It doesn't matter for whom I voted. It doesn't matter if "my party" won or lost. It doesn't matter if I am in a red state or a blue state. At the end of this historic night, we all look up at the same set of stars, and we all live under the same flag. Right? I mean, that is true, right? Because if you are on social media, you wouldn't know that. The sounds of the Civil War of our history books has been replaced with the tippity-tap of fingertips on keyboards, and the buzz of smart phones. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone's opinion is right. Apparently, we have all lost our minds. At least, that's what Bahrain must be thinking.
Of course, you don't see Bahrain clicking away on their laptops or iPads about the President Elect that they did not approve of - they don't have the privilege of voting. They are just one of several maps on our globe that isn't blessed to have a say in their government. Perhaps some of the foul-mouthed sore losers on Facebook would prefer to live there?
I love Facebook, I really do. So much of my family is on Facebook. During military deployments, long-distance moves, and even family vacations, we use social media to share our adventures and pictures, stay on top of family matters, and just keep in touch. I love that. I love having just one more way to be involved in the lives of my nieces and nephews, and keep tabs on siblings. Even my grandma has a Facebook page. It's a wonderful tool. But it has really become a mine field in the last 45 minutes. I have never been so ashamed of some of my family and "friends" as I have tonight. I'm praying that what I see isn't true colors, but just outrage and fear, or even pure overwhelming joy. Some of the comments blow me away. Statuses that read "F*** you if you voted for Obama" and "If you voted for Obama, you are a huge ***hole". Seriously. And one of my favorite throw-backs from 2008, "I hope you're happy now that the Anti-Christ has risen again." Lest we forget the more subtle, "The Bible warned us about this." It's not one-sided though. You might like to know that "Obama wins. Romney supporters can suck it." And one of my favorites: "Knock-knock. Who's there? Obama, b**ches!!" Perhaps I am not as good a judge of character as I had hoped. It saddens me to think that people I had once held in such high esteem have lowered themselves to this. Four more years of this administration I can handle. Four more years of this kind of insensitive (and unnecessary) political banter, I'm not so sure I can.
There is no need to pollute such a wonderful blessing like Facebook (or Twitter, etc.) with unkind words, harsh (and untrue) phrases, and hateful and bitter accusations. It serves no purpose, and has no altering outcome - except that it will alienate us. After all, if your propaganda before the election did little to sway the vote, surely you understand that it has no bearing afterward, right?
Bottom line: My life has no room for negative energies. I can ill afford the every day struggles of motherhood, household management, and my own health, let alone adding the drama of a sore loser or an arrogant winner to the list. I need loving guidance of people who support me, pray for me, cheer me on, and encourage me in the way that I strive to do for them. I need for Facebook to stay one of those "safe places" where I can read a funny message from my sister, send a picture to my grandma, and read a joke posted by a high school classmate, without making me feel the same discomfort about the harsh place that the world just outside my doorstep seems to be. If you are one of these folks who is destroying Facebook and other social media for me, just know that you are on my "Fecal Roster" and I will discard you in the same way. (Actually, I'll just "unfriend" you, but that doesn't sound dramatic enough.)
Look, I don't much care to talk politics. I gave all the opinion I'm gonna give when I cast my ballot. But I will say this: we, as a nation, have spoken. We have elected a leader. We need to unite to support not the man, but the office to which he was elected. Regardless of how you feel when the polls close, he is and will continue to be our President and Commander in Chief. That office deserves respect. If you really don't like it, perhaps you can take refuge in someplace like Bahrain. You won't need to worry with liking or supporting the president there. And you won't need to bring your iPhone, either.
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