Why "Staying Quiet" isn't an option

Well, here we go.  I created this blogspot so that I could express my views, as a 48 year old female, and as someone who has experienced life and now has some things to say about it.  I've tried to be honest while reflecting on my experiences throughout my lifetime. I am also a Christian woman who is striving to love people well.  I have said over and over that I enjoy hearing everyone's side.  I love knowing where people are "coming from" even though I might have an entirely different perspective.  I could see myself sitting down daily with different groups from different backgrounds and discussing everything from politics to religion and enjoying every minute of it.  I rarely even get mad about other opinions because I enjoy the conversations and various talking points so much.  However, I do have my views and my opinions and freely express them.  I was watching "post debate commentary" with my 16 year old son last night and the commentator mentioned that "women would not look favorably at  all of the interrupting that the candidates were doing during the debate."  My son says to me, "I feel like you like the arguments and don't mind the interrupting."  To which I replied that I can't stand rude interruptions, but I do LOVE a good debate.    Southern women do not interrupt and we always say "Please and Thank you."

Now, here is my first thought.  Maybe others don't feel this way,  but I'm a little offended, no very offended,  at the way women are still being looked at in this election season.  The fact that we are a "voting block" rubs me the wrong way.  Because I live with 4 men in the house I do realize that women are from Venus and men are from Mars, or vice versa.  We most definitely have our differences.  But really.  Are all women really that concerned with how our birth control methods will be paid for?  When considering a person for President of the most powerful country in the world, that never even enters my mind.  I'm thinking back to my more "fertile" days when it might have mattered and honestly,  it still never ever entered my mind that my health insurance plan would or would not pay for my birth control.  If I remember correctly, a package of BC pills used to cost around $20/month which is a heck of a lot cheaper than having a baby and raising it to adulthood.  I think it's SHALLOW that so much emphasis is placed on this point.  If you want to talk about equality then lets talk equality.  Let's be honest about this.  Until young men are raised to respect what is on the inside of a woman and not just on the outside, we will have a big problem with inequality.  I am a white, educated, part time working mother of three teenage sons, and I'm from the South.  Believe me, I know inequality when I see it.    

Issues that I am interested in hearing about include educating our children, providing jobs for all kinds of people with all kinds of talents and gifts,  making healthcare more affordable to working people but giving them the freedom to choose through the free market, and tax equality for EVERYONE!!!!  I'm sick to death about hearing about the "middle class."  What exactly is that?  My 16 year old asked me if we are part of the middle class?  Who would know and who cares?  The world and specifically our country is made up of all kinds of "classes."  I don't know which one we fit into and don't care at all.  This, in my opinion, is simply a way of forcing people to ask themselves "which class am I in?"  Stupid?  Yes.  What we should be asking ourselves is "What are my God given gifts and how can I use them for His glory?"  Now, some people are given gifts and they use those gifts to make lots of money.  If they are using these gifts correctly then they are using this money to create jobs, give back to society and take care of their families.  The way I see it, Mitt Romney has used his gifts to do all of these.  To characterize this man as a liar and a cheater who is rich and doesn't pay his fair share just insults my intelligence and screams, SCREAMS,  of "class warfare."  The man gave away a HUGE percentage of his earnings to charity.  He created a HUGE number of jobs along the way, and he has no reason whatsoever to lie about anything.

Here is another thought that keeps just nagging.  There is cover up and lying going on in this entire Libya debacle.  So what if Mitt Romney "missed his chance" at nailing President Obama to the wall concerning when or what context the word "terror" was used re: these attacks.  To think that the administration was totally "in the dark" about the requests for more security at the embassy is a joke.  To think that they didn't know that the total lie that was told about the supposed protest over a muslim youtube was  because "information was still coming in?"  That is also an insult to me.  To think that they can try to make me, a woman, believe this and then passify me by telling me they will help me pay for my birth control is demeaning, to say the least.  Here is my response to the whole bunch, "You are lying.  You are covering up.  You did go to Las Vegas and The View while doing all of this.  I don't believe you, no matter how tough you might try to appear.  And thanks but no thanks, I can handle my own birth control."

Last point, for today, at least.  I know that God is in control.  I am FULLY aware of that.  My life shows me that every single day.  I also know that God allows kings and kingdoms to rise and fall and always has.  If you read your Bible you know that God allowed plenty of wicked kings to rule.  So, should the current administration be elected again, I'm still going to get up every morning and send my children to school.  My husband and I will still go to work and pay the enormous amount of taxes that we pay.  We will still use our gifts to benefit our community and our family.  We will still support our military and our country.  What I refuse to do is go down without a fight or give up my freedom of speech.  I think that there are people who don't feel comfortable speaking out for what is right, and that is fine.  But I feel uncomfortable in my Spirit letting things "slide."  There is a very obvious line between "sketchy" and "honorable."  It is not a fine line and it is not hard to see unless one simply refuses to see it.  I know I am a woman and maybe some only see me as a voting block, but history has shown that women are more than just a discussion about birth control and abortion.  I am proud to be in the Romney/Ryan camp.  That's my story and I'm stickin to it!!!!