Colour Me Deltabean

The article “Colour as a semiotic mode” by Gunther Kress and Theo Van Leeuwen has really made me re-evaluate how I use colours in my day-to-day life.

As I am frequently stuck somewhere between reality and the virtual world, one would think that I would pay more attention to colours. Actually, it’s not that I don’t pay attention to colours… Because I do, I have to, on some kind of unconscious level, at least.

Yet, my bedroom has no defined colour scheme whatsoever. There’s a lot of orange (which I had to fight my parents for) because orange is my favorite colour (and apparently the colour of my aura, who knew?).

But there is also a lot of clashing colours- pinks, for instance. Which probably wouldn’t appeal to anybody but me. But then, I’ve always been the kind of person who will do whatever I want just because I want to. And the same applies to the clothes I wear. Now, I don’t wear crazy clashing colours on purpose, that bothers me, but I see nothing wrong with wearing mismatched socks if I want to. There are so many people who use colours to be quirky. But quirky for the sake of being quirky is just annoying. There is nothing appealing about people who will wear obnoxiously loud or stereotypical clothes just to get attention. Now, some people (those who knew of me but never actually took the time to get to know me) would call me a hypocrite because in high school I was rather eccentric with my outfit choices (let’s just say I liked to keep people guessing) but that was how I felt comfortable. It wasn’t about wearing the brightest colour possible; it was about wearing a red pencil skirt because I liked the style or wearing all black because it made me feel artistic. I wasn’t trying to be different. I just was.

However, my online persona is quite different right now. When I am altering the layout of my livejournal, for example, I am very careful to make sure the colours are universally appealing. I don’t want to alienate people from my journal because of any bright, shocking shades, as I have in the past. And as someone who creates her own graphics (icons, user pictures, headers, etc.) colour is indefinitely important. You have to pay attention to how things look. Being visually appealing is one of the most important things on the internet, along with being organized and, you know, actually having relevant information available. It’s a shame that people can get distracted by flashy gimmicks and animation on the World Wide Web, and ignore a site that may be plainer in style. But it seems like that’s how everything is these days. As the song goes from Gypsy: you gotta have a gimmick if you wanna have a chance!

All of this colour talk is making me think of my recent music challenge. As I have mentioned frequently, I am a long-time livejournal user. One of the communities I’m in has monthly music mix challenges. It’s like making a mixed tape or cd for someone, except you upload the playlist online. This month’s theme happens to be colours! I haven’t given it much thought until now because I haven’t had the time… But now that I have been thinking about it, it’s an interesting theme to have picked for music. But music can be surprisingly visual, which many people don’t realize. Perhaps it’s because I am a major music geek, and have been for quite some time, but music is inspiring. And certain songs can relay a particular colour- maybe not directly, but in means of memories and other associations.

Needless to say, I am glad that I read this article when I did. Colours mean a lot of different things to different people, and when you understand what appeals to certain groups you’ll have a much better chance at succeeding in whatever you are trying to do. I know that I am going to take a conscious effort to use colours more effectively. I’m sure that I could set up the websites that I use, and my own userinfo information, to be more visually stimulating. And I’m definitely going to be paying more attention to the colours other people use, and how it works with them and their personalities. I’m still not planning to change the scheme of my bedroom- but hey, you can’t win ‘em all!

10 Things I Blog About You

Eric Kumpf is right on the money with his article Visual Metadiscourse: Designing the Considerate Text.

When I write a blog entry, as I have written many lately on the Republican VP nominee, Governor Sarah Palin, I intentionally or unintentionally include all ten of Kumpf’s categories of visual metadiscourse.

The first category Kumpf explains is ‘first impression’. This is so important with blog writing! People will glance at your blog for a second, and unless they see something that grabs they’re attention, they’ll be going elsewhere. I try to state my main point first, and, when I can, I try to make it funny. Humor is a good quality to have in any circumstance, but when you’re trying to get people interested in your writing it seems, to me, to be even more important. At the same time, I do try to watch my grammar and spelling. There’s nothing worse for an English Major than seeing incorrectly spelled words on blog postings! But sometimes it happens to the best of us, and that’s where editing comes in.

The next category is ‘heft’. This is important in the blog-o-sphere because the length of an article or posting can determine whether or not people will read it. I tend to keep my political entries at around 1000 words. This usually gives me a good length to get out all of my points without having it drag on. When I use Live Journal, I will often place text under a ‘cut’ (this allows you to click on the link and continue reading the entry, as to save space or not to distort the look/set-up of your ‘friends page’ with oversized pictures). To see an example, you can go to my LJ here.

‘Convention’ is the next thing Kumpf discusses. People assume blogs will look a certain way, and when these expectations are challenged, some people will get turned off. This is not always a bad thing, depending on the reaction you are trying to get. But to keep people interested without going too far out there, there are ways to do so. ‘Chunking’, for example, is a way to make blog entries look appealing, and it keeps with convention. I personally find that chunking makes an article much easier to read, and when it’s easy it keeps my focus for longer. The ‘external skeleton’ factor is not something that I pay too much attention to when writing my entries, but it’s always there. I have the title of my blog and the title of whatever my posting is about, and there’s even a makeshift table of contents that lists all of the entries I have posted publicly so far.

And there is always ‘consistency’. There should always be a link between text and visuals (if there are going to be any) so that the reader does not get confused. And it’s important to keep a similar tone through-out whatever you’re writing about, especially when it involves graphics, because if the reader is visual then they may interpret your writings in a way (or ways) you didn’t intend them to.

The category of ‘expensive’ is different with online writings than it is with print. But the general idea is still there because computers and the programs that go with them can be ridiculously expensive.

‘Attraction’ is probably my favorite quality. I design all of my entries, regardless of where I am posting, to be attractive—to me, at least. I use words and phrases that appeal to me and what I like to read. The only down side to that is that what appeals to me doesn’t always appeal to other people. ‘Interpretation’ plays into this as well, as I will sometimes include photos in my entries without making any direct acknowledgement to them. They aren’t, however, just randomly selected photos. They do fit with whatever I am talking about. I may, for instance, include a picture of Governor Palin doing something “cute” when I write about how I find her charming.



I usually leave the picture to do the talking for me. I figure most readers will be smart enough to know that I am being serious and that this is what I am referring to.

Finally, there’s ‘style’. Each writer has something unique to their style. Sometimes these unique things can be annoying, such as the overuse of italics, moving font, and color. There are ways to combine the visual with the textual to create a style that is interesting and captive. And, as Kumpf writes: “A writer cannot escape style, for it will compromise one of many screens through which readers will interpret and receive the document.”

Sounds like good advice to me!

you've gotta stand for something (or you'll fall for anything)

There's only a handful of days left until the '08 American Election- thank God! I really don't think I can take much more of this.

After vowing that I would stop reading (and responding) to the negative McCain/Palin comments on the internet, I've found myself sucked back into that world.

It's also causing a rift between me and certain friends. While the majority of my friends listen to my political rants (which tend to focus on how much I despise the liberal media bias and less on the issues) their are some who are quick to take me to task for my beliefs (and while this is a good thing, it can also be annoying when these people just flat out tell me I'm wrong without giving me a chance to give my argument). I've even had journalism students tell me that the media is being fair-- and I am quite frank when I say that my response was "OH HELL NO". The media is not being fair- not in the slightest. Nobody is being fair.

When news sprung about the Palin effigy, for instance, that was found in L.A. I was disgusted. There are so many ways to express political beliefs. Hanging a mannequin dressed like Sarah Palin should not be one one of them. I don't care if it's part of a Halloween set-up or not, it's completely distasteful and disrespectful.

Today news hit of an Obama effigy. That was immediately taken down.

Granted, it was found on the University of Kentucky campus... But hate is hate. They can call the Obama one racist, but will they call the Palin one sexist? And if one is taken down the other should be forced down as well. The Palin effigy is on "private" property, but it can be seen clearly from the streets. Can you imagine the children that have seen this? Nobody (and I mean nobody. Not a Republican or a Democrat) deserves to be depicted as hanging from a noose or anything else. Can't we have more respect for these PEOPLE than that?

And if this wasn't enough... There's also the constant talk of the "rift" between Senator McCain and Governor Palin. There are rumors that people "on the inside" are already starting to point fingers-- and the votes are yet to be tallied. There are supposed insiders calling Palin a "whack job" and "a diva" (and while this was said in a negative way, so-called "diva's" usually get that label because they know what they want and they do whatever they can to get it. And that's how I, from the things I have seen and read, would classify Sarah Palin. She's a fighter, and I only have the utmost respect for her).

Some are also saying that Palin is now pushing to be the GOP PRESIDENTIAL nominee in 2012 (provided McCain loses). This has been spurred by the comment the Governor made to ABC News saying "I think that, if I were to give up and wave a white flag of surrender against some of the political shots that we've taken ... I'm not doing this for naught". How does this suggest that Palin is angling to get involved in the 2012 election? She wants to be involved in politics, yes, but she does not say anything about running for President! And still, some have gone as far to say she's sabotaging this '08 campaign for her own benefit. Do people realize how ridiculous this sounds? Sabotaging McCain would only push further away from her political aspirations- not closer to them.

Palin is also more effective when you hear her, rather than read her. I have found that some media outlets write out transcripts of Palin's speeches... Only to have placed punctuation where they didn't really belong...Or to remove entire chunks (or even just a word or two) of what she said to make it seem like she is stupid and doesn't know what she is talking about. YES, she has said things that aren't true. And YES, she has said "stupid" comments... And those big ones deserve to be reported. Just like Biden's gaffe about the "crisis" Obama will face. And how Obama said there are 57 American states (yeah, no really. watch the video here for yourself)

Even print interviews of Palin are being distorted. Recently she and her husband, Todd, were interviewed for a short article in People Magazine. The edited version that appears in the magazine doesn't do a very good job at showcasing the Palin's humor. I found out later, after looking really closely at the magazine, that the full interview could be found on people.com. Well, I found it. And it was great! Until I realized the editing job that had taken place. How many people would have just gone by the comments made in the magazine and not searched online? I'd bet many.

Another thing that bothers me is the incessant focus on the "$150,000" wardrobe that Sarah Palin supposedly has. According to McCain, 1/3 of that was returned immediately. And besides that, there have been reports, which have been suprisingly difficult to find a few days after reading them, about how some of the stores listed don't have any receipts or proof of any kind that a large amount of money was spent at their establishment. The numbers just don't add up... So why hasn't the media jumped on this story? (on a sidenote, I actually have found exact versions of some of Sarah Palin's jackets on the internet...Where they retailed for between $200 and $400. Not exactly flashy for a political candidate) Why can't they accept that the clothes Palin has worn (that were given to her) are going to charity after the election? Palin admitted that the clothes were not her property... Can't we let the clothes issue go now?

What about something that I find to be a startling issue with Obama. Political beliefs aside, I want to know why he hasn't released the hard copy of his birth certificate. Unless he has something to hide, what would the need be to keep this information from the public? This opinion pieces makes some interesting points, if anyone wants to get a little bit more information on what I'm talking about. Snopes claims that this is all false, and the scanned birth certificate is legit... But still. All of this talk (from critics) would stop if the original was just released. I just don't understand why it wouldn't be.

One more thing about Obama... Today, while I was in the Student Union Building at my University, I took a look at the posters that were for sale. When I noticed a couple Obama posters I immediately let out an annoyed sigh and spent the next 10-15 minutes searching for a McCain one. I didn't find anything. Not even a negative poster (that would probably have involved Palin...And that would've sent me on a whole other tangent altogether). I think this is terrible. Yes, we are Canadian, and yes, people probably don't care about the election like I do... But why have posters/pictures of one CANDIDATE and not another? Sure, Obama is younger and "iconic" but he's not the President yet! And tell me, please, where's the equality there?

Besides, I really want a McCain poster, damn it! (and something like this:
would just be epic)

Although, I must say, despite all of the campaign craziness, I am still ridiculously excited (probably more excited than a lot of Americans) for this coming Tuesday. I've got a date with Fox News (yes, I know...But I've gotten to the place where I want positive McCain/Palin coverage and I don't care!) and bets to settle with friends.

Hurry up, Election Day! You need to happen a lot sooner!

Electronic Half-breeds: No Thanks!

Dene Grigar’s article, "The challenges of hybrid forms of electronic writing", has made me question the appeal of such electronic literary works.

Grigar first explains “hypertext”, giving examples of poems that involve sound, graphics, and animation. Perhaps my dislike of these sorts of things stems from my love of poetry. I love the way that poets tend to think (and being something of a poet of myself, I understand what a great form of expression poetry is. You can say things you mean in ways that can be interpreted to fit so many different situations). I’m usually pretty traditional with my poetic writings, not only in format (my favorite things to write are sonnets), but also the way I document my writings. I write things out by hand. I have folders upon folders full of completed and uncompleted poems. You can’t get that kind of understanding and appreciation for your own work if it’s just online. The way that a work of art is created is almost as, if not more, important than the final product. I think it’s important for people to have documentation of their work (if they’re interested in the arts) so they can see how they have developed- as writers and as people.

For instance, one of the poems I’ve written (called “The Dreamer”, it has actually placed in some poetry competitions) has a few of the best (and certainly they’re my favorite) lines I think I’ve ever written:
“A dreamer never stands a chance-
They’re easily crushed by romance;
Even affairs they never knew
Become so vivid they’re almost true.”
This would not have been nearly as effective if I had gone the hypertext route and clouded the message with distracting images or music.

As for “other interaction”, when I read a novel I’m reading it primarily for the author’s story, not my own. If I wanted to write my own story I would, with my own original ideas. The idea of collaborating with someone else on a story doesn’t really appeal to me. I’ve collaborated on things before—like playwriting—and I don’t think I would do it again. It’s frustratingly difficult when you don’t think the same way as the people you’re working with. However, in the online “fandom world”, there are fanfiction competitions/contests (for fun, there are no winners or losers) that involve writing something based on a prompt (for example, you could have to write about a pairing from a specific TV show with the prompt word being ‘truth’. The fanfiction would need to involve that word in some shape or form). That’s about the furthest I want to go with collaborating with other people! And just a note: Many people think fanfiction is unoriginal before they actually explore it. Fanfiction writers don’t “steal” ideas from creators (or they shouldn’t), they borrow them. They may use characters while adding their own, changing storylines, exploring situations that were mentioned but never explained, etc. Basically, when done well, fanfiction can be the re-imagining of anything that already exists. There is a surprising amount of room there for creativity!

What I do like that Grigar writes about is the “recorded reading/performance” aspect. The oral interpretation of written works can really help with the understanding of the text itself. Certain emphasis on certain words can completely change the meaning or the intent of the dialogue, which is something actors learn. I think the original author’s spoken interpretation (if available) should be considered more credible to the work than a student or a fan does because the author knows exactly what he or she meant. They’re going to know exactly where the emphasis should lie. But other people’s takes on the work is interesting too because it shows what parts are the most important to them or what they connect with more.

So while I love writing and sharing my work online, I don’t think I’ll be exploring any of these mediums anytime soon!


(Grigar, Dene. "The challenges of hybrid forms of electronic writing". Elsevier Inc.2005)

And though nobody understands-- I'm gonna make a one-girl stand

For a brief moment, I felt like waving my white flag of defeat.

Defending the Republican party, with 12 days until the election, has taken a lot out of me, as I have been the lone supporter wherever I've been.

How easy it would be, I thought, to jump on the Obama train and just pretend like I was supporting them. The idea of making comments freely without being personally attacked or criticized sounded like a dream. And then I realized-- what the hell!? I can't blindly support someone when I don't believe in them, regardless of how much 'easier' it may be. That would go against every single thing I've been saying.

Besides, I genuinely do like Senator John McCain and Governor Palin. Whenever I see an interview with them on TV or read something (positive) I just feel good. McCain inspires me like very few people can. His speeches have helped to restore hope in this usually oh-so-cyncial person. As for Palin...Well, she has brought out some of my best qualities. And I think most people will agree. After having a rough couple of months, I had very little to look forward to or get excited about- the McCain/Palin ticket gave me that. It's been a thrilling change to have something I am so dedicated to, after I've spent too long flip-flopping between ideas and ideals. And I will be forever thankful.



Perhaps that's also why the negative comments about Palin, especially, have hit me hard. They feel personal because I have developed such an attachment to her as a person. I would like to note that I feel this attachment and admiration is separate from my political support. I would not label what I feel for Palin as idolization, despite my constant use of her pictures. She doesn't deserve all of the comments she's been getting, nobody does, I don't care if you're in the public eye or not. She is not as clueless as the media likes to portray her as. Do people honestly think that Sarah Palin would have agreed to be the GOP VP nominee without knowing what it is that a Vice President does? And it's a real shame that many people take in so many lies (or twisted truths) and don't think to question them.

I feel like it would be worth some time to examine a little further what it actually is that I agree with Palin on. I know I have mentioned things in brief already, but there's nothing wrong with repeating them! Especially because I think this will allow me to prove to a few more people that I am being serious and not superficial.

Coming at this from somewhat of an American viewpoint (I suppose):

Sarah Palin does support equal rights for women! And just something of note, Palin was the first woman to be governor of Alaska (and the youngest overall!).

Palin supports "the right to bear arms"/the Second Amendment (including handgun possession)which I agree with. She also supports capital punishment. This was the issue that made me really start looking into Republican/conservative beliefs after my high school Political Science teacher made a comment about it(I ferociously wrote about why I support the death penalty in an essay). Palin is pro-life- as am I. She is a little more extreme in her views than I am (I do, however, agree 100% with McCain on the issue). Palin does support sex education in schools. While she advocates abstinence, she also thinks schools should discuss methods of birth control.

Palin supports the Bush Adminstration's policies on Iraq. It would be irresponsible to remove the troops immediately. As is written on John McCain's official website: "...McCain believes it is strategically and morally essential for the United States to support the Government of Iraq to become capable of governing itself and safeguarding its people. He strongly disagrees with those who advocate withdrawing American troops before that has occurred." This is exactly what I believe, as well.

I love that she's been an advocate for oil and natural gas resources--drill, baby, drill (and has done a lot in her state of Alaska). Palin has been involved with the largest energy development project in US history- a $40 billion pipeline that will bring natural gas from Alaska to the lower states.

Also, as mayor of Wasilla, Palin cut property taxes by 75% and eliminated personal property and business inventory taxes. Palin also supported a voter-approved city sales tax increase of 0.5% to pay for a new sports complex.

(Some facts taken or double-checked via Wikipedia)

There are more things, yes, definitely. But I want to focus on another "Palin Problem"...

Some people have asked me if I honestly think Sarah Palin is qualified to be the Vice President- let alone the President. And I would like to give a very concise answer: Yes, I do.

For starters, Palin has eight years of Executive experience (six years as Mayor of Wasilla, the maximum amount of time allowed to serve because of term limits, and two years as Governor).
Palin does have military experience, as she was in charge of Alaska's National Guard. I would like to cite an article from blackfive.net:

"As governor of Alaska, Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism. Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden's. She's also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security's counterterrorism plans. Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country's defense. Given Alaska's proximity to Russia, she may have security clearances we don't even know about."

Palin has accomplished a lot of impressive things as Governor.
To quote another article:
Palin "introduced a budget that reduced state spending by $124 million, which fell short of her goal of slashing spending by $150 million. She later vetoed $231 million from a proposed state budget, but the remaining $1.54 billion still exceeded her target spending levels. In 2008, state lawmakers reintroduced $58 billion in projects that were cut from the 2007 budget, but Palin vetoed the projects again."

With an 80%+ approval rating, Palin has to be on to something- right?


Something else interesting to think about...
Harry Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, didn't have any education beyond a high school degree (For the record, Sarah Palin has a Bachelor of Science in Communications and Journalism). Truman is arguably one of history's best Presidents.

Out of all of America's Presidents...18 of them were, at one point, Governors. Hmm... And you know what they say about history repeating itself.

Sarah Palin should never be underestimated. Neither should John McCain. They know what they're doing-- and they're going to continue doing it. And I'm going to continue to cheer them on. There's no giving up now (or ever)!

The song that never ends

(it goes on and on my friends!) I can't seem to stay away from Sarah Palin-related things!

I know, I know, everyone who comes within two feet of me and my blog must be sick and tired of my never-ending Palin parade... And I know it must get repetitive...But what can I say, it's what keeps me going. It's actually gotten to the point where I take a break from my studies and open up a political magazine, go to a news website, or open up video of an interview.

Just seconds before I opened this window to start typing this, I finished a major paper for one of my classes. My immediate thought after I had written the final words was not to turn on the television or take a nap, but that I now had time to look further into the issue of Newsweek I had purchased earlier in the day (yes, I caved. I wasn't going to buy it because I heard that it was overwhelmingly negative, and it cost over $6...but I decided that it was best that I read it for myself).


This particular issue of Newsweek has stirred up controversy for its cover. The unaltered, and rather unflattering close up of Governor Palin had people wondering why Newsweek chose it. Right-wingers seem to think that it's the magazine proving their bias. Personally, I don't find the picture to be so bad. Palin is an undeniably attractive woman- regardless of whether or not she's been touched up.


My issue lies inside with the cover article. The story called "The Palin Problem" by Jon Meacham is a biased account of Palin's politics. While the article makes some credible points against Palin, it neglects to address the positive. It seems that in order to get the positive you need to look at Right-wing media. Townhall magazine, for instance, a conversative publication has Sarah Palin on the cover of their most recent issue. But finding that magazine? Good luck. I was lucky enough to find it (just one lone copy too) in a little magazine shop in Halifax. Their article on Palin "Change Taxpayers Can Believe In" by Amanda Carpenter was just the positive spin I wanted to read. But it's not even really a "spin" it's just a focus on the good as opposed to the bad. For once I would like to read something unbiased. Something that is not for or against Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin. Why does the media encourage negative things? And how can they get away with obviously favoring one candidate over another? And why is the negative Palin press so defining of her character? I think Meacham has the best Palin-related quote near the end of his Newsweek article when he wrote that "perhaps Sarah Palin will somehow emerge from the hurly-burly of history as a transformative figure who was underestimated in her time by journalists who could not see, or refuse to acknowledge, her virtues".

It's not only Palin that is being underestimated. It's her supporters as well. To go back to something I have and will continue to talk about for the next few weeks...I have been all over various online forums lately, defending Palin wherever and whenever I can. And the minute I speak my mind, I'm attacked by usually three or four Democrats or Obama supporters. They call me various forms of unintelligent and close-minded. Some even saying how it's "a shame" that I am rather conservative, others telling me that I'm "better than that". Better than what? Better than having beliefs that you do not agree with? That does not sound like a good thing to me. I'd rather disagree with 10,000 people than agree with them if I don't believe what they're saying. And I am not the kind of person who will sit back and let whatever it is I happen to believe in be attacked.

And I'd like to note that not once did I call anyone stupid for not agreeing with me. Even when I get attacked on an unneccessary personal level for my beliefs. In fact, I encourage people to disagree with me- provided they can back up their reasonings. It's not much of a disagreement if you can't support why. I've encouraged all of my undecided American friends to look into the facts- to research what both Presidential candidates believe in- and make the decision for themselves. And if they want opinions then I'd be more than happy to share mine. I'm not forcing them down anybody's throat. I'm not being mean, using stereotypes, or slandering the other candidates. I think it's disgusting when people do that.

And back to the media for a moment. Celebrity news shows (Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Extra, The Insider) have been pretty good with being unbiased. I have been particularly impressed with the way ET has handled the upcoming election, constantly urging viewers to vote, regardless of their political views. The celebrities they show, however, are a completely different story. Many of whom don't seem to know what they're talking about other than "Obama good. Palin bad." It's not even a race between those two, when you think about it! It's Obama VS. McCain. Those are the two Presidential nominees. And while it is important to look at the qualifications of the VP's, shouldn't the President be more important? Why do people assume that McCain is going to die? There is nothing wrong with his health at the moment. There is nothing to suggest that he cannot handle the pressures and stresses.

When I was looking at political magazines the other day...I noticed something interesting. Palin was featured on the cover of about 7 magazines. Obama on about 4. McCain was on 1. And Biden? Wait... Who? He's practically non-existent in the eyes of the media. How is it fair that the media pretty much ignores him while Palin's every single move is documented?

SNL tonight should be interesting.
It could end up being the most watched episode in the shows history.
Surely nobody can say that Palin hasn't garned people's interest!

{If an undecided Americans happen to have stumbled across this blog...I strongly suggest you look at primary sources before you make up you mind on who you're going to vote for. Don't let anybody else choose for! This is an important decision, and you owe it to yourself to take it seriously.}

Palin-tics

Politics have a way of angering me like almost nothing else can (the other things that really get me going? Hockey and music). Actually, it’s more the young people that are bothering me.

I realize what a funny statement that is to make, considering I am just out of my teen years, but it’s something I have been saying for longer than I can remember. I have always had interests out of my age range- from television shows (when I was in the fourth grade my favorite things to watch were, amongst others: The Golden Girls, Oprah, and The Rosie O’Donnell Show) to music (my favorite band is the classic rock ‘supergroup’ Fleetwood Mac). And now my politics seem to fall in that range. Opinions and beliefs that cause me to get picked on by others my age and younger.

My anger is coming from a very specific place though…And that’s because the majority of young people I’ve come into contact with, both in person and online, think it is “cool” to support Obama. Forget the issues! Forget making decisions for yourself! Are your friends supporting Obama? Oh, then you must too. The media says that change is good (and it is), and change for 2008 means electing Senator Obama.

That’s right; I forgot that Senator McCain and President Bush are actually the same person. Isn’t Sarah Palin Dick Cheney in drag?

Get serious.


On October 15th, Barack Obama and John McCain faced off in the last of their Presidential debates. McCain said, flat out, “I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should’ve run four years ago.” Exactly!

People note the similarities between Bush and McCain. Hmm, could that have anything to do with the fact that they are members of the same party? Of course there are going to be parallels between the two. The New York Times has an interesting article about this ('How Close McCain is to Bush Depends on the Issue') which I think is definitely worth a read. Time also has an article ('Frenemies: The McCain-Bush Dance') which even mentions how in 2004, the Democratic Presidential nominee, John Kerry, asked McCain to be his running mate.

But what's set me off today was a comment I read online where someone referred to Governor Palin as "crazy lady". These Obama supporters who call Palin every name except for her own are the same ones who went up in arms when McCain referred to Senator Obama as "that one". Do I need to spell it out? H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E-S. How many times is this going to keep happening? Do these people honestly not realize what they are doing? Or do they simply not care because they have an opportunity to make Sarah Palin look bad?


I have been getting a lot of flack for my Palin support. People have tried to get me to admit that it's just because she's a woman and I'm bitter because of what happened to Senator Clinton. NO! How many times do I have to say it before people will listen to me? I agree with Palin on the issues. I agree with her stances on the death penalty (as I've mentioned before), Iraq, health care, climate change & energy, the Second Amendment, education... It goes on.

What I am against is Palin's stance against gay marriage (but none of the candidates on either side support that. Obama and Biden do support civil unions, however) and her harsh take on abortion. While I am pro-life, I do think there should be exceptions in cases such as rape.

But it is the large amount of issues that I do agree with which has caused me to throw the Republicans my support. I don't feel like it's right to support Obama/Biden just because of their view of gay rights, regardless of how it effects me.

If there were different candidates perhaps my thoughts would be different. A friend posed this question to me: If the running mates were reversed- who would you be supporting?

Now, I realize that that would be an absurdly impossible situation. But I think I would be supporting Obama/Palin because all of my issues would be addressed. And because I am a Palin supporter, first and foremost. She is the one in this election with whom I share the majority of my beliefs with.

If Senator Clinton were running- for President or for VP- I wonder if my support would still lie with her or not. While I have been a Clinton supporter for a ridiculous amount of time, my support has not always rested with her and her political beliefs. And would it be wrong to support someone just because you admire them as a person, even when you don't agree with the majority of their politics?

This is something I have seriously been thinking about. And I've even thinking about it in terms of Governor Palin. I do admire her. I have put her up there with my biggest idol of all-time, Delta Burke (who just so happens to be a Republican AND a former beauty queen. Go figure).

But as I told someone just the other day: Her charm, conviction, and her 'attractive-ness' is just an added bonus. If any of the other candidates had her beliefs instead I would be supporting them.


But they don't. And Sarah Palin happens to be a woman. So I am going to continue to support her. I am going to continue to talk about her (too much, I'm sure. My friends have started to suggest rehab for my Palin addiction. Of course I'd be the one to joke that it'd have to be as 'Palin-less' as possible...But I digress). And I am not going to hide away because I know that I don't have the popular opinion. I have the utmost confidence in my beliefs- because I know I made the decision on my own. I wasn't influenced by the media and celebrities or even my friends and parents.


I wonder how many others, American, Canadian, or otherwise, can say that?