It’s 100 days until the election here in the United States of America, and I’m playing with the idea of starting a blog series sharing some of my thoughts on the subject.

In the back of my mind, I can feel people telling me that writers shouldn’t take sides, because we want to appeal to all sides. Other people telling me that we definitely should, because that’s how you get engagement. Make people mad. Make them cheer. In this case, it’s worth a shot for me. I can’t not right now.

Someone I know told me that Kamala is probably going to lose the race because of … white women. White women always fail the Democratic party, and I’m honestly not even sure what that was supposed to mean. Excuse you. Do we owe the Democratic party something? Did WE make campaign promises we failed to honor? (I think that was the other side, actually.) Just because I live and breathe and have a certain skin tone and female parts does not mean you get to presume based on demographics (yet another fancy word for sexism and racism but one day – maybe later – you will see that) that I am going to do what you want or expect.

I think white men have failed the Democratic party. How does that sound? I think the numbers on that one make a lot more sense. There are more white men in charge of the Democratic party, although that is slowly shifting. But still. Where you all at? Are you just here for the money and the prestige and the lolz? Or do you really care? Honestly wondering sometimes.

But anyway, as a human person who happens to be female and has certain life experiences, I want to say this at the top of my lungs, to liberals in general.

Yes, I am mad. Yes, in a hundred ways, we have all failed, but….

Politics is not about the most perfect, most anti-racist, anti-sexist, vegan, insert cause here and this person has supported it Their Entire Life perfectly candidate out there.

You do realize. Oh my gosh, deep breaths. You do realize this is how the Other Side is winning. This kind of ridiculous – grow the hell up, especially young people. I know you are young, but still. Grow up faster.

While we stand by our principles and say that “both sides are bad” meaning “neither side is perfect” actual Palestinians and Jewish Israeli citizens (for example) are suffering and dying, especially Palestinians.

While you dither and pretend you don’t see the difference between the guy who will (check his base) absolutely be very, 100% pro-Israel, the most pro-Israel president ever!!!! And … the person who is going to remember their Jewish – and Christian – and Hindu – background and say … the residents of Gaza are people too. You are angry because Kamala is not more firmly anti-Israel, I mean pro-Palestinian, no really I mean anti-Israel. Pause for a minute. Seriously. Because – hi – no getting rid of and/or demonizing certain people groups is NOT going to help. (Did you realize you are doing this? Well, you are. Stop it.) Also, as the original citizens of this piece of real estate, Israelis are not colonizing Palestine. Historically, if anything, Palestinians “colonized” Israel long before we called it that, probably.

Much like Japan colonized Okinawa long after my ancestors were born there, probably.

No one is perfect here. We could all – probably – learn to do better. Is my point.

Hi!

Seriously. Grow. Up. Faster.

I think of a devout rabbi I met on this interreligious meeting which he managed to attend on Zoom, although he once lived and served in the synagogue where we were meeting. He’s now living in Jerusalem, Israel in one of many homes that have to be coded for bombs like California homes are coded for earthquakes. It is important to him, to liberal Jewish people over there to say that Netanhayu is bad for Israel and must be stopped. That they be allowed to say this in ways no one would dare to speak about Hamas or the Ayatollah. When tyrannical dictators talk about western intrusion on their land, they use “colonialism” for buzz words that really mean: the kind of government where you can say Netanyahu sucks without being (overly) worried you might be dragged into prison and raped and killed.

Let’s be clear here. Both sides are not equal.

No. They are not. Yes. We can do better, as a planet.

Also, my feeling since no one asked. A two state system is like apartheid. Arab Muslim Israelis should have a bigger say in Israeli government. Oh yes and a lot of good citizens of Muslim majority nations know that a large part of the reason Gaza is how it is? Because it makes a really good rally point for dictators, and they are frankly tired of it, like US citizens are tired of congress passing laws to get rid of low cost Healthcare while having great benefits themselves.

Educate yourself if you don’t believe me.

Please. Dig deeper or at least stop appropriating other people’s issues like you know.

People are not their leaders and our leaders have checks and balances for a reason. Checks and balances Trump is actively working to erase.

Yes, it matters. No, we are not that bad yet. Yes, we could be if we don’t shift our course.

I think of actual soldiers in the U.S. military who will pause when you say bad things about the army and check to see if I am going to call them inferior people or if I mean their military commanders, because … same. Same.

I want to say grow up, cancel culture. Grow up, people who think you can check your boxes and be a Basically Good Person, in part by not supporting any leaders who are absolutely less than perfect, in part by assuming that anyone who votes for an actual leader must be part of their cult, worshipping and accepting them as perfect no matter what. (Maybe. I guess if you’re into that kind of thing.)

Be aware that YOU and your reductionist logic are part of the problem. Right there.

This is what I keep wanting to say, so I am saying and typing it.

We are none of us perfect. We are all of us, each of us human. Having a functioning government, (more or less) is a good thing. I like electricity and running water and the Internet. This doesn’t just magically happen. If we stand aside and say whatever happens, happens, then … here is what happens.

Fascist dictators who are going to keep the trains running – until someone blows them up of course, because that’s all part of the drama. That’s how the world works. Because we are all human, because simply by saying none of this matters, nothing you do matters, it’s too hard, too complicated.

You have already taken a side. You have chosen to side (consciously or not) with fascist dictators. Believe it or not, understand it or not.

And, I think you should probably know that. Someone should probably tell you that. Not that you were listening. Or are you? Prove me wrong. I dare you.

Because while I am here I also want to say, hi to all our imperfect leaders. You too. Do better. For your children if not yourselves.

Do better. To advance causes that matter, to serve the people who pay your salaries.

More later. I am going to post this and hop back offline for a bit.

With prayers.