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I have some interesting stories to tell you which give me a unique perspective on politics. There… I said it… but please…. hang in here with me just a little longer! I wasn’t always this way…. “political.” Like most of my best friends, I hate political game play, extra drama, side lies, and arguing; which really is what politics has seemed to devolve into. But this post really isn’t about politics it’s about hope and encouragement. You see… being an immigrant’s daughter, I am the American Dream. I want to show you the view from here… the good, the bad, the ugly, the resilient, and the hopeful. 

My dad was born in the dreamy coastal town of “Clifden County Galway,” as he used to say, in Ireland. For reasons, I won’t go into now, he was orphaned by 9. His relatives, potato farmers, took him in until he was old enough to go to boarding school. By 17 he’d had enough of whatever trauma was going on there, to find the gumption to join the British Air Force and get out of Ireland. Being under age he had to have his uncle sign for him. Having been old enough to remember the oppression of the British, my uncle folded over the paper so that he didn’t have to see what he was signing for his nephew. You see my direct ancestors lived through that British oppression. My uncle Simon remembered fleeing his home before a British invasion and then coming home to find their straw beds ripped apart by bayonets. What we here about as the potato famine was no act of nature but rather of oppression of one government over an innocent and hard working people who had somehow managed to thrive on a tiny little island even though they were frequently attacked by the Norse and the Spanish. Unfortunately the British used the Irish landowners and clergy to oppress the working class. Sounds familiar heh? This is one of the big reasons I’m waking up to the importance of being politically active. I don’t want our country to end up exactly back to what the first settlers were fleeing! You don’t have to look far to see that we are already a decent way there. There are a lot of other stories in there but I hope you stay with me today so we’ll move on – but look it up if you are interested! Irish resiliency is amazing – so what if they turned to drink and song to make it through such times!

My dad was ALWAYS political. He was sooooo proud to be an American. He literally fought for his citizenship. He had to come to Canada first and bounced back and forth between the US and Canada until he was finally granted citizenship. He loved what this country stood for and all the opportunities it provided him and his family. Not taking it for granted, he was one of the proudest American’s around — as are many immigrants who worked their butts off to live here. We even had elections in our basement until the disability laws ruled our home out as a polling place. I wish I could have some chats with him now but I shunned that type of conversation when I had the chance.

When I voted in my first election, he gave me a list of who I should vote for and not knowing any better, I did. Honestly it felt wrong and I didn’t vote again until I knew for myself. My dad was Irish, Catholic, and Conservative. Based on that one vote and the few conversations we had around that time, I thought he was a staunch Republican. But here I am myself – for the first time in my life – voting a straight Democrat ticket rather than mixing it up as an Independent. I’ve always believed in the checks and balances of our government and so I’ve stacked the deck to help support a healthy middle. But… times have changed and so must I in order to protect my values…. the right to a safe and healthy environment, a focus on universal love over personal prejudice, and fair & equal opportunities no matter if you are born rich or poor. There’s more – but that’s not why I took the time to write this post.

I wrote this post because I discovered something new about my dad that I didn’t know before. He wasn’t as much of a staunch Republican. A family friend questioned me when I said that about him. She said, “but he was always such a union guy.” So I asked my mom. I loved her reply so much! She said, “your dad did what served him.” That’s it! That’s what we should all be doing! The problem is there’s so much history in American political blood lines. I didn’t have that. Ours was fresh. But even in one generation… because of one misunderstanding… I thought “my family” was Republican. I’ve always been a bit of rebel… as was my dad…. as he tells us… we are descendent from Brian Boru – the last great war chief of Ireland…. we don’t do things just because “we’re supposed to.” I guess I really wrote this to ask you to please look a little closer.

Don’t be so afraid of politics. Don’t be afraid to vote in a way you never have before. Maybe the old party system worked in the past. But…. from my view…. the two parties are NOT equal right now. The Republicans are looking out for large corporations and the Democrats want to create laws to protect individuals. There are a lot of talking points on both sides. There is a lot of politicking happening and it can be hard to see through the webs of illusion both parties do create. If you really are in favor of large corporations running this country, you should vote Republican…. but from here I really don’t see how that serves any of “my people” — those of us actively working every day (not riding it out on our inheritance – more power to you if you are!), nurturing our kids, helping them to get the best education so they can get a good paying job, for those of us who believe in female autonomy, those of us who want to have access to clean water, healthy food, and a toxic-free environment. Please be informed and then VOTE in the way that SERVES YOU! And don’t forget – not voting is an active choice. If you hung in here this long – thanks for listening and please give me a thumbs up if you feel so called. It is scary to speak up about things like this.

I leave you today with great love in my heart and hope for this country and world we share. xo