Bittersweet

Taking a stand takes courage. It isn't an easy feat. There are guaranteed obstacles and at times suffering, but there's also guaranteed moments of joy and triumph. 

I believe that's why there are sayings like, "Take the bitter with the sweet" and "Balance the hot with the cold." 

Always, there's this constant opposite, as if one needs the other to "balance out." In government there are two political parties, Democrats and Republicans. Yes, there are Independents but my assumption is that there aren't enough of them to really have an "independent" voice, which usually leaves them falling in line with the democratic party. No qualms there! 

But understanding that the political process can either float one way or the other, is reason enough to "balance the bitter with the sweet" because there's always a chance of triumph.

Thinking about this took my mind to President Obama, and how his presidency was built on recreating a thriving middle class, which is a main reason why he was elected. Then there is the Republican party (the opposite) who represent a wealthy constituency, and who purposely target the middle class with harmful policies. 

See how this gets tricky? Especially when both sides feel that their policies are valid, which in turn creates a "tug of war" type scenario. And it doesn't help much that the President's skin color, has automatically disqualified him from equal treatment as previous presidents in the past, and making his job as a unifier increasingly difficult.

Watching the Obama presidency over the years and watching how the "opposite" side, creates historical off-the-cuff comments and discriminatory policies that are so wrong, Americans are taking to the streets in non-violent protests for positive change. And to my dismay the civil rights movement of our time is erupting, as protesting, rallying, and mobility, will ensure that we're adding enough weight for a much needed "balance" that could tip us over to the scale of victory. There's that "bitter with the sweet" thing again. 

Presidential elections, mid-term elections, school board elections, HOA elections; any elections held that directly affect your community is cause enough to get up, step out, and make your voices heard. We can't win them all, but at least we can rest assured knowing that we've tried.

#StayAware

2013 LA