And you thought I was going away?

[emmagrant01]

Okay, one more thing about the election before I get back to work and fade into the background of LJ for real.

I know many of us are angry, and we're venting those emotions. It's completely normal and healthy to do so. BUT: I've seen many people make comments about moving to Canada or Europe because of their disgust over the election results, and I hope you're all just kidding.

PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! We need all the liberals we can get in this country! Stay! Fight! Volunteer! Let your voice be heard! Don't give up now, not when we need to be unified in our vision of a tolerant and open, free America more than ever! Gay marriage will never be legalized if all the proponents move to Canada in disgust! We must ensure women will retain their reproductive rights, and more. Did Rosa Parks move to LA when they wouldn't let her sit in the front of the bus? No! She stayed in her town and fought for what she believed in, what she knew was right.

This is just a setback, everyone; just a blip in the radar. Someday, when we're all old and gray, we'll look back at these turn-of-the-century years and remember how critical they were. We'll remember how hard we fought. And we'll remember that, eventually -- through hard work, steadfastness, and sacrifice -- we were victorious.

So stay here with me! Fight! Be positive! Who's with me?

No offense to the Canadians and Europeans, of course.

ETA: Go tell Aja what you love about America

Comments

I'm not offended

[bant.livejournal.com]

What you say makes sense.

Re: I'm not offended

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

I am so stealing your icon. See how I do not wait for permission? No more nice, polite liberals! No more asking! *gacks*

And yet, I can't resist a single: "um, is that OK?" :D

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

No need to ask for permission! I gladly donate it to the cause! ;-)

Here's another one you might like...

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

That is the one thing that has made me laugh all day. Thank you. :)

NO MORE NICE, POLITE LIBERALS! MWAHAHAHA!

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. And yes, I was, and am, completey serious. (I posted about everything I have to say on it earlier, so I won't go into it much more now.) I don't intend to renounce citizenship or stop voting. I just want to live somewhere that I can feel comfortable.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Wah! I'm going to be left here to fight alone? *sniffles*

I understand, really. I mean, look where I live! My husband is the only Democrat in his company. I couldn't keep a yard sign for a Democratic candidate in my yard for more than a few days at a time without it being stolen. I'm surrounded by conservative Christians!

But they need to know that their way isn't the only way. I put a face on liberalism for them. They can't ignore me, not when I live next door.

[tehlils.livejournal.com]

I'm not wanting to move out of the US because of the election, it has just made me want to move out sooner. But I'm not going to let my voice fade here in the meantime.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you feel that way. At least you'll still be voting, right?

[littleroo27.livejournal.com]

although I have joked about moving to Canada or Europe, I don't see it happening. I do admit that my stepmother really did look up the procedure for moving to Canada during the last election just in case things got really bad! During Bush's rein of terror I graduated from college only to find there were no jobs to be had above "would you like fries with that?" I now live in a very expensive, but lovely (and gay friendly) city. I've had a decent, if borring, job for the past 17 months. I've yet to decide if that's good or bad, lol. But all in all, the only thing that could honestly get me to move would be if Roe v Wade gets overturned. However, the hissy fit that this country would throw would be... scary at best and deadly at worst, so I'm not holding my breath for that to actually happen. On that note - I will continue to live, vote and speak out in these here united states.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

That's... two people! Yes!

[lauramcewan.livejournal.com]

I vote for the private slasher island. *G*

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Well... I'll buy a timeshare there, but... I'm needed here, I think, on a permanent basis. :-)

[sabrinagb.livejournal.com]

As much as I may talk about it, heading out is not a reality any time soon. (Though for the record, I have been talking about moving to Europe for 10 years now - this is not an election only thing for me)

Having said that, this really does make me want to fight against what has happened. I am not, or have not, been much of an activist, but we are definitely going to have a fight on our hands to keep what rights we have and even gain those back which we have lost.

I admire your attitude and strength, Emma. Reading your posts has definitely made me think about things more than I did without you.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

That makes three people! I feel better aleady.

I have traveled all over the world over the last ten years, and though I love learning about other cultures and meeting new people, this is my home country. I want it to be a better place than it is now. It's already a better place than it was when I was a child. The fact that it isn't progressing as quickly as I would like is frustrating, but at the same time it makes me even more determined to keep fighting. I know other people feel the same way.

Thanks for your kind words!

[phoenix-starr.livejournal.com]

On an amusing note, the person in charge of immigration in Canada today announced that any US citizen wanting to move to Canada had to apply for citizenship and that the process takes about a year.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

See, that works in my favor! In the meantime, they can fight for a better country. :-D

[vintage-moon.livejournal.com]

hey...i'm new to your journal, but i'm not leaving!!! (even though i live in NJ, so it's no biggie...) i echo someone else when i say i admire your strength for living somewhere where you're surrounded by adversity. best of luck in your endeavors, and keep fighting! i'm with you.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks! That makes five, I think.

Exactly!

[eristeleute.livejournal.com]

I've been trying to convince several people that moving away is not an option, but I think my arguments may be falling on deaf ears.

If people move to more liberal districts or states (or leave the country altogether), that means the remaining Republicans can govern even further to the Right. It's very similar to the gerrymandering issue in Texas (with which I'm sure you're *quite* well acquainted). Plus, if we aren't politically active, how are we ever going to goad the other party into conceding *anything*? Our voices matter, and moving away is only going to damn the rest of the country.

You are right on. ;)

Re: Exactly!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Oh, absolutely! There's nothing I hate more than the "love it or leave it" attitude. I refuse to leave. They can't get rid of me that easily.

I'm a bit stubborn, as you can probably tell... :-P

[lagreyeyes.livejournal.com]

I'm with you, dammit.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[cenas-plots.livejournal.com]

I was going to reply to the other post after you replied to my comment but decided to just comment here.

I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon. My friends and I are going to continue the fight. We're not giving up that easily. I'm already a subscriber to the HRC newsletter and plan to become an active member in the near future. What's happening now is unconstitutional and I believe should be challenged as much as possible.

I said I was going to move to London, this is actually a plan I've had for many years now. When I said that in my last comment though, it was said out of annoyance. It doesn't mean I'm just going to hop on a plane and tell the US to piss off. LOL. That's letting the other side win and see weakness, cowardice. Maybe we're too frustrated with the happenings that we've decided to give up. Not in this lifetime buddy.

I'll be sticking around for the next few years fighting the fight. I've still got it in me. I definitely haven't given up.

<333

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Good! I figured it was just people venting, but then I started to worry people might be serious about leaving...

[kinetikatrue]

I'm staying. In fact, I'll likely always stay. Of course, if I really wanted to do some good, I'd move somewhere that could use a good dose of 'liberals aren't scary or insane or monstrous; they're just people like you and me.' Instead, I want to move back to Vermont. Which actually has nothing to do with the political climate: I live in the suburbs of DC right now, and while I might not shout my political leanings from the rooftops, I certainly don't need to hide them to feel safe or move somewhere else to feel comfortable about being open about them.

Anyway, I certainly plan to do more this time around, so, yeah: I'm with you all the way on this one. If they want to take my country from me, they're going to have to fight me every step of the way.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Yay! I never thought I'd feel comfortable living in a place like Texas, but at the local level, it's pretty good. I feel like I can do some good here, you know?

[vichan.livejournal.com]

I had a day to think, and there ya go.

I'm disappointed, but I feel really good right now.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

That was fantastic! *hugs*

[helens78]

The most disappointing thing that happened in WA state this election was an initiative that will practically eliminate third parties from going on the ballot, at all (unless it's overturned by the state Supreme Court, which egad, I hope it is). It's a primary system where they throw all the candidates from all the political parties together, and the two that get the most votes go on to the general election. My heart just about stopped when I saw that; you know how likely I am to vote for a major party candidate. In spite of that, I'd rather work for the LP in Washington State and do something, anything, to let people know they have choices beyond Democrat and Republican, than give up and poke at my boy to move us to New Hampshire. I'm sure not gonna concede the country to anybody.

I would rather have a country that has some states sending their electoral votes to Ralph Nader than the gridlocked, two-party monstrosity we've got now. I have about as high an opinion of Ralph Nader as I do of Jar-Jar Binks, so I think that's saying something. ;)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

It seems like that sort of primary system could very easily turn into a one-party system, actually. In a place like Texas, I doubt Democrats could even wind up on the ballot in some areas if that were the law. I hope the Supreme Court throws it out!

[saladbats.livejournal.com]

Don't you worry. I am staying right here in the USA and helping to appeal the dumbass anti-gay amendment passed in Oregon, my sister state.
The only times I will be going to Canada are to visit frulie and to maybe possibly tie the know with The Girl.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I cannot BELIEVE Oregon passed that law! And it wasn't even close either. *hangs head* Well, we have a lot of work to do, don't we? And hey, let us know about the wedding plans, eh?

[jexay.livejournal.com]

To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle.
~Confucius ~

I'm right here,chica, sipping Starbucks with you.
*hands you a venti*
*toasts*

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Cheers!

*waves*

[isobel-rain.livejournal.com]

Hello!

I'm new to your journal, and I'm not going anywhere either! Maybe someday, when I'm much, much, older (but that's less because of politics or more because I need to see other parts of the world...)

I'm going to do what I can to help out!

Re: *waves*

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Fantastic!

As a Canuck, I totally agree!

[gauriel.livejournal.com]

Oh , no offence taken. Please don't move here to Canada, everyone needs to stay in the States and fight for your rights! I can't wait to see the day when America will be just as liberal and democratic as Canada is. The thought of anyone going near Roe vs. Wade turns my stomache and freaks me out. Ironically, there was a tv special on one of the cable channels here today talking about from fear to dignity, the fight for legalized abortion.

I once said it would be worth moving to America to get Hilary Clinton into power. Hilary in 2008!

I've never been so grateful to live where I am (Ontario). We have legalized gay marriages, and legal abortion has always been taken for granted. I look forward to the day when our American neighbors can say the same.

Re: As a Canuck, I totally agree!

[sciencegeek.livejournal.com]

I've never been so grateful to live where I am (Ontario). We have legalized gay marriages, and legal abortion has always been taken for granted. I look forward to the day when our American neighbors can say the same.

Word. *fellow Canuck and Ontarian*

[sciencegeek.livejournal.com]

Yes! Stay! Fight! etc, etc. Don't get me wrong, if you really want to move here come on in, but for serious, things aren't THAT much better here. Not all of Canada allows gay marriages (6/13), and the taxes are higher. Not to mention we elected a corrupt government our last election. True, the party leader did retire, but still.

Perhaps what you really need is for the Liberals up here to move to the states...I'm kidding.

I find it interesting that despite geographic closeness our countries are so different in some aspects.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Hey, come on down to Texas! Seriously. We need all the liberals we can get. :-P