Undecided, Countdown to May 20th

I have to confess that I am an undecided voter with an up-coming Democratic primary on May 20, 2008. I was originally a John Edwards supporter--and actually donated three times during his campaign (I'm newly out of graduate school, so finances are tight, but I really believed in his anti-poverty, health-care reform, fair-trade, and environmental initiatives, and I still do). I'm in a sticky-wicket because I do not regard either candidate still in the race as progressive as I'd like them to be, but they are both miles away from the Republicans. I am one of those Democrats who in an appeasing moment to my decided friends echoes, "I think either candidate would make an excellent nominee and president"--which is true, but also admittedly uncommitted and vague, and if I like specifics in my candidate, I should expect no less from myself.

Why I'm undecided: Hillary's health-care platform is superior, yet she voted for the war and remains more hawkish than Obama. Obama annoys me when he constantly talks about bi-partisanship, which in my experience as a 20-something Democrat, means the Republicans get what they want and the Democrats get the satisfaction of looking weak and ineffectual--which must apparently must be what they want because they're so good at it, especially in Congress. Obama does represent a generational change, which appeals to me because growing up Clinton also meant growing up mired in stupid scandals generated by the Republican muck-machines, but that's kind of like victim-blaming. Don't get me wrong, Obama's speaking grace has moved me, as it has moved pretty much everyone with a beating heart and a flicker of hope for this species, especially his speech on race (full text link), "A More Perfect Union." Yet, he's not specifics oriented while debating and Clinton is great during debates and as a consummate nerd, I'm into specifics and debate bona fides.

I know that there is a very real danger of turning off all of the young people (20-somethings) who are now voting for the first time and precisely because Obama represents such a departure from the political status quo, but as a political junkie, I've been voting since the day I turned 18, including when I've been out of the country (I actually missed the 2000 election because I was spending the semester in England, though I voted via absentee ballot), I didn't have access to a TV, so I learned most of my information from the internet and British newspapers. So, for me, its like asking me to vote based upon the needs of the political newbies who are overwhelmed by Obama's person, not his politics. Obama's person, organizer and activist is indeed impressive, but damnit, I want those mandates for health-care and I want a stronger environmental message!

Argh, so who will I vote for? I still don't know, I'll keep you updated, dear reader.

I Feel Pretty

I must confess, I started this blog probably over a year ago and have yet to contribute one post. So, here is my "hey and hello" with more posts to come. I am a feminist, writer, teacher, thealogian, and activist living in the South. I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, but I moved to Lexington, Kentucky when I was sixteen and I am now pretty much an effective hybrid of these rather equally eccentric places.

What I want this place to be--I want my readers and commenters to know that this is a safe place for progressive voices--for people who live on the margins or who live in the midst of the mainstream, yet have that sinking feeling that all is not quite right. This is a place of interconnecting dialogues--where justice movements are not in competition with one another (there will be no who is more oppressed arguments) because that distracting conversation simply serves to divide and drain energy from movements and thoughtful people engaged in realizing justice and respect for all. Justice is not a commodity to be exchanged and sought after in wicket form, but rather a renewable resource brought forth through systematic change and a commitment to the flourishing of all. This is not to say that there will not be deep challenges offered here to the assumptions we bring to discussions--a white middle-class feminist does not know what is best for a woman from Bangladesh, nor might a black man be able to express the needs of a lesbian black woman just as vegan activist might not be able to understand the context of a Inuit youth. So, we need to listen to one another.

So, come on in, join the discussion and let's listen.

Peace