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[ColoradoSpringsHuman]

106. It hurts that people would say so many horrible things without living it first.

I have just reached the age to vote, and I am a registered democrat. I can assure you that the amount of manpower that the generation before me voted down in firefighting is infinitesimal compared to the size of the fire and the amount of resources needed to come in.

I would say I'm pretty liberal. I also just graduated the high school for which the mountain shadows community feeds into. It has been utterly heartbreaking to see, just over the ridge, houses burning as far as you can see. It feels as though our world is ending. My friends.. I was just at their houses last week, joking around, enjoying our summer. And everything they and their parents have worked for their whole lives is GONE. Everything they have, save a few things they could pack in their car.

I have had to pack up my room, anticipating an evacuation. I am 18, in fantastic running shape (going to college for it) and a couple minutes outside leaves me short of breath. I slept 3 hours last night, dreading being woken by the reverse 911 call to evacuate.

Would you really wish any of this on anyone?

http://yfrog.com/odkj9rqgj
https://twitter.com/KRDONC13/status/218072962006392833/photo/1/large

I have never had to think about which possessions I'd give up if there weren't enough space to move everything.
I have never had to wonder how to comfort my friends that have no home.
I'd never had to wonder if in a couple days I will have no home.

I am also gay. I respect the views of liberals, because generally there is so much love and acceptance, but it hurts - a deep, punch-to-the-gut-kind of hurt when my whole city is categorized by a few radical right-wing organizations.

Do not forget that not only is part of CoS evac'd. Manitou, Cascade, Green Mountain Falls, Woodland Park, Chipeta Park, Monument. Smoke has been in pueblo, denver, ft. collins. Hell, boulder's on fire!! If they aren't liberal, I dunno who is.

This devastation and destruction goes far beyond differing views. For example, the fire does not care if a house has a Democrat sign or a Republican sign in their front yard. Plastic all burns the same.

Please don't put your political views above your humanity.