Comments on: My side of the fence http://www.laferle.com/2008/10/the-view-from-my-side-of-the-fence/ a window on the writing life Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:21:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Elizabeth http://www.laferle.com/2008/10/the-view-from-my-side-of-the-fence/comment-page-1/#comment-2533 Elizabeth Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:46:06 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=501#comment-2533 Thank you for a thoughtful and well written piece. I would like to respond, respectfully, that I simply don't agree with Sen. Obama's policy positions, although there are many things about him and his family that I admire and respect. For me, and for countless others, race is not the issue. I am voting for Sen. McCain because his view of government and its role is more in line with my own. In our neighborhood, it has been interesting to see that the signs are about 50/50, but we all still get along! It has certainly been upsetting to read the crazy emails some people send (regarding all the candidates!), but I am thankful for all our blessings here in the U.S. Thank you for a thoughtful and well written piece. I would like to respond, respectfully, that I simply don’t agree with Sen. Obama’s policy positions, although there are many things about him and his family that I admire and respect. For me, and for countless others, race is not the issue. I am voting for Sen. McCain because his view of government and its role is more in line with my own. In our neighborhood, it has been interesting to see that the signs are about 50/50, but we all still get along! It has certainly been upsetting to read the crazy emails some people send (regarding all the candidates!), but I am thankful for all our blessings here in the U.S.

]]> By: cindy http://www.laferle.com/2008/10/the-view-from-my-side-of-the-fence/comment-page-1/#comment-2348 cindy Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:02:09 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=501#comment-2348 Cindy I have to tell you, I just posted my first ever blog about religion the other day and it really made me nervous. I think even more nervous than the first political post I did a few weeks ago after reading this one on 50-Something. But I'm with you. We need to speak out--especially about this election. Cindy I have to tell you, I just posted my first ever blog about religion the other day and it really made me nervous. I think even more nervous than the first political post I did a few weeks ago after reading this one on 50-Something. But I’m with you. We need to speak out–especially about this election.

]]> By: Cindy http://www.laferle.com/2008/10/the-view-from-my-side-of-the-fence/comment-page-1/#comment-2339 Cindy Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:41:20 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=501#comment-2339 Thanks for the kind words! You're right about our fears of being rejected... and yet, in this particularly ugly campaign, many of us HAVE lost friendships, or else they have been altered to a point where they don't feel as comfortable anymore. It has been a test, really, of who our friends really are -- and why we are friends with them -- I suppose?? Thanks for the kind words! You’re right about our fears of being rejected… and yet, in this particularly ugly campaign, many of us HAVE lost friendships, or else they have been altered to a point where they don’t feel as comfortable anymore. It has been a test, really, of who our friends really are — and why we are friends with them — I suppose??

]]> By: Only the Half of It http://www.laferle.com/2008/10/the-view-from-my-side-of-the-fence/comment-page-1/#comment-2336 Only the Half of It Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:09:18 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=501#comment-2336 As good as the first time I read it. You have to follow your gut and your heart. Besides, I think our fears of being rejected for speaking out are usually far greater than reality. As good as the first time I read it.
You have to follow your gut and your heart. Besides, I think our fears of being rejected for speaking out are usually far greater than reality.

]]> By: Claire Charlton http://www.laferle.com/2008/10/the-view-from-my-side-of-the-fence/comment-page-1/#comment-2335 Claire Charlton Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:03:51 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=501#comment-2335 My husband reminded me that in England there is a "Raving Looney Monster Party" that people can vote for when the other options aren't acceptible. Plenty of votes in their favor would send a message to the folks in D.C. that we aren't happy out here in our red and blue states! My husband reminded me that in England there is a “Raving Looney Monster Party” that people can vote for when the other options aren’t acceptible. Plenty of votes in their favor would send a message to the folks in D.C. that we aren’t happy out here in our red and blue states!

]]> By: Pam http://www.laferle.com/2008/10/the-view-from-my-side-of-the-fence/comment-page-1/#comment-2330 Pam Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:46:54 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=501#comment-2330 Cindy, Wow, thanks for sharing what really hits home for me. I find it especially difficult to discuss politics and religion with my more conservative friends and family. I'm getting more confident, though, and working on launching my own blog into cyberspace. It scary--but somehow feels more necessary and important to assert my true self after being quiet about this deep, passionate part of me for so long. Thanks so much for your thoughtful posts! Cindy,
Wow, thanks for sharing what really hits home for me. I find it especially difficult to discuss politics and religion with my more conservative friends and family. I’m getting more confident, though, and working on launching my own blog into cyberspace. It scary–but somehow feels more necessary and important to assert my true self after being quiet about this deep, passionate part of me for so long.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful posts!

]]> By: Cindy H http://www.laferle.com/2008/10/the-view-from-my-side-of-the-fence/comment-page-1/#comment-2327 Cindy H Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:57:12 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=501#comment-2327 Cindy, I know what this meant for you to put this blog on your Web site. Thank you. We didn't put up political signs at all until a few years ago, starting with school-related topics. For our local school issues, I felt I had to take a stand, because I saw that an organized group of citizens was lying about our schools and blocking important measures we needed to take as a community. So I wrote a letter to the editor, then I got a call to join a group of community activists who supported the schools. I am so glad I did, especially when I see that our school buildings and programs are ready for the 21st century. But this is the first time we put up a sign for a presidential race. The older I get, I realize I'd rather have someone dislike me for who I am than to like me for who I'm not. I know it's a cliche, but it's a good one: you can never please everybody -- so you've got to please yourself. There will ALWAYS be people who disagree with point of view -- whatever side you're on. That's one of the things about America that I love: we CAN speak our minds respectfully. Cindy, I know what this meant for you to put this blog on your Web site. Thank you.

We didn’t put up political signs at all until a few years ago, starting with school-related topics. For our local school issues, I felt I had to take a stand, because I saw that an organized group of citizens was lying about our schools and blocking important measures we needed to take as a community. So I wrote a letter to the editor, then I got a call to join a group of community activists who supported the schools. I am so glad I did, especially when I see that our school buildings and programs are ready for the 21st century.

But this is the first time we put up a sign for a presidential race.

The older I get, I realize I’d rather have someone dislike me for who I am than to like me for who I’m not.

I know it’s a cliche, but it’s a good one: you can never please everybody — so you’ve got to please yourself. There will ALWAYS be people who disagree with point of view — whatever side you’re on. That’s one of the things about America that I love: we CAN speak our minds respectfully.

]]> By: Cindy http://www.laferle.com/2008/10/the-view-from-my-side-of-the-fence/comment-page-1/#comment-2325 Cindy Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:16:49 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=501#comment-2325 I agree, and I envy my Canadian friends and family members who have a lot more choices. I've been keeping my mouth zipped for a long time, in the name of diplomacy, when people with opposing politics try to challenge me. In that case, silence probably is golden. But discomforting. It's so much easier to avoid those who disagree and to hang, instead, with longtime friends whose values I share and who validate mine ... but I know that's not the way the big world works. We're all going to have to make peace and work together in the long run. Mitch Albom's 10/12/08 column makes excellent points along the same lines: http://www.freep.com/article/20081012/COL01/810120379/1082 I agree, and I envy my Canadian friends and family members who have a lot more choices. I’ve been keeping my mouth zipped for a long time, in the name of diplomacy, when people with opposing politics try to challenge me. In that case, silence probably is golden. But discomforting. It’s so much easier to avoid those who disagree and to hang, instead, with longtime friends whose values I share and who validate mine … but I know that’s not the way the big world works. We’re all going to have to make peace and work together in the long run. Mitch Albom’s 10/12/08 column makes excellent points along the same lines: http://www.freep.com/article/20081012/COL01/810120379/1082

]]> By: starrlife http://www.laferle.com/2008/10/the-view-from-my-side-of-the-fence/comment-page-1/#comment-2324 starrlife Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:11:56 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=501#comment-2324 I'm independent and it annoys me this darn 2 party system that polarizes everyone. It is tricky to talk politics with friends, even when they are similar. A friend of mine said something to the effect that she was uncomfortable with Obama's body language! I thought it was funny because that is one of the things that I like, is that complete and utter ownership of himself that he projects- it feels so authentic I find it irresistible.I didn't argue with her but did say what I just wrote and let it go. Tricky. I’m independent and it annoys me this darn 2 party system that polarizes everyone. It is tricky to talk politics with friends, even when they are similar. A friend of mine said something to the effect that she was uncomfortable with Obama’s body language! I thought it was funny because that is one of the things that I like, is that complete and utter ownership of himself that he projects- it feels so authentic I find it irresistible.I didn’t argue with her but did say what I just wrote and let it go. Tricky.

]]> By: Cindy http://www.laferle.com/2008/10/the-view-from-my-side-of-the-fence/comment-page-1/#comment-2323 Cindy Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:39:54 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=501#comment-2323 Annie, your dad sounds a lot like my late father. I think my dad would have been very surprised (and upset) at what has happened to his GOP in recent years. He might have gone the way of Buckley's son (in the article I linked in the current post). Annie, your dad sounds a lot like my late father. I think my dad would have been very surprised (and upset) at what has happened to his GOP in recent years. He might have gone the way of Buckley’s son (in the article I linked in the current post).

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