America votes-election 2012

I was born in 1969 under a Nazi government (otherwise known as apartheid South Africa)...so it should come as no surprise that I am political. Very political. For that, I make no apologies. I firmly believe that everything in our lives is political...bar none. And because I spent the first part of my life in a country that denied me democracy and basic human rights (I grew up under a gov't where even saying the word Nelson Mandela was considered treason)... I don't take any of my rights and freedoms  for granted. Education, reproductive rights, access to affordable health care, who I can marry (under apartheid you could marry someone of  different race but...you couldn't live together!!), where I worship, if I choose to worship at all, access to information, what I can say, write, paint... self esteem...everything comes down to politics. It's a mistake to think otherwise; "The personal is political". I know this to be true.

“What do you think an artist is? An imbecile who only has eyes, if he is a painter, or ears if he is a musician, or a lyre in every chamber of his heart if he is a poet, or even, if he is a boxer, just his muscles? Far from it: at the same time he is also a political being, constantly aware of the heartbreaking, passionate, or delightful things that happen in the world, shaping himself completely in their image. How could it be possible to feel no interest in other people, and with a cool indifference to detach yourself from the very life which they bring to you so abundantly? No, painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war.” -Picasso
I have always loved this quote by Picasso...and while he was talking about WW2 and the politics of that time...I firmly believe that it applies to us today. I have been dismayed and surprised at the (mostly) art blogs I read and follow. All of them have chosen not to talk about politics or the election. And I understand. It's not a popular choice...it's personal and divisive and goes to heart of who we are. People may become offended and uncomfortable and choose not to read our blogs or buy our art or take our workshops etc. We may lose friends and comments and readers and opportunities. But, for me, the most important thing is that I don't lose mySELF. I stand behind who I am and what's important to me. I would rather be uncomfortable talking about politics than be uncomfortable having my basic rights stripped away from me.

Of course I understand that politics is politics. But this election cycle has triggered so many issues that I am so incredibly passionate about!! Too many to go into details so here's just a few...stupid male politicians (all of whom happen to be Republican BTW) making the most offensive remarks about rape, birth control, abortion and women's health/reproductive rights (so Mr. Mourdock...have you heard of seperation of church and state???) . This drives me nuts!!!! Voter suppression tactics, global warming (no, people...it's not a left wing media bias ..it's real and it's happening!!)...The GOP wanting to privatise everything from FEMA to health care to education to...medicare????. And underlying so much of what is considered to be intelligent political discourse is plain old ugly racism. The birthers who continue with their nonsensical "President Obama wasn't born here" crap. It's so ridiculous and offensive. Okay...what are they really saying???? It drives me kinda' over the edge. Anyhoo....the most egregious of all attacks on a democracy is not voting at all. So...whoever you support...make like Nike and just do it!!! GO VOTE!!!!