Who Am I? - Guest Blog by JoAnne Bower

Today once again I am trying something new.  My dear friend JoAnne (we've known each other for more than 40 years) is a very thoughtful and passionate writer.  Like me she is discovering that when things strongly affect us, catharsis comes from writing. So today I am sharing something timely that JoAnne has given me permission to share with you.

Who Am I?

As someone who’s become increasingly disturbed by the current polarization in our country and the fear, hatred, bias and stereotyping being hurled back and forth on all sides, I thought I’d invent a new game. Feel free to share it, ignore it, play along or send me your own version. It’s called “Who Am I?” And since it’s my game, I get to go first.

So who am I?

I’m a 58-year-old single white heterosexual female.

I was born in Philadelphia and for the last 50 years have lived in its inner-ring suburbs.

I am self-supporting, having worked part-time for the four years I was in college and full-time for the 37 years since then.

I was raised in the Lutheran church, including Sunday school and singing in the choir every week.

If I could sum up my philosophy of life in one sentence, it would be “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

I love America and am proudly patriotic. I don’t just respect our troops, I’m in awe of their courage and devotion. I cry every time I hear “Taps” or “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” at a military funeral, and get goose bumps when I hear a Sousa march on the Fourth of July. I sing the National Anthem at any event it’s played at and know ALL the words, not just the first verse. I was once so overwhelmed by the glorious sight of the flag flying against the clear blue sky over the U.S. Capitol that I almost burst into tears. And I doubt that any experience in the world can make you feel more deeply American than watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington Cemetery.

I strongly believe in the sanctity of marriage and that the erosion of the family unit over the last several decades is at the root of many of the ills currently plaguing our society.

I have a strong sense of personal responsibility. Except for an unfortunate tendency to drive too fast, I’m a pretty boringly law-abiding citizen who thinks we need tougher penalties and stricter law enforcement in many areas. After wrestling with the death penalty argument most of my life, I finally came down against it, though will freely admit there are far too many cases in today’s society that tempt me to switch back.

I actually enjoy the responsibility of jury duty as much as I do the right to vote on Election Day. I wish every American took the same interest in both.

Speaking of voting, I’ve never missed a November election and only a handful of local primaries. And I’ve voted for at least one Democrat, Republican and Independent candidate for U.S. President.

I oppose abortion on demand and think it should be reserved for very rare cases like where the life of the mother is in danger. At the same time, I feel that any discussion of abortion should be preceded by every effort possible to reduce unwanted pregnancies in the first place – you know, that personal responsibility thing again.

I listen to neither Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow nor Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. Basically, I’m too cheap to get cable. But I don’t watch the network Sunday morning talk shows, either, so maybe I just like to think for myself and make up my own mind on the issues.

I’m not much of an intellectual. My college degree was in liberal arts from a small state teacher’s college in a conservative part of Pennsylvania, and I somehow managed to graduate without ever taking a course in psychology or philosophy. I’m old-fashioned enough to still prefer print newspapers and magazines to the Internet, and while I’m an avid book reader, I tend to read far more romantic suspense novels and political or medical thrillers than I do biographies, history, or anything else particularly edifying. TV? I’m a “Jeopardy” addict and watch a fair amount of stuff on PBS, but I’m just as often glued to “American Idol”, “Dancing With the Stars” and (okay, I’ll admit it) “The Bachelor”. (Though I do draw the line at “Wife Swap”).

My car radio is usually on one of two local country music stations, though my real favorite music is the WWII-era stuff. My CD collection ranges from Patsy Cline to Nat King Cole and from Queen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

I think Starbucks’ mocha-latte-foamy-cappuccino crap sucks and would rather have a $1.29 real cup of coffee from Wawa any day. I drink cheap boxed wine from American vineyards. I love old diners and hate pretentious French restaurants.

I not only “never inhaled” marijuana, I can’t stand to be within a hundred yards of it.

Though I love Pennsylvania, if I could live in any other state, it would be Alaska.

I’ve never been to Europe, but have been to 47 of our 50 states.

If I only had one day to spend in Washington, D.C., it would be spent at Arlington Cemetery, the National Cathedral and Ford’s Theater.

I’m middle class, and while I’ll probably never fully achieve “the American Dream”, I consider myself blessed to live in the country where I have at least had the opportunity to try.

So…….enough background; time to take the quiz. Am I:

a) A moderate Democrat

b) A moderate Republican

c) A Libertarian

d) An Independent

e) A Compassionate Conservative

f) A member of the Tea Party movement

Time’s up – and if you answered any of the above, you’re wrong. Sorry, it was a trick question, and I left out a few details:

I’m also a born-again atheist, or at least an agnostic. While I make a fervent effort to respect others’ religious beliefs, I practice no organized religion myself.

I’m a committed tree-hugger who can’t believe that otherwise rational people can still claim global warming is just a hoax.

I support gay marriage and adoptions.

While I support the right to own guns, I’ll never understand the overwhelming NEED to in this country. Or why the NRA objects so strenuously to even the slightest regulation of them.

Oh, and that overwhelming feeling of patriotism I felt at the flag flying over the Capitol? I was at a huge protest against the war in Iraq at the time.

I don’t think the recent healthcare reform bill went far ENOUGH.

And yes, I not only voted for President Obama, I spent endless hours campaigning for him and would do so again in a heartbeat.

So NOW who am I? I’ll give you some more options this time:

g) A liberal Democrat

h) A Socialist

i) A Marxist

j) A left-wing lunatic whack job

Okay, time’s up again – and too bad, but if you picked any of the above, you’re STILL wrong.

So who am I?

I’m an American.

That’s all I am. That’s all you are. And if that’s the only thing we have in common, it’s also the only thing we NEED to have in common.

And it’s no game. It’s becoming deadly serious.

So stop with the labels already. Stop the name-calling. Stop the hate.

Start acting like Americans.

Because it’s not really “Who Am I?”…… it’s “Who Are WE?”

© 2010. JoAnne Bower