Monday, February 25, 2008

Voting Gender or Voting Color

The thing that troubles me over this election is the way so many people are voting for Hillary because she is a woman, as if feminism itself will be upheld or cast aside dependingon whether she wins the nomination.

I agonized over the choices myself partly because she was a woman. Luckily it was only partly and I didn't find myself choosing to vote for one or the other entirely based on that consideration, but it was close. It was a very hard decision mostly because the two are so much alike within their stated positions. Yes, it did feel a bit like betraying my gender when i finally decided to vote for Obama a week ago.

However, I've decided I was an idiot.

After this past week of dirty tricks (circulating the Obama in a turban photo and the chicken little speech I've definitely rethought my stance.

We have so much to worry about in this country at this moment in time that we must vote the best. So the fact that Hillary is a woman or that Barack is a black man should not even be a consideration in our minds. Right now they should be the same in every way except qualifications and ethical fiber.

And that's the real meaning of feminism.

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