Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Small

I am so grateful for the right to vote.  Even though I am saddened and disappointed this morning, I am very grateful for my country and my blessings, and I know all will be well. 

I am also really disheartened for another reason.   I had a lot of emotional investment in this election, like so many others.  So, naturally, when the vote was counted and my guy lost, I was disappointed and frustrated.   I posted something on facebook, a very general sentiment, obviously born of frustration.   A sentiment, I might add, that many others also posted.  Two sentences, nothing more.   Nothing terrible.  Nothing directed toward anybody personally.   Just a frustration put in writing.   To my surprise, I received several comments from people I consider friends.  As did the majority, they voted for the other guy, which is their right.   My surprise isn't that I received comments from them.   Rather, it is the content of their comments that surprised me.   Obviously well thought out, long comments, and seemingly calculated to make me feel small.   

Congratulations "friends" - - you won and I feel small.

45 comments:

  1. The gloating is making me as angry as the whining is. Like I said in my own status this morning, 'can we all just get along and work together?' I actually unfriended someone b/c she was so upset about Romney losing that she did profanity laced post after post screaming in all caps which I thought was so unnecessary. I can like & respect a person while disagreeing with them but apparently others can't. Sorry that people came onto your page and made you feel bad. Our country is too divided right now. I just went to your page but you must've deleted the post?

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    1. Ya, I deleted it. Everytime I looked at it I cried. I unfriended a few people too :) I think some people just like to be right, no matter whose feelings they hurt. Oh well! Full speed ahead, right?!

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    2. I'm so sorry they made you cry. That's just not right at all. :( And especially when it's on your page.

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  2. You can be my facebook friend! :)
    http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004049614925
    I promise I won't make you feel small and I think you'll be surprised at how much cussing I *don't* do on my personal fb. Lol.. :) Occasionally but not much. You'll have to cover your eyes on those posts like my other Christian friends do! :D - I'm sorry your guy lost and I'm very sorry your fb friends weren't more gracious and understanding with their comments. Boo on them. Their comments do not diminish the wonderful person you are, the wonderful person we love! There is nothing small about a woman with a heart as big as yours! Hugs, hugs, hugs to you! :)

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    1. Yea! I am going to friend you on fb. And I don't care how much cussing you do - - you are amazing!

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  3. It saddens me when we can't just express our sentiments without somebody pouncing on us for some reason or another...Don't feel small Judy, you had the guts to post a sentiment online.. something I don't have the guts for.

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  4. I am so sorry those people felt the need to rise themselves up by stepping on you...if that makes them feel better about themselves I feel horrible for them.

    You can help how you feel, and should never feel bad about sharing your feelings even if they are not the popular thought. I did want Obama to win, but as long a those supporting Romney were doing so for actual reasons and not to just vote party line I was good with their choice as well.

    The world is a very small place, one we all have to share. I wish we could enbrace our differences and accept that they all make it turn!

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    1. We all hopefully vote our conscience, and that is what it's all about.

      Differences is what make us as a people great! It's the intolerance and ignorance that get in the way.

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  5. its too bad your now former FB friends are sore losers ... gloating is so unnecessary ... the good news for you and other who feel sad about losing .. the next Presidential campaign begins today ....

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    1. haha - -
      i'm already over feeling sad about losing :) (mostly) Life goes on and I am hoping and praying for a great four years.

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  6. My sister and brother had a big argument a few weeks ago. Hoping they can patch stuff up, especially with the holidays. Great posting!

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  7. I experienced the same thing on FB but I was for the president. In my part of the world we are a red state and to avoid frustration I keep quiet on my political thoughts, they are my own and nobody elses. The vote could easily have gone the other way. I didn't unfriend anyone but I did hide a few relatives and aquaintences, until the election is over. No gloating here.

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    1. My boss is opposite of me. We agreed that no matter who won, there would be no gloating. He has been true to his word :)

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  8. It's always disappointing when your own guy loses, but I guess that's the nature of democracy. Hope you're feeling better than you did this morning and that people in America really do take on board what Obama said about everyone working together. That would be great! ;-)

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    1. I'm really okay with my guy losing. Disappointed, yes. But okay. Working together as a nation would be awesome, if he can pull it off.

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  10. While I voted for the other guy, I refrain from making any political commentary, and I just cringe when I read people's posts on both sides. It makes me want to just unfriend all of them. I'd rather post pictures of Aubrey :-) Much happier...leave the political debating for the pundits, you know?

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    1. Oh and don't feel small! Every vote does count, even if your guy doesn't win. That's the beauty of our democratic system.

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    2. I am so glad this only happens once every 4 years! haha. next time i'm going to go live in a cave or on a tropical island and come back the first wednesday of november :)

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    3. Take me, too Judy. Facebook me so I can get the details... http://www.facebook.com/#!/mariannewalsh3

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  11. We have to trust in God that our elected officials have the best interest in our country and do the best they can.

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    1. So true, Beth. Trusting in God is not only sometimes the only thing we can do but it is always the BEST thing we can do :)

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  12. I think that "real" friends shouldn't make us feel small. This is the reason I keep my political views to myself. I just don't feel like having to justify my views. They are important to me. If my "friends" can't accept this, they can find someone else to be their friend. Life's too short to put up with people who are demeaning.

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    1. I agree with all of the above. And I've learned my lesson :)

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  13. Sorry your "friends" made you feel that way.

    It has been so annoying listening to/reading FB posts during this election season (which seemed to last FOREVER this time around!!)

    I think that people just can't be civil when it comes to politics. I don't understand why. It is worse than people's jostling for glory with their sports teams.

    I hate it and have avoided any political posts this time around.

    Perhaps your friends will realize their harshness and come around to apologize one day.

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    1. I've learned a few lessons this election cycle - the biggest I guess is just to keep my opinion to myself :)

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  14. I thought of writing a blog post entitled 'what I love most about me' but it all boils down to one thing: I am respectful of the oppositions opinion. I had to be. I married a guy who voted for Perot!

    Sorry that happened to you. Facebook is a crazy place; it seems so 'friendly' but it can get mean in second.

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  15. Politics and friends never mix well, but then maybe this also says something about the folks you consider friends. I've always been taught that if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. The winners were entitled to cheer last night and the losers were entitled to cry, that's the way it works, and we should all come together now and get back to business. I'd be looking for some more considerate friends, who don't let their emotions overshadow their caring!

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    1. Tomorrow is another day, as Scarlett said :)

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  16. I have seen this done by both sides, and it's very irritating, sad and disrespectful. And, unfortunately, some of them, even though the election is over, will never stop.

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    1. Well, tomorrow I just may have to turn on sine Christmas music to get all this out of my head - haha!

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  17. I'm sorry people, especially people you considered to be your friends, behaved that way. That truly sucks, and you deserved better. We all do.

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    1. No more frustrated Facebook comments from me - haha

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  18. I know I've been on at least one other blog today that expressed her displeasure of FB comments; she voted for the winner; she was tired of the "losers" saying they were going to wear black today, etc., but honestly I think sometimes it helps us to deal with our frustrations to write thoughts out on FB and then try to be respectful of other's opinions. I was disappointed in the outcome, though I halfway expected it. I did a simple two word FB status "oh well". But I have to say being able to read others who had similar sentiments helped me move ahead with my disappointment and hope truly that our country does turn around int he next four years.

    betty

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    1. Well, it was a tight race - we are among some 57,000,000 just like us - :)

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  19. I guess there's a reason they say you should never discuss religion or politics. Of course, being Australian, we don't care very much about either so we tend to talk about them a lot :).

    I'm sorry that your friend was more interested in making her point than being sympathetic.

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    1. I love your accent, Kellie - I can hear it when I read your posts :)

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  20. yeah it is surely a hard thing judy--that is why i try to stay away from politics in general---not that that's the right way for everyone haha!

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    1. I may keep my mouth shut (my fingers still??) next time around :)

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  21. I am disappointed as well but there is nothing we can do or say to change things.
    I will say this. In 4 years, he will be out. Until then, he'd better fix some of this mess.

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  22. This election really divided us further. I, too, was disappointed by the Romney loss, but I don't fight with or criticize Obama fans. I'm most sad that the American electorate embraces his ideas. This surprises me. We are growing more dependent on govt and pretty soon, it will be too late to choose differently.

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