want to see Sarah Palin or Newt Gingrich as the President of the United States? Because I’m afraid that’s what’s going to happen if we continue to apologize for what we believe in and  fail to learn to be proud of our principles, which history and common sense have shown us are morally upright.

I hope we find our spine and fight the good fight, the country will be the loser if we don’t.

Button made using Da Button Factory.

Good Wishes and A Link

Just a few words to wish you all a Happy New Year. May 2010 bring happiness, safety and good health.

Before I go, I want to post this link because I’m glad someone said what has been on my mind. I’m fed up with politics to be honest, but I can’t get over the hypocrisy and vindictiveness of people on the Right. And yes, you guessed it, I am a Liberal, and very proud of it.

Seen on the Street

Neon sign over a take out barbecue restaurant in Lahore:

Peppers

Takeawaytaurant

A Brush with hate

I received this message on my Youtube profile today:

Pakistan is where they grow terrorists. YOu scum have infected the earth. You don’t know how to live in peace with anyone. The sooner you all die, the sooner the world can get on living.

I’m surprised I’ve been attacked like this, because I don’t use Youtube much, I have a small presence there. I watch videos once in a while, and I keep a list of favorite songs, but I never comment on anything and I don’t download any content. I did make two short videos of my children last year to share with my parents, and even though my profile was empty of any information, it did show my location.

It’s not pleasant to be the target of such a message. It’s one of the reasons why I don’t talk about the political situation in Pakistan on this blog, because I don’t want to attract the kind of people who can leave comments like this one.

I don’t know how anyone can honestly call an entire nation scum who can’t live in peace with anyone while at the same time wishing death on millions of innocent people.

It frightens me.

Somebody had to Say it

Colin Powell stood up and said what had to be said. He showed honesty and integrity and decried the mudslinging, the dirty tricks and the racist and prejudiced tactics of the Republican Party in its quest to win another election. Watch it here, it moved me to tears.

I have never been an admirer of the General, but here’s a Well Done from me.

Little Girl Talk No.3

I was working on the computer the other day when I heard the bedroom door open. I had a quick look and I saw my daughter running with her hands in front of her as if she were holding the reins of a horse. She’s horse-mad, so she does this all the time.

“Come here, little horse!” I called out. She ran to me and as I hugged her she blew a raspberry imitating the sound of a horse’s neigh. She then lifted the back of her leg to show me the bottom of her shoe and said, “Look, I got hooves!”