Why I Believe
11 April 2008 10:00 am by Taylor Marsh
Why I Believe
Reader guest post, by patsy
This election began the wheels turning in what is now the focus as being one
of the most historical elections in history. I started documenting my experiences
with a collection of blog posts that I compiled of my writings. There were good
days, and bad, ups and downs. And I am not even an expert or pretend to be,
just one of the many individuals who cares about the welfare of our country.
Just the thoughts, opinions and reality of someone trying to get there voice
out there to be heard. I put aside my emotions and put myself out there for
all the ones who are unable to do so. It’s easy sometimes to feel overlooked
or unimportant but one thing I have realized is that someone does hear us. We
are not forgotten. I found my voice, and it’s not too late for you to
find yours. Everyone has there reasoning for why they support a candidate. But
mine, my reasons, they were more personal. I met some of the most amazing people
when I began supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign. I doubt they
even realized the burden on my shoulders when I made my very first blog post.
At one of the lowest emotional points in my military career, when I felt like
giving up, alone and as if no one cared, I felt as if no one would hear me,
or help me. I found my voice. I found it and spoke from my heart. I stumbled
across the site by accident. Lurking around for a long time just reading and
watching before I even attempted to jump into the fray. This is the type of
journalism and news that is lost with the CNNs, and MSNBCs of the world. What
they have forgotten. What they have taken away. They have contributed to allowing
money being the only bottom line, and overshadowing what is most important.
The issues. They took the ability away of the people knowing a candidates stance
on the issues until this is now one of the few places where you can find out
the views of a candidate, this election, and what is happening around the world
in general. TaylorMarsh.com is truly individual journalism at it’s best. I truly
believe when this election is over, it will put some people onto new paths and
new journey’s, and change the path of others.
I know that everything happens for a reason in life. Sometimes when you have
to experience the good times, you have to go through the bad. For me, when I
was researching health care, trying to figure out a way that I would be able
to help someone close to me. All avenues became blocked, I was feeling so desperate.
Wanting to help a loved one, trying to figure out ways to do so. Angry because
since I am in the military, I don’t have immediate worries unlike the
ones close to me in the civilian sector. At some point you come to the conclusion
that giving all you have to help someone else is only a temporary fix. I was
looking for something long term. It’s amazing how people will not care
about something until it’s happening to them, or a loved one. But the
worst feeling in the world is to know that the basic doctor’s care, the
basic prescription, even if it’s just a visit to the dentist, is unattainable
for some. There are no words to describe that would allow a person to understand
how it feels to be deployed in Iraq and know your family is doing without something
because they just can’t afford it.
To feel so much pain in your heart your soul hurts. To watch people take something
for granted that so many just don’t have. Not because they are not working
for it. But just look around to the state of our economy and you can see the
struggle that so many people are facing. When they report on the news of the
amounts of jobs lost, no one realizes that these people without jobs, how will
they pay there mortgages? Afford insurance and doctor’s care? Put food
on the table and support there families? There not just loosing there jobs,
there also loosing the benefits that comes from having these jobs. They are
loosing there livelihoods. When I started blogging on hillary.com, I felt inferior.
There were doctors and lawyers and so many professional people on there that
I felt so common. I felt that way because sometimes in order to find help, you
have to let someone attempt to help you; you want to believe in a message. And
I did that. I was on another site for another candidate and I told my story,
opened up my heart and wrote how I felt. And the first message to that blog
post and this is a direct quote, was from someone who told me that “I
needed to get a life.”
Not knowing at that time it would be one of many negative messages I would
receive during this campaign from supporters. It astounded me that statement.
But a lot of the answers would come as time went by that I know now, but didn’t
no then. But I didn’t turn back, I moved forward and that response:” To
get a life, a Non Commissioned Officer in the United States Army who has served
there country for almost ten years. Deployed to Uzbekistan in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom, Bagram in Afghanistan, and Baghdad Iraq. Who has never asked
for anything from anyone, who could lose there life for there country to keep
the American people safe who wouldn’t know who I am if they past me on
the street, to get a life.” That same person responded back to me after
reading my profile and seeing that I was in the military by thanking me for
serving my country and sorry for the tone of his previous message. Amazing.
When I was just another blogger with issues, I was no one. But when they saw
I was in the military, now I became somebody. I have never felt as disgusted
for another person in my life. Because that statement showed me that you cannot
unite people who are able to look down on the hardships of another person.
Despite my job occupation, I am first an African American Female, and my job
description should in know way reflect the type of treatment I receive. That
is when I began thinking about the average American who feels the same way I
do, receive the same type of treatment, but instead of speaking out, they take
it. Because the thought of someone criticizing one of my loved ones because
they are struggling and can barely make ends meet, makes me upset. At almost
2 am in the morning, after hours of looking up various health care plans, I
came to an old article discussing the pros and cons of Hillary Clintons Universal
Health Care plan. I was at my wits end trying to figure out how to help without
making more sacrifices. Since it was an old article, I went to her official
website. After going through the site, I finally found under the issues the
actual plan. When I read it, I immediately opened up another tab to make sure
I was reading the right thing. Because the article I read earlier was criticizing
it, so I thought it flawed. But I made that determination based on the author
of the article, and that was there opinion, so I went back and read it through.
And I started to cry. Not because of just reading it. But because I realized
that a plan like that would lift my burden of worrying but also it made upset
because there was nothing wrong with the proposal from my stand point, unless
you are someone in the health care industry or Republican, but why would someone
criticize something that would help so many. It made me think about the individual
who responded on my blog about getting a life. It made me see that for people
who already have something, who don’t have to worry about things such
as this, honestly don’t care. So they will do any and everything to ensure
that they put down something that will affect millions who may not be able to
afford the things some take for granted. It made me feel like it was some little
dirty secret. That we should be seen and not heard. That we can be used to get
a vote, and once that is done to achieve your goal, we no longer have a purpose.
How can you speak for me, if you don’t want to hear what I have to say?
I immediately started a blog on hillary.com and made my first post. My heart
and emotions was behind it. I was so visibly shaken by it that I no longer cared
if someone responded negatively. I saw something I wanted and I decided to say
how I felt. I would not let the attitude and ignorance of others prevent me
from letting everyone know that there are people you won’t find at the
rallies and debates who want change but don’t know how to go about achieving
it. Ten minutes after posting that blog, I had responses. And instead of embarrassment
and shame. I received so much positive feedback from the other supporters and
positive words of encouragement and messages of keeping my head up that I was
truly shocked. I read there points on why Hillary Clinton would make a good
president but although I was happy with the Health Care plan, I wasn’t
ready to say I would vote for her without researching her stance on the major
issues. I did not want to put my hope on words alone. I received so many glowing
comments on her in that blog that my heart began to sink. I always believed
that when you hype up a person, it’s because they haven’t really
done anything. But I was proved wrong. In the military, you take for granted
sometimes the things we receive like pay increases etc.
Not realizing that someone had to fight on your behalf for us to receive them.
I guess people think that its automatic, it just happens miraculously. But the
thing is, my eyes were opened. Just like I felt I could die serving my country
overseas, and no one would no who I am. She has spoken and fought for me and
she doesn’t even know who I am. I researched bills and past legislation
and saw that her accomplishments and achievements told the story of the type
of leader she will be. I watched over the course of the last month how hard
it was for her to get her message out there. It’s hard to compete with
someone who has almost celebrity status, endorsements by stars and young voters
who viewed there candidate like a celebrity or rock star. I watched, I listened,
and I learned, I researched her issues, and I began to believe again. I saw
someone who despite the media bias, the insults, and former supporters that
switched sides, I saw a woman who maintained. Not only maintain, but kept on
fighting, kept on addressing the issues, even when it was blatantly obvious
the media played favorites.
To know people want you to fail, to watch long time supporters turn the other
cheek to join what they consider the winning side, to see these things and continue
to get the message out there, is one of the most motivational things to witness.
It’s hard to compete when you’re not in a competition, but it’s
even worse when you have something to say, something important, but no one wants
to hear it until something bad happens to snap you out of a false reality. The
accomplishments and achievements of this candidate, the things she has achieved
to put her on the path she is on today is what made me realize that you can
do anything if you fight for what you believe in. If you continue forward even
when everyone wants you to turn back around. To believe in yourself and what
you are saying, to face public scrutiny of every word spoken, every action taken.
To take the negative hits and blame for something in a former administration,
but they will not give you the respect or credit for the positive things accomplished
during that time.
A double edge sword. To visually see someone set aside their personal feelings
and stays focused on the goal; even if that means living with the fact that
there will be bias treatment, negative comments, and accusations. Hillary Rodham
Clinton does not represent just solutions for our country. She is the example;
the finished product so to speak of someone who has overcame over trials and
tribulations. She is proof that you can continue going, continuing getting a
message out there, continue beating the odds even when the odds are against
you. She represents a reality that many people do not want to give her credit
for because in order to do so, they would have to admit that you can choose
whatever path you want to go on, change any situation you may be in, and accomplish
any goal you set forth, without the words of inspiration, motivation and dreams
of hope.
You can accomplish it on your own, if you just believe in yourself. And that
in my opinion is what scares people the most. That’s what I want for our
next generation of future leaders, for our future sons and daughters. The ability
for them to realize you can find a solution to any problem that you face, even
when no one is on your side, or cheering in your corner. If you believe, if
you actually believe in yourself, no one can say or do anything to take that
away from you. I want for my future children to have someone who will move them
towards a goal with a purpose, not someone who will stand on the sidelines and
just inspire them with the intent. Leaders are born, not made and we have one
in Senator Clinton.
“For everyone here in Ohio and across America who’s ever
been counted out but refused to be knocked out, for everyone who has stumbled
but stood right back up, and for everyone who works hard and never gives up
— this one is for you.” – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
