It's Election Day in the USA - VOTE!

If you're in the USA and you haven't already voted in the national election, then PLEASE go out and vote today. I'm not going to ask what candidate you'll be voting for, or what platform you prefer, I only care that you exercise your hard-fought right to vote. That goes double for all of you who are women. We fought damned hard for the right to vote. Don't ignore the sacrifices of your ancestors by minimizing their risk and strength and turning your back on the opportunities that they gave to you. 

This photo is from a Nazi rally from 1935! Long before the 
actual war began. Don't kid yourself. It's really easy to 
get pulled into rhetoric and chants, to feel united with the 
person standing next to you, and to paint those who are 
not in the stadium with colors of treason. It's always easy 
to blame the other guy for your own troubles. 

I'm not fond of a lot of what's been going around in this country for the past six-eight years. I don't believe in the conspiracy theories. I don't believe in the rhetoric or the dogma. I believe in an individual's right to act according to their conscience so long as that will bring no harm to others. I'm not dogmatic, nor do I support those who are. But when I look at the nation today, and look at Germany in 1936, I see horrific similarities, and it frightens me. 

Lest you think Nazi rallies drew people only in Germany, 
here's a photo of a Nazi rally in Madison Square Gardens 
from the 1930's. Hitler had plenty of support from the 
USA for quite a while there, and really didn't get the 
justified paintbrush of hatred until after the death camps 
were completely disclosed. There are those who still 
believe that the Camps were a falsehood, a "big lie". Tell that to my 
grandparents who lost their lives in Auschwitz. 

How can I compare 2022 America with 1936 Germany? Unfortunately it's relatively easy to see the similarities when viewed with the eyes of clarity. I may not care about your individual vote because you have the hard-won right to choose whomever you prefer in the ballot box. But it's not much of a stretch to envision storm troopers of our current day marching down the streets of Washington DC, New York and Los Angeles. It's times like this when I'm grateful that I'm in my latter years. It I was 30 again, I'd be frightened - very frightened. 

I voted early this year, for the primary and again 
in the general election. I don't have to worry about 
getting in and out of the polling place and still 
getting to work on time. DH is off today, so he'll 
go around mid-day instead. Less of a crowd to 
deal with. 

The only way to speak for the future you envision is to vote. I voted several weeks ago, and DH will be traveling to vote in person either at 11:00 am or 1:00 pm (he's uncertain which time will be better for him, but he'll be there voting - we never miss an election). So please, vote. I may not agree with your choices, but it's not for me to decide your platform; we all have to live with our personal decisions. Have an excellent Tuesday, I'm off to the pool. I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini.