Rawhide Gifts and Gallery

Take the time to vote…no matter what. 

In my shop, I get a variety of people. Usually, they come in to buy a gift or two, or they are there to get a framing estimate. Nothing more, nothing less.

But sometimes, as people do, we get to visiting. And nothing seems to be of more of a hot topic of debate than voting this year. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama,  and John McCain. And the fact that they feel like giving up on voting.

I won’t argue or express my personal opinions here, but as I visited with some of my customers, I really was surprised at the wide range of comments, and emotions, that this particular election appears to be generating.

Without a doubt, many are disgusted and discouraged with the direction our country is heading and the sad state is seems to be in. Because of the wild and reckless spending that our government has indulged in for many years, we have an imbalance in our system. And ever widening gap of people with plenty of money to spend,  to those who have to make the painful choice of paying their mortgage, buying groceries for their children or keeping the heat on.

So why do we still look to the government, and the people leading it, to fix the very problems they created? Why are we so sure that they will curb their shameless spending and their endless feeding at the public trough? Why do we still hold out hope that they have our best interests at heart?

I’ve heard comments ranging from ‘Evil Hilary’ to ‘Obama will be our “Savior” ‘ to ‘McCain’ is our only sane choice, to ‘Evil Obama’ and back again. As I said, I’m going to keep my own opinions from this commentary.

But what I DO think is important is that we, as a people, as a nation, do not become complacent. And we have. We complain often. ….to our spouses, our friends, our neighbors and pastors and family. But while change is inevitable, sometimes change is needed. And sometimes change needs a push.

If you do nothing, if you say nothing, if you don’t even vote, then you have actually made a choice. Silence IS a choice. Sitting on the fence is a choice. Remember that freedom really isn’t free. Someone died somewhere at sometime so that you could have a voice to vote.

If you want change, you must make a choice. Take the time to research your candidate. Look for their values, their beliefs. Look at their voting history.  Hear what they have to say. What are they really trying to do for your country, for you?

It may not be an easy decision to make….but don’t let Silence be your decision of choice. Your right to vote is an important one….exercise it!

1. They Spit! That stuff lands everywhere. Not too soon after they learn how to walk, , and I swear their first birthday gift from their daddy’s is their first can of Copenhagen. They have contests with each other on how far they can spit and how often. Do NOT, and I repeat this with all the sincerity in my heart; do NOT drink out of any open soda can unless you know exactly where it came from! Or you’ve opened it yourself!2. They Wear Their Spurs to Bed. Not to mention the most obvious mental picture ya’ll are getting, it gets white sheets dirty. It’s tacky. And Emily Post says it’s just not done between the sheets.2. They Wear Their Spurs to Bed. Not to mention the most obvious mental picture ya’ll are getting, it gets white sheets dirty. It’s tacky. And Emily Post says it’s just not done between the sheets.

3. They Won’t Carry a Conversation with You. Unless you are ok with the occasional grunt of: “uh-uh”, “ok”, “nope”, “ahhhh”, “nuh”, and “what’s to eat?”, you won’t hear too much else. Oh! Refer to #4. They WILL ask you how they look in their jeans and you had better get that answer right or else!

4. They’re Worried More About How They Look in Their Jeans than YOU. You think you are worried about how you look in a pair of jeans when you look in the mirror? Enough said.

5. His Truck comes First. Yes, ladies, that’s a given. You’ll be lucky if you’re given flowers at your funeral. This is the one place that is sacrosanct, and the one place he doesn’t spit…well….maybe!

#6. Beer is #1!!!….Actually, if you find the right guy, ladies….can you put up with all of this…the spurs, spitting, beer and trucks? Well….maybe!