Voting For President
Mood:  irritated
Now Playing: Anti-Flag -- "Die For Your Government"
Topic: Politics
I've never voted in an election before, but I knew I would be voting for president this year, so I've been keeping up on all the political stuff. I'm going to vote for John Kerry, because he stands where I stand on the issues that are most important to me, and because we need to get Bush out of office before he gets us nuked.
People think he's doing such a great job, while he took the largest budget in US history, and turned it into the largest deficit in US history in less than two years. How is he doing a good job when he basically says "FUCK YOU" to the UN, and then turns around and asks them for money to fight an unfounded war? How is he doing a good job when he says looking for Bin Laden is priority one, and after not finding him, says that Bin Laden doesn't matter? Bin Laden couldn't be found, so to take attention off of the fact that Bush didn't keep his word, they have to point fingers at Iraq, solely for the purpose of overthrowing Saddam (get some revenge for daddy Bush) and then convincing the new people in power to make oil deals with the US.

I WROTE THIS TO A PRO-BUSH LADY:

Voting for Bush would be a big mistake. You say he cares about protecting our rights. How does he protect our rights? By passing a laws that allow the government to monitor what books you read at the library? By passing laws that allow the FBI or the police to seize your property just because you participate in animal rights protests? (I'm referring to the Patriot Act).
Pretend you own a small business. If a couple of kids were caught smoking pot on your property, you could be fined up to $200,000 and/or spend up to twenty years in prison. This is part of the Rave Act, which was instated to help cut down on illegal drugs like LSD and Ecstasy, but since it was written so vaguely, they could come after you as a personal homeowner. If you had a teenage son who was having a party while you were out of town for the weekend, and one of his friends lit a joint in your bathroom, then you could face penalties for something you had no knowledge of. The Rave Act passed, because it was attached to the Amber Alert bill. No one would vote down the Amber Alert system; it is a great idea.
As far as illegalizing abortions; bad idea. The thing that pro-life people fail to realize is that getting an abortion is a choice. It's not like having abortions be legal is mandating women to go get one. I don't like the idea of killing unborn babies any more than you do, which is why I wouldn't get an abortion, and I don't approve of them, but I'm not going to clamor for it to be illegalized. Just because abortions are illegal, that doesn't mean that women aren't going to get them, either by means of illegal doctoring, or back-alley butchers, and let's not forget a coat hanger.
I knew a girl who got pregnant at fourteen. Granted, she shouldn't have been having sex, should've been on birth control, or should've used contraceptives. The problem is, she didn't. Her family was poor, and she had a brother and sister. She had no way to provide for that baby, and her family couldn't afford it. Like most men, the guy ditched her when she told him, because all guys care about is sex. So instead of adding to the cycle of poverty, or adopting out the baby (who could've ended up in an abusive home, have self-esteem issues, not been adopted, etc., she got an abortion. It's not like it's an easy choice for a woman to kill her baby. Then there's always a pregnancy that occurs as the result of a crime, or birth defects. Let's say you have an amniocentesis done on your unborn fetus, and the report comes back that the baby has Down syndrome. Shouldn't you be allowed the choice to have that baby? I don't care if I sound like a horrible person, but here's a bit of truth; normal children grow up and MOVE OUT. They have normal lives, and the circle of life goes on. If you have a mentally or physically impaired child, you are responsible for them forever. You have to change your 30-year-old son's diapers. You have to pay for medical supplies, like life-sustaining medication (not with Down syndrome, but with other things), maybe a wheelchair (a pair of small wheelchair wheels is $500. They only sell them in pairs), or a lot of doctor visits. Why should someone have to deal with that if it could be prevented.
I'm not saying that if my son was in an accident at 15 and became paraplegic that I wouldn't take care of him; that's a different scenario. My point is that you pro-lifers act like women get abortions just because they can. Because you can't possibly put yourself in their shoes, you just think they're all horrible people. Also, a lot of the people who get abortions aren't ready to take care of a baby...so why give them a helpless baby who's life they can destroy?
I can also argue that Bush's policies that have made healthcare so expensive contribute to the amount of abortions. Birth control pills aren't covered on some insurance plans, and they have to be paid for out of pocket. They cost about $18 for a month's supply. Contraceptives should be free to anyone who wants them; no questions asked, and no hassle. That would help lower the pregnancy/abortion rate. Also, stop preaching abstinence in schools. Teach the kids about contraception, because if you tell a teenager not to have sex, if they weren't planning on doing it already, they are GOING TO DO IT. If everyone were having sex, but they all used condoms and birth control, there would be no pregnancy.
As for gun control and the right to bear arms, electing John Kerry into office isn't going to change the fact that there are guns. It's not like Kerry's going to take his oath, then in his inauguration speech declare that hunting is illegal, and all guns are banned. That kind of decision would be put to a public vote, and it would never pass. Another thing; the government and the media work together to keep us (as a nation) scared. When people are afraid, they are more compliant, and will do anything to feel safe again (like letting laws like the Patriot Act exist). Please reconsider who you're voting for.

Small Cities Don't Really Suck
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Paula Abdul -- "Straight Up"
Topic: My Misconceptions
I always thought that BC sucked, and I hated it. I thought all small cities were like that. I used to want to live in some big city like San Diego or Chicago. I don't think I could handle living in the big city...I'm far too shy; and far too paranoid.
I love it here in Muskegon. It's right by the lake, not too far from Grand Rapids, and I live with the love of my life. What more could a woman ask for?
Just so you know...I like this ONE SONG by Paula Abdul. So no making fun of me.

High School's Over
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Something Corporate -- "If You See Jordan"
Topic: High School
The last two weeks of school were nerve racking...I was failing two of my four classes, and I couldn't afford to fail even ONE. In Web Design, I completed nine weeks' worth of work in a week and a half. The teacher passed me with a C. I actually managed to pull good grades for my last semester ever in high school. On top of that, I had to worry about packing for my big move.
On the last day of school, I was a ball of nerves. I ran screaming from the building at the end of the day. I was so happy. My boyfriend was coming down that day from Muskegon to get me and my stuff, because I was moving in with him. I didn't manage to get everything packed, but it was okay, because not all of it fit. I stayed with my boyfriend for the few days between the last day of school, and graduation night.
Graduating from high school felt great. I feel like I actually finished something. I read a speech in front of around a thousand people...for me that's a really big deal, because when it comes to talking or singing, I get stagefright. My speech was the best, or so thought my family (but that's no surprise; they're my family), but I liked my friend's speech better.
After the ceremony, I went back to my mom's house, loaded the last bit of my stuff into my boyfriend's car, stopped by to visit my dad, and then headed home to Muskegon. It was really weird to be leaving Battle Creek to go home. I lived in BC my whole life. I hated it though, and I'm glad I was the first in my graduating class to move out.