Letters to the Editor
cim902
Published Letters: 66 Editor's Choice: 13
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When I was in grad school.....
[Read the article: Barack Obama's breakthrough victory]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I watched the Democratic convention and heard Bill Clinton give a speech which made me feel like life in the US as I knew it was going to be so much better than I could imagine. I could not wait to vote for him.
Now I am 40, a conservative Christian woman who stays at home with her 3 kids. I believe that abortion is wrong, but that Roe v. Wade keeps women safe. Sorry, but I can't support gay marriage. I believe that we never should have gone into Iraq, and that we need to get out, but that we also need to try to clean up the mess we made. I believe that we have got to be a better world citizen, and that we have got to be better stewards of our environment.
For the past few months, I have wondered whom I should support in our (really late, useless) primary. I liked Biden, but he's gone. I like Huckabee's unashamed approach to his faith, but I can't use those conservative values as a litmus test when it comes to choosing a president who is going to have to make very wide-ranging policy decisions. (Plus, I don't like having my vote taken for granted). I like McCain, because he seems honest, honorable, and experienced, but I am not sure that I can agree with his stance on the war, and he is getting up there a little. I watched Obama last night and thought--here is a candidate I can get behind, someone who is not so partisan that he can't get things done. Someone who can respect and understand conservative religious views even if he does not agree with them. When I have seen Obama in debates, or interviews, he seems direct and honest, while sometimes to me, Hilary seems like she's pandering, and unwilling to give a straight answer. We need health care reform--BIG health care reform. We need BIG environmental changes. We need to get out of Iraq. We need someone who is young enough to think more flexibly about these and many other issues-to-come. When I watch and listen to Obama, I see potential. I don't see that with the other candidates.
I will probably cross over to the Dem. party and vote for Obama when we (finally) have our primary. Unless something bizarre turns up, I would have no problem voting for him in November. There are a LOT of people like me out there. That is why Obama won in Iowa.
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I can't address.....
[Read the article: Am I going crazy?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]the depression part of this letter, but I can say this...
LW, if you want to write, and your husband will support your taking a part-time job so you can do this, then DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why make yourself stay in a job which is all-consuming and obviously not right for you when you don't have to? And don't worry about the guilt--it will pass, particularly if you remind yourself that writing is your second job, and treat it as such, with a disciplined schedule, output, submissions, etc.
Ask yourself why are you putting roadblocks between you and your dream? And make it a rhetorical question, not one for endless brooding. "Why am I putting roadblocks between me and my writing dream? Who knows, but I'm stopping right now!!!" Take your dream seriously, work at it, and who knows--maybe some of your other issues will start to fade. I myself have written since I was 11, but of course life got in the way and "the dream" faded--or I continually put it off to go to college, work, have babies, etc. etc. But last fall, I decided that, at 40, I had better get with it. I've applied myself, not waiting for a "muse," or any of that, my husband is supportive, and even though I have to wait until the rugrats are in bed, so progress is slow, I am finally "following my dream". And you know what? I am a happier person and am finally losing the (considerable) weight I put on when I pushed my desire to write aside. Hmmm..... I am betting that if you give yourself permission to write and enjoy it, you'll find yourself in a better, if not perfect, place. GO FOR IT!!!!!!!
Best wishes,