So....
I'm a 48 year old white male. I have a batchelor's degree in engineering, a master's degree in divinity, and a doctoral degree in ministry. I spent 10 years in professional ministry but have spent most of my life working in corporate America - traveling the US for the Paper Industry. Most of mine time is now spent in paper mills in Arkansas and to the south and East to Georgia. My wife is an elementary school principal at a low income school and is also white. She and I adopted a sibling group of 4 african american kids that had become wards of the court after we foster parented them for four years. They are all grown leaving me with just the 50 head of cattle to fuss with...
I voted for Hillary because I believe in compassion - for refugees, for minorities, for underprivileged, and I believe she gave the best opportunity for our country to do and be that. I realize that the burden for that compassion lay mostly with us. The risk for compassion lay with us. I get that. But I believe compassion trumps (no pun intended) everything else.
When my oldest daughter was in 3rd grade she called me over to describe to me why she was the "ugly one" in her class. She described it was because her nose was wider, her lips were bigger, her hair was kinkier and her skin was darker. That shame she will carry her whole life for her race and for being abandoned by her birth family. That is a shame many of us know nothing about. If it hadn't been for your willingness to pay taxes in support of government programs for the poor, I would not have been able to raise these four children to become the upstanding adults they are today. I want to thank you for allowing me to do that.
My wife is also a government employee - slogging away - 70 hours a week - attempting to keep a public school together that is running out of money - she reminds me of a farmer in a drought with a broke down tractor. I don't forget for a moment that it's YOUR money that is funding those schools - frequently for others who can't pay for them. I want to let you know my wife is the hardest working person I know to make sure she makes the best possible use out of your tax dollars - aimed at helping these impoverished kids succeed. I'm sure you had other plans for the money and I want you to know I am DEEPLY appreciative of your willingness to support "the system" for the sake of our four kids and my wife. People don't understand the charity that is paying taxes. THANK YOU!!
That said, I have heard people (mostly Hillary supporters I reckon) say horrible things about Trump supporters - people like many of you - hard working, caring, intelligent people just trying to do right by your families and what you believe. Good people. They (we) know nothing about you and judge you like you're idiots for supporting him. For that, I attempt to apologize for all of them (if I could). They are wrong and I attempt to stand up for you whenever I get a chance. They don't know what you've been through and the challenges you face in your day to day living any more than we country folk understand my daughter and her challenges. I learned that first hand when I started raising cattle - people have NO IDEA where their food comes from and that's a travesty.
What I know about all of you is that you're good people who look at life differently. You're good people just trying to do right by what you believe. You all and the Hillary supporters I know have that in common.
Anyway.... I voted for Hillary and I would again. I don't hunt or fish. I hate killing animals actually - especially the three cows I had to euthanize in my field. But I loooooove a good steak and I do drive a truck!! 2002 Chevy Durmax with 186,000 miles. I think I'm a good person. I think you would be glad to know me. I hope we can still be friends. :tiphat:
I'm a 48 year old white male. I have a batchelor's degree in engineering, a master's degree in divinity, and a doctoral degree in ministry. I spent 10 years in professional ministry but have spent most of my life working in corporate America - traveling the US for the Paper Industry. Most of mine time is now spent in paper mills in Arkansas and to the south and East to Georgia. My wife is an elementary school principal at a low income school and is also white. She and I adopted a sibling group of 4 african american kids that had become wards of the court after we foster parented them for four years. They are all grown leaving me with just the 50 head of cattle to fuss with...
I voted for Hillary because I believe in compassion - for refugees, for minorities, for underprivileged, and I believe she gave the best opportunity for our country to do and be that. I realize that the burden for that compassion lay mostly with us. The risk for compassion lay with us. I get that. But I believe compassion trumps (no pun intended) everything else.
When my oldest daughter was in 3rd grade she called me over to describe to me why she was the "ugly one" in her class. She described it was because her nose was wider, her lips were bigger, her hair was kinkier and her skin was darker. That shame she will carry her whole life for her race and for being abandoned by her birth family. That is a shame many of us know nothing about. If it hadn't been for your willingness to pay taxes in support of government programs for the poor, I would not have been able to raise these four children to become the upstanding adults they are today. I want to thank you for allowing me to do that.
My wife is also a government employee - slogging away - 70 hours a week - attempting to keep a public school together that is running out of money - she reminds me of a farmer in a drought with a broke down tractor. I don't forget for a moment that it's YOUR money that is funding those schools - frequently for others who can't pay for them. I want to let you know my wife is the hardest working person I know to make sure she makes the best possible use out of your tax dollars - aimed at helping these impoverished kids succeed. I'm sure you had other plans for the money and I want you to know I am DEEPLY appreciative of your willingness to support "the system" for the sake of our four kids and my wife. People don't understand the charity that is paying taxes. THANK YOU!!
That said, I have heard people (mostly Hillary supporters I reckon) say horrible things about Trump supporters - people like many of you - hard working, caring, intelligent people just trying to do right by your families and what you believe. Good people. They (we) know nothing about you and judge you like you're idiots for supporting him. For that, I attempt to apologize for all of them (if I could). They are wrong and I attempt to stand up for you whenever I get a chance. They don't know what you've been through and the challenges you face in your day to day living any more than we country folk understand my daughter and her challenges. I learned that first hand when I started raising cattle - people have NO IDEA where their food comes from and that's a travesty.
What I know about all of you is that you're good people who look at life differently. You're good people just trying to do right by what you believe. You all and the Hillary supporters I know have that in common.
Anyway.... I voted for Hillary and I would again. I don't hunt or fish. I hate killing animals actually - especially the three cows I had to euthanize in my field. But I loooooove a good steak and I do drive a truck!! 2002 Chevy Durmax with 186,000 miles. I think I'm a good person. I think you would be glad to know me. I hope we can still be friends. :tiphat:
