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Cousins
(Submitted by Veritas)
I love my dad. He's a role model to me in many ways, full of knowledge and wisdom and experience. We talk about a lot, and often when I'm particularly worried or upset about something, my dad's the first person I call to vent, knowing he'll be accepting, quick to encircle me with unconditional love. But there are two topics we stay well clear of: money and politics.
My father's always been what we now call a Rabid Right-Wing Republican. He couldn't be happier with how the world (the Republican one, since it's the only True worldview) has come around to his way of thinking. He worshipped Nixon. He epitomizes so many right-wing stereotypes - quick to criticize others for his own faults (see: mote, own eye); a card-carrying Christian (who, to his credit, has given much of his money and time to the church) who leads a very un-Christlike life and condemns social justice and just about any sort of social program, even a church-administered one, unless it helps out poor white folks; a cranky old man who complains about small children not related to him (see: lawn, children get off mine); and a lecherous creep who hated Hillary for (among other things) her failure to "wear skirts" - one of the many frustrated old guys who wants to vote for Sarah Palin as a surrogate for, well, doing something the First Dude probably wouldn't appreciate.
As my father has gotten older, his time is increasingly filled by the likes of Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter (whom he also wants to bang, which I find mildly amusing), and lately, an endless string of viral emails forwarded by well-meaning wingnut friends. I used to be on his distribution list, until he sent me some smear back in 2004 about how John Kerry desecrated the graves of Iraq war soldiers who had died in combat. Active duty and greatly respecting Kerry, I was incensed. I politely but extremely firmly replied by debunking all the emailed crap (citing my sources) and then told him in no uncertain terms to NEVER forward that BS to me ever again.
So we don't talk politics. He knows I'm a big Obama supporter (after all, I almost always wear an Obama t-shirt around him) and back in my more idealistic days a year or so ago, I eagerly shared news of my revelationary experiences canvassing in Alabama last January, prior to Super Tuesday. I even sent my dad copies of Obama's books, thinking perhaps that Obama's conservative lifestyle, compelling story of faith and religion, and refreshing honesty about serving in the halls of Congress might impress him. Then the talk-show hosts took over.
Occasionally, I'm afraid, politics seeps through in the context of another conversation, and my father's cognitive chasm astounds me. It's impossible to avoid talking about the election this year; it's such big news. I try to keep my comments strictly non-partisan. So I mentioned how there was so much early voting this year (absentee as well as actual polling places, and vote-by-mail) and that I had already voted. "All this push in the last few weeks may not do very much good if a lot of people have already voted." He said, "I just received my absentee ballot too." Long pause. "I won't tell you how I voted," my dad continued, "because I don't want to start a family fight [his kids are all varying flavors of liberal], so I'll just tell you about two things: I voted No on 7 and Yes on 8."
[I asked about 7 - it's some utility proposition. Prop 8 is of course the anti-marriage bill. My dad's a CA resident.]
"Oh," I said non-commitally. I didn't want to engage. But my father continued, gearing up into his diatribe about how the World Would End if Gay People Got Married. I thought he might bring up his Biblical opposition to gay practices, but no, his first argument was that it would be bad for kids because "children need fathers". This I found overwhelmingly ironic: my father did not see a single one of his children through to adulthood. He split with their various mothers when the children were aged, oh, 0 to 12. Two of his kids, neither of which was school-aged yet, were unceremoniously dumped with relatives to be raised because neither parent was ready to parent. Even now, decades later, one of his kids won't speak to him and the other three (besides me) keep him at a safe emotional and physical distance.
Then my father continued, "If a couple of gays really want to...uh...live together," [meaning, of course, gay men; and he couldn't even come up with words to describe that horrible sin in which they'd be daily living] "Well, they should go and get a civil union. But keep "marriage" out of it." "Oh, absolutely," I agreed. "I don't think the state should be marrying anyone, gay or straight. The state should only issue civil unions. Marriages should be something handled by religious groups according to their beliefs." My dad didn't like that.
As we drove on and I pondered the further irony of a man with three failed marriages lecturing anyone on the need to keep decades-long committed couples from officially tying the knot, my mind naturally turned to civil rights. How is this different, as the Connecticut judge alluded to, from discriminating on the basis of race? As though I'd telepathically communicated my train of thought, my dad kept talking. "Now in my church," he spat with obvious distaste, "there is this white woman who decided she'd marry a black man." Uh-oh, I thought, red alert! My father is one of the most racist people I know; although since he lives in California, much of it is directed toward Hispanics. I'd already had to hear about how the black and brown people caused the mortgage crisis, as aided and abetted by Clinton (my father, for his part, compulsively re-financed his house, squeezed out tens of thousands which he quickly squandered, and is now angry because he can't make the ARM payments and might get foreclosed on). "I mean," he continued, "I guess they have the freedom to do that these days, but really, they should think about how it affects their children."
I was so angry. "WHAT?!?!?!" I hollered. [Keep in mind I have two first cousins who are black, good friends & coworkers who are black, etc. I didn't even know that people got classified into "black" and "white" until the Rodney King riots came through.] "Do you think this is miscegenation or something???!" Before I could even organize my outrage, my father added, "Well, you know, it can be very difficult for mulattos."
"Are you f-ing kidding me?!" I burst out. "Who do you think my cousins are??? Niggers?!!!" That's a word I've probably never used in my life, and I had to work hard to spit it out. "If their lives are challenging, it's only because people like you make it that way!" I shouted. I was so incensed I could barely keep driving. "Oh, I didn't mean to upset you," replied my dad quietly, with the bewilderment of why in the heck I'd get so riled up over something like this anyway, with the added layer of calm down, dear.
I have no great moral to this story, no funny punchline or great zinger. I'm just angry. Angry at how I've had to spend my adult life learning the cruel truth about an American "institution" that my open-minded childhood never taught me. Angry that in Oregon, racist housing laws were only struck down in the last twenty-five years and as a result, we had to bus kids into our high school to meet racial quotas - and the Aryan jocks regularly harrassed them, with great school body approval. That branches of my church, so racially welcoming and inclusive growing up, were segregated by race in Virginia. That a guy I dated blew a gasket because I hadn't "warned" him about my black relatives. That my neighbor in Alabama told me the one thing he really wanted to do before he died was to "shoot a n-r". And most of all that a whole broadcast coalition of talk-show hosts, TV anchors, blog writers, newspaper columnists, media personalities, and now, the campaign they all support, somehow has carte blanche to stage neo-Nazi hate rallies and eagerly foment violent words and actions toward our fellow Americans, pouring their evil vitriol into the ears of people like my dad, conditioning them and stoking their fears of "otherness" and somehow making all this bullshit ok. Condoned.
But you know what? They aren't the "other". They're us. Our neighbors and friends and bosses and coworkers and prayer group members and playgroup moms and military brothers-in-arms and yes, our cousins, our brothers, our sisters, our aunts, our uncles.
One in Christ. One in love. One in thoughts and words and deeds. We have a lot of work yet to do.
112 Comments
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V...
Great article. I have much to say on it...tomorrow though.
Goodnight ya'll.
V - I hardly know where to respond, except to thank you for sharing this here. I feel that through this site I've met some truly amazing people. You are certainly one of them.
I often wonder why the blood family that we're born into is totally different from the generic family that we gather as we meet and connect through life.
From the sound of things you have an incredibly interesting blood family regardless of politics or the church. That is worthy of celebration and how excited you must all be, apart from your dad, to know that in January you could be showing the world that most Americans have come beyond that cloistered bigoted over-protected greed and actually do care about each other.
You have real guts V. Your thread header is timely indeed. Thank you.
You have my sympathy V. These people are becoming intolerable.
Your dad is not the only one. Look at this.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x215236
These people are insane.
Yes, Christy. They are insane. And very, very dangerous. These are the people who make up lynch mobs. These are the people who will hurt that young man's grandma like he's afraid of.
Where are the police while they are inciting this kind of mob mentality which is just a heartbeat away from mob violence?
Thanks for sharing this, V. I totally feel this pain.
And yet, we never know when a seed is planted that turns into something we never expected. It's too late for your father, but if any of us know anyone still sitting on the fence, your thread header might wake them up.
Forward away!
Karen is going to be on Ideas Network (Wisconsin NPR) in a few minutes. You can get their link here.
(It may or may not work.)
Ok. They're doing the introduction to Karen right now.
I don't know how to record this and post a podcast.
Very powerful, Veritas.
Especially with those we care for, it's frustrating if we can't disagree & have actual discussions... there's no way to grow when there's no give & take. Ideology dehumanizes.
On a deeper level...
It's hard to reconcile caring deeply for someone & hearing racist & hateful words pour from that person's mouth. It reveals something frightening in a loved one's heart. It's painful.
From Karen:
"we never know when a seed is planted"
Based on nothing, I have a gut feeling that McCain is going to come across really well tonight.
Do you think it would make any difference?
I wasn't able to get the number to call in. But good questions are being asked. I think it's important to note that these questions were not screened. If Karen can 'take the heat' then why can't Palin answer unscripted questions? She IS Bush in a skirt. Both are unable to answer unscripted questions and both are corrupt liars who wrap themselves in religion and a flag. Hmmmm...for Palin does she wrap herself in the US flag or the Alaskan Independence Party flag?
LOL Sparrow
Anderson Cooper, CNN (last night, paraphrased):
Interviewed on Rush Limbaugh, Palin said that the media want her to shut up... which is interesting considering how many times we (CNN) have tried to get her to talk to us...
(repost from tail end of last thread)
Well, the interview is over and I thought karen did a great job. I also thought the questions were very good too.
Thanks, sparrow. The show is here: http://wpr.org/webcasting/audioarchives_display.cfm?Code=jca
Nearly a quarter of John McCain’s “Clean Election and Voter Fraud Committee,” chaired by Warren Rudman and John Danforth, have been involved in GOP voter suppression efforts or unfounded partisan claims of voter fraud.
http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/752
Good job Karen!
Email from wingnut friend:
"Can Muslims be good Americans?"
He's an otherwise enjoyable person who gets less so by the day. Response is futile...
So this time I just said:
Oh bull-puckey
Saved time, I felt better & he cracked up
"Can Muslims be good Americans?"
Better question...
Can racists be good Americans...?
Could they be quality ANYTHING...?
CIA Tactics Endorsed In Secret Memos
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/14/AR2008101403331.html
The Bush administration issued a pair of secret memos to the CIA in 2003 and 2004 that explicitly endorsed the agency's use of interrogation techniques such as waterboarding against al-Qaeda suspects -- documents prompted by worries among intelligence officials about a possible backlash if details of the program became public
11:37 AM continued
The memos were the first -- and, for years, the only -- tangible expressions of the administration's consent for the CIA's use of harsh measures to extract information from captured al-Qaeda leaders, the sources said.
(sources were four administration and intelligence officials familiar with the documents)
US Journalists & War-Crime Guilt
Sixty-two years ago, on Oct. 16, 1946, Julius Streicher was hanged.
Streicher was one of a group of 10 Germans executed that day following the judgment of the first Nuremberg Trial – a 40-week trial of 22 of the most prominent Nazis.
Each was tried for two or more of the four crimes defined in the Nuremberg Charter: crimes against peace (aggression), war crimes, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy.
All who were sentenced to death were major German government officials or military leaders. Except for Streicher.
Julius Streicher was a journalist.
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/101408d.html
Most Say Debates Were Boring But Are Still Watching (link at end)
[I'm surprised]
Still, given the choice, 63% say they would rather watch a presidential debate than their favorite sports team, and just 28% disagree.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/most_say_debates_were_boring_but_are_still_watching
Surely they jest o_O
Republicans had hoped that Palin would motivate Democrats who supported New York Senator Hillary Clinton in the primaries to cross party lines in the general election and side with McCain, an Arizona senator. The poll shows those voters are few and far between: 71 percent of Clinton voters back Obama; 15 percent say they'll vote for McCain.
Obama Widens Lead as Americans See `Serious' Crisis
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=asdB4W9SVZIY&refer=us
October 16, 2008
Retail Sales Slump by 1.2% as Economy Downshifts
By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM
Even as the federal government and its counterparts around the world began to introduce their financial bailout plans, more signs emerged on Wednesday that the economic downturn had taken a darker turn.
Retail sales fell sharply in September as consumers shunned department stores, auto showrooms and shopping malls, ratcheting back spending for a third consecutive month.
Last month’s 1.2 percent decline in retail sales was the sharpest drop in years, and it came in the heart of the back-to-school shopping season, traditionally the busiest time of the year for retailers outside of the December holidays.
“There is almost nothing positive to say about these figures,” Rob Carnell, an economist at ING Bank, wrote in a note.
Stocks on Wall Street were sharply lower Wednesday. The Dow Jones industrial average was down more than 330 points, as investors shifted their focus to the economic problems that could spell the start of a deeper phase of the slowdown. Many people fear that corporations — and by extension their workers and shareholders — will face harder times in the months ahead.
- more -
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/business/economy/16econ.html?hp
HEY
If McCain was somehow stunning tonight or if Obama has an off day (or both) would it change anything?
Does anybody think this debate will make a difference in voter decisions?
aimzzz,
I think the debate will make a difference for less than 1% of the people. Those who are moved to vote are already decided. Those who are watching tonight and undecided, are really not undecided. They know. They know but may or may not want to admit it.
They're watching tonight and hoping one or the other of whichever candidate they prefer will give them a reason to get up and vote. Otherwise, they'll stay home. But they already know who they like.
Dow down 733 at the close.
If McCain somehow wins this thing, the American people have a death wish.
I think Obama has a real chance to change minds.
If mccrazy goes there, Obama should turn it right around and not only set the record straight about Ayers... But also flat out nail him on the race baiting and death threats from his supporters. Just throw it all into his face.
The thing about racists and lynch mobs, they are only willing to be that until they are confronted and put on display. Then they change their minds, try to spin it, try to slink away.
If Obama nails him on all of this lynch mob crap... He very well could cut deep into mccrazys numbers as his supporters realize they can not get away with it anymore and want no part of it.
If Obama wins tonight,the repellicans will mostly jump ship by midnight Nov. 3rd.
Christy, he HAS to nail him and Palin on their race baiting. Like you said...
But the other reason is that if he doesn't, they will feel that they made him look weak.
Oh, I hope so!!! I'm afraid that Obama will let him get away with it though - for the sake of decency. How I hope he confronts these obscene attacks.
HeHe!
National Republicans Pull Ads in Louisiana
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/10/national_republicans_drop_ads.html
I think hell just froze over.
It is hard to imagine Obama will not confront it out of political correctness.
It is one thing to stand there while someone lies about you. Quite another to watch them whipping up a frenzied mob calling for your head.
Verizon and AT&T provided free cell towers to the McCain ranch, and admit it's because he's running for president
http://www.americablog.com/2008/10/verizon-and-at-provided-free-cell.html
McCain has already said he will bring up Ayres because Obama had asked why he wouldn't say that stuff to his face...
Al Austin, a longtime, high-level Republican fundraiser from Tampa, today sent to his list of political contacts an e-mail containing a joke that refers to the assassination of Barack Obama.
When asked about the e-mail, Austin said it was a mistake and apologized and that he wouldn’t knowingly have circulated it. He said he planned to send an apology and retraction to the same e-mail list.
The joke concerns a group of schoolchildren discussing the definition of “tragedy” as opposed to “great loss” or “accident.” The punch line comes when one child says that if an airplane carrying Obama and his wife, Michelle, “was struck by a ‘friendly fire’ missile and blown to smithereens,” the event might be a tragedy “because it certainly wouldn’t be a great loss, and it probably wouldn’t be an accident either.”
http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/news/story/top-tampa-gop-figure-circulates-joke-about-killing-obama/
I just realized something.
If mcmumbles does NOT attack Obama with anything less than gusty vigor, his base will crack anyway.
They want to see him tear Obama to pieces, and if he fails to do it he will be derided as a coward by his own supporters after he promised them he would.
mcPOW is walking into a trap tonight. This should be FUN AS HELL!
Well, here we go...
Personally I prefer watching CSPAN because there arent any scrolling distractions
Which I won't repeat...?
Oh he just stumbled bad out of the gate.
OMG, I think my ears are bleeding.
McCain decomposing. Obama warming up.
hmmm...
Changed to PBS... split screen on CSPAN makes them appear to look off into space when looking at the moderator... They should reverse the screens so it makes sense. hmmmm... but then the would look off into space when looking at each other
"Ethics of responsibility" on taxes by Obama. I thought that was good.
And also when he said he'd review the budget line by line.
Also when he commented about sending our money to China.
Ok so now mccain claims he's going to do across the board spending.
Largest increase in government...ummm WE McCain. That's YOU and YOUR CRONIES.
Wow. He is a talking point robot.
Decomposing. HeHe. Great description, very apt.
Planetariam...Uh oh...I think he's gonna see some stars now....
Here he goes on earmarks but Obama has the correct response. You don't go for a hatchet when you need a scapel.
Also, he's talking about the last eight years...big numbers...YIKES.
4-5 of Bush's budgets McCain has voted for.
It's Thursday morning in Seoul, and I am fortunate to be away from the madness, but I will stay tuned to your updates on the final presidential debate!
Change We Can Believe In! Obama 08!
Remember - most South Koreans also support Obama, so that he can castrate their own new fascist government!
McCain scores with: I am not Bush. If you wanted to run against Bush, you should have run 4 years ago...
re. I am not Bush
Obama-- good comeback re. where McC does & doesn't agree w/Bush
Mc's line will play better as a soundbite though
Oh oh. What will happen with this question about the negative campaigns.
AND MCccain is talking about his motive in smearing him...wouldn't do town halls...
That's TELLING about McCain.
You don't do what I want so I'm gonna chase you with a hatchet.
on George Wallace
Mc says O didn't repudiate, but he did
re negative campaigns--
Obama isn't biting
attacks on McC's health proposals & financial plans aren't personal attacks
McCain is very angry right now. VERY.
Ayres, ACORN
Worst voter fraud in US history
Hope Obama can correct Mc without getting lost in details
Good-- says more about your campaign that it does about me. Mc won't let go of it. decomposing
I can't remember... re. body language, what does high blinking rate mean?
re. blinking rate-- I went back to CSPAN split screen
:p
McCain does this thing with his eyes. It's like he stops breathing through his lungs and inhales through his eyeballs.
Concern about Obama... lots of uh's-- unusual for him
hypervigilance, a biological accommodation to being in danger.
ADVOCATING on the behalf of American people and ...
Hugo Chavez card
McCain is pink
Uh OH. McCain just sounded very insincere on the healthcare issue if you ask me!
$5000 tax cut for healthcare-- unless you're single
$5000 gain for $12,000 policy
$2500 if single
Hope Obama responds on that thing about fines
He is very close to being incoherent.
Creepy.
McCain's statement on Supreme Court litmus test would have been very strong if he hadn't strayed into his interpretation of Dem's & Obama's actions. If he stopped there, IMHO his answer would have been stronger than Obama's response
"Health of the mother is for extreme pro-choicers?"
WTF is McCain talking about!
I KNOW WOMEN WHO HAD TO CHOSE THEIR LIFE OR THEIR FETUS
McCain is a liar and if you believe him, then you probably want to buy that land in Florida too.
Should he have said NOLA?
Also, recent research shows that the charter and private schools don't do that much better than regular schools. Yes, there is a difference between an inner city school and a regular school elsewhere. But the charter schools HAVE NOT performed better than similar public schools.
Obama-- fewer uh's, more fluent
hope peeps are still watching...
Mc-- scary smirk re. vouchers
Rachel Maddow:
McCain may be leaving viewers with the mistaken impression that Sarah Palin's youngest child has autism.
~~~
I don't know that it matters all that much if viewers think Autism vs Downs. Both require deep commitment by the parents and both have long term ramifications. However, the outcome for Downs is usually more severe.
Hope to be wrong but I think the sound-bite will be:
If you wanted to run against Bush, you should have run 4 years ago...
Who cares about substance anyway?
I don't believe in charter schools.
If they would simply give our existing system the money and support they need we would provide ALL children a world class education. If we reformed and funded our existing system, there would be no competition. No one could compete with it.
Why would we fund a private service that directly competes and takes away resources from our shared public source...? Why would we undercut our own system?
My only answer is the greedy bastards are softening up the US Educational system for privitazation, same as they have done to everything else.
I liked Obama's closing statement. Less about "me" and more about "YOU".
Hugs all around
Sparrow - Less about "me" and more about "YOU".
Probably too positive to become sound-bite
When we home-schooled our kids, we didn't get any tax deductions for that, plus we still payed school taxes. A win win as far as I'm concerned. We homeschooled and the school got their money.
Of course, it means we spent money to homeschool But at least nobody can say we stole from others.
aimzzz, I meant Obama. He made it about electing him so that he could HELP us! And work for us.
With mCcain it was about helping mccain win the ideology war.
...on cspan. and there was a person who served with mccain who says mcCain abandoned them! She cut him off and rushed to the next caller.
sparrow
I agree-- It's the thing I like about Obama
Unfortunately people want to remember cheap shots which is why I think it's too positive to become a sound-bite
CNN - most are saying McCain won - prolly because he was less abysmal than past debates.
However most are noting that he lost it & how angry he was
Several say Obama's best was the last third-- otherwise wooden
I'm reporting, not agreeing
sparrow - ohhhh... I get what you're saying... Obama himself as opposed to a catchy phrase
hmmmmm...
CNN-- majority of focus group thought Obama won (15:10)
Interesting contrast to the pundits
Ok. So you guys had me for today.
May check in tomorrow. Otherwise, will see you Friday.
Send any thread headers my way if you feel the urge.
They didn't like Joe the plumber... only one liked it.
Most thought Obama punted on ACORN
'night Sparrow!
A little round up then I'm out....
Murphy said "tone" hurt McCain every now and then.
[
http://www.cnn.com/ Obama 87%
Kos
CBS poll of undecided voters:
Who won the debate?
McCain (R) 22
Obama (D) 53
Shares your values
Obama, Before the debate: 54
Obama, After the debate: 63
McCain, Before the debate: 53
McCain, After the debate: 56
~~~
Hate Talk Express: Keep On Rollin'! Hotlist
by Plutonium Page
Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 07:41:06 PM PDT
John McCain is very proud of his Hate Talk Express. You know, the one that doesn't say a word about their supporters shouting "kill him" when they hear Barack Obama's name.
In tonight's debate, McCain said:
"Let me just say, categorically, I'm proud of the people that come to our rallies."
Did you catch that? He's proud of people who threaten the life of his opponent, who shout "off with his head" and "Obama bin Laden".
Watch the clip from the debate:
~~~~
Guess McCAin ain't so 'pro-life' afterall. Just anti-choice. Seems he approves of his supporters threatening to kill our future President.
Hate Talk Express: Keep On Rollin'! Hotlist
by Plutonium Page
Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 07:41:06 PM PDT
John McCain is very proud of his Hate Talk Express. You know, the one that doesn't say a word about their supporters shouting "kill him" when they hear Barack Obama's name.
In tonight's debate, McCain said:
"Let me just say, categorically, I'm proud of the people that come to our rallies."
Did you catch that? He's proud of people who threaten the life of his opponent, who shout "off with his head" and "Obama bin Laden".
Watch the clip from the debate:
Bush is the one McCain should be mad at
"CNN - most are saying McCain won - prolly because he was less abysmal than past debates."
Umm, that is funny, cause the poll on their front page clearly shows OBAMA won the debate 85% to 12%.
CNN did that last debate too. Reported on TV that is was a 'tie' but the poll on thier front page clearly showed Obama by a landslide.
Christy
You are damn right. Also, the uneducated masses can easily be manipulated through Fox News and the neocon propaganda machine in the military.
Over here in South Korea, the fascists have traditionally been very pro-education, due to the prevailing Confucian values, and due to a need to build up the national economy. But now, the economy is maturing, and the public schools are run by unionized teachers, so the current fascists are trying to kill public schools, and forcing parents to hire expensive tutors for their kids if they are to succeed at all. The rich can continue to get their education in the Ivy League and other overseas schools, anyway.
It costs over a million won (USD $1,000) per month per student for decent tutoring in Seoul, often just for one subject. That's more than most middle class families can take. A single mother in a dead-end job (as good jobs are still usually reserved for men only, and sex discrimination is perfectly legal in this Confucian society) won't even make a million won per month!
It's become so expensive to raise a kid here that birthrates have fallen to all-time lows, and abortions (technically still illegal) have become very commonplace. I am strongly pro-choice back in the US, but here, I am different, because few women get abortions to determine her own future, and virtually everyone gets abortions to give in to social pressures.
CNN poll
Importance of Ayres:
(forgot exact numbers)
Wery much: 23 %
Not at all: 52 %
there were 2 levels in between at 10-15%
CNN
Only 10% of non-Republicans approve of Bush
disclaimer-- I'm watching CNN analysis, but otherwise don't watch TV news. That being said,
CNN has a toll-free phone line for people to report any problems they have in voting. They promise immediate response
V:
On your dad, be happy you can still discuss these things. My dad died when I was 18 (1979). My dad was a classic FDR Chicago liberal, born in Chicago in 1920 and career Air Force (volunteered the day after Pearl Harbor). My mom came from a strange line of Protestant rednecks from today's West Virginia (literally, Jackson Democrats). They fought on both sides of the civil war (or sat it out). My mom and dad married in Chicago in 1947. And all us kids (and I am the youngest of 5 at 47) are basically Democrats.
If there is any point in the above it is the following. The last time the Democrats controlled both houses of the Legislative and the Executive was 1992-1994. We blew it then, to my mind, with 20-20 hindsight. It looks like now there may well be a fillibister-proof majority in the Senate for the Democrats, a Democratic House, and a Democrat POTUS.
I wonder, what are we going to do now?
Chuck in Houston
What do we want to achieve 2008-2010? What can we achieve 2008-2010?
I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZEy_kJ8nJU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNczeP33Yk0&feature=user
Goodnight Cousins!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfyEpmQM7bw&feature=related
Chuck in Houston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAVhKjsImeI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMJXYWOC68E&NR=1
What is so funny about peace, love and understanding anyway?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idnKd5iRT48&feature=related
With Nick Lowe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeFlPxMTP24&feature=related
Joe the plumber, Joe Six-pack... A real person, Joe Wurzelbacher, ends up dehumanized.
OK you Joe Six-packs... don't see why Palin thinks it endears her to her base. Really don't know why they eat it up.
Maybe I'm wierd, but I don't like soccer moms either... OK all you soccer moms...
Anyone else go back and watch that 'Health of the mother' moment?
It is worse the more you watch it. How dare he?
Hey V...Wanna hear something cool?
My family has a strange tradition, going back atleast 7 or 8 generations. All of the males that carry our family name have always been named an M name. Miles, Micheal, Matthew, Monroe, ect.
But my father was an only child, and my two brothers never got around to having kids... so it appeared the long tradition was over and there would be no more of an unbroken male line to carry on our family name.
I think my mom even gave up on my brothers. Until the night of the second debate between Obama and mcPOW. My brother Matthews wife gave birth to a son just as the debate was wrapping up. They named him Mason.
But all I could think about that night as I watched Obama overtake/eclipse mcPOW, was what a fitting night it was for him to be born. On that night, of all nights, just at the moment it became obvious a black man could very well win the presidency after all this time... Mason not only ensured one more generation of an unbroken male line, but he is half black and half white too, just like Obama. He has the strength of BOTH races. He is the first known black child in our family line.
If my father knew his name was being carried on by a black child, he would roll in his grave.
When I saw his first pics the next morning I just cried. He is so CUTE! Huge eyes! VERY huge!
But it reminded me like nothing else could that all of the risk we have taken, all of the racism we have fought against, all of the times we are so afraid looking at the future... It is all worth it.
We don't have to be afraid of the future. A new world is being born right before us and it will be brought into the world with OUR hands. If we can just keep the next generation safe a little longer, they will grow up in a world we never believed we would see in our lifetimes. They will change the world. Maybe even mankind itself.
Just the existance of someone like Obama, or Mason, or my friends daughter who is also half white and half black, or your cousins, just their presence will heal the rift between our families/tribes and force an accord between the races forged in love and blood. An unbreakable, indivisible people that transcend race, and religion, and EVOLVE.
When I looked at Mason I thought the same thing I think when I look at Obama. I can't get that British Officers words out of my head. 'It was as if I were looking at a new race of men.' I think we are exactly that, the mothers and fathers of a new race of man. Not divided, but combined as one. E Pluribus Unum.
Even more important than our government is our people, and every child like Mason born is slowly erasing the rifts among our people and uniting all the bloodlines like never before recorded in history. Combining...To become stronger than all of them.
That is the true promise of America, of the USA. One family of all races. All religions, all languages, all cultures, all histories. A new race of men. Indeed.
Anyways, I just wanted to share because we spend so much time fighting against the twisted sick way they see the world that it really is hard to remember sometimes how beautiful and bright our future really could be.
If we can hold on for just a little while longer, push a little harder, that beautiful new world will slip right into our hands.
Change the world! Vote Obama!
(BTW, Mason does not yet 'look' black or white. He just kinda looks like a big headed alien with gi-nourmous eyes. I am looking forward to torturing him as much as my brother looked forward to torturing my kids. They love him for it. Go figure.)
Thank you Christy, for the post about Mason. That comment needs to be elevated and spread around.
Like fairy dust...
And it is the Masons and other babies being born right now who will benefit from this huge struggle. What an incredible time to be born. For him and the others, we have to not waver, not for a second.
Here is a pic.
http://christysartblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/welcome-to-world-mason.html
Reading Vs words, it reminds me of my father. To be honest, if he were alive I would say there would be a 100% chance he would sabotage his own newborn grandson, simply because he is half black. There is not a doubt in my mind my brothers marriage/relationship was only possible because my father died. Vs' description of her father reminded me so much of him it was startling.
It is horrible to have to listen to that crap from someone you love. Even worse to be trapped in a car with them when it happens. E Ghad.
A few excerpts from British live blogging of last night's debate - cracked me up (a Guardian blog) - w/nice picture of Obama "brushing it off"
http://silencedmajority.blogs.com/silenced_majority_portal/2008/10/obama-cool.html
OMFG!
Well, I'll be damn! JOE " the PLUMBER" RELATED to Charles KEATING!!! Oops! WTF?
I did some searching and found this:
Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher related to Charles Keating. Oops.
October 16th, 2008 . by Marty
John McCain did great tonight in the debate. But every time John mentioned “Joe the Plumber,” some of us in the campaign banged our heads against the wall. If Steve Schmidt had any hair left, I hear he would have been pulling it out tonight. He reportedly screamed at John’s debate prep team tonight (out of earshot of reporters, of course). “You idiots - he’s related to Charles Keating… of the Keating Five scandal!” They thought they had a real live Joe Six-Pack who’s spurned Barack Obama’s tax plan. But what they forgot to do was check on Joe Wurzelbacher’s background.
Turns out that Joe Wurzelbacher from the Toledo event is a close relative of Robert Wurzelbacher of Milford, Ohio. Who’s Robert Wurzelbacher? Only Charles Keating’s son-in-law and the former senior vice president of American Continental, the parent company of the infamous Lincoln Savings and Loan. The now retired elder Wurzelbacher is also a major contributor to Republican causes giving well over $10,000 in the last few years.
Does any of this make Joe the Plumber a bad guy? Of course not. But on a night when McCain accused Obama of guilt-by-association, this isn’t going to look good for us. Hello, but on a night when John goes full bore on William Ayers and dodges a bullet by Obama not mentioning Keating Five, the press is going to bring it back front and center by midday tomorrow once they delve deeper into the most popular plumber in America.
This might remind you of the Paris Hilton scandal - where one side of the McCain campaign attacked her in an ad, not realizing that her family were huge donors. I was the first to warn the campaign of the perils of miscommunication, and that story flared for a week.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7474700
WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?
New thread.