Is there anything more worthless than liberal compassion?

[JailForBush]

Or to put it another way, which is the bigger joke - compassionate conservativsm or liberal compassion?

I spent sixteen years in public education, and I have the scars to prove it. My tormentors - Republicans, King County Democrats, the corporate media, derelict school officials and my own union - effectively stole thousands of dollars from me and caused enormous emotional suffering. Of course, they couldn't steal much from my students, other than their lunch money, but they do punish them - and more severely than the general public realizes.

When I first began speaking out against my tormentors - OUR tormentors - my "colleagues" attacked ME. They said it was unprofessional to criticize my own profession. (Some profession!) If I said, "I'd like to break that teachers union collaborator's legs," they'd explode in rage.

"Violence is NEVER the answer!" "You're worse than they are!"

When a corrupt school official or teachers union whore was hospitalized with a serious illness or injury, they'd sign Get Well letters. But I saw many teachers get punished by the system even more harshly than I was. Some of them were tormented by derelict principals even after they were diagnosed with cancer or as they were recovering from life-threatening surgery. Their "colleagues" seldom gave them the time of day.

A couple years ago, a particularly evil assistant principal was diagnosed with cancer. He was a back-stabbing company whore and a racist - and the students knew it.

When he spoke at the high school graduation, the student body jeered him. When he cried, "Please, I'm sick!" They jeered a little louder.

I have more respect for those kids than I do for all the liberal do-gooders who sat on the sidelines while they were screwed in elementary school, middle school and high school - and this was a particularly evil high school, one that even had a sex predator as principal.

In summary, I've come to see that liberal compassion is no more genuine that compassionate conservatism. Both sides can take their phony compassion, package it with Bill Gates' phony philanthropy and shove it.

Anyone who really wants to help America's children can best demonstrate their compassion by holding the corporate thugs that have taken over this country accountable. And I'm not talking about sending them a box of chocolates.

[HEyHEY]

1. Liberal apathy

I do agree on some points you made. I think both liberal and conservatives get to a point where you can't question the leaders or the instituition.

[JailForBush]

2. Cool polar bear picture.

I saw several polar bears when I worked at Barrow, Alaska, observing migrating bowhead whales. It's amazing how different they look in the wild than in a zoo.

[JailForBush]

Compassion Fatigue

On a similar note, if conservatives like Rush Limbaugh suffer from "compassion fatigue," then what do liberals suffer from - "pretending to be compassionate fatigue"?

[camero]

3. A person is a prophet everywhere

but in his own country and his own house. Just remember that and keep fighting the system.

[ithacan]

4. absolutely, and nowhere more evident than in

US foreign policy

[Jose Diablo]

5. JailForBush,...you my bud,...you said it

:toast:

[fromthegroundup]

6. compassion

From your story it would seem as though the assistant Principal has done wrong in the past, for which he must be forgiven, but the jeering audience might be what it takes for him to realize that he's done wrong, which would provide an opportunity for him to change for the better. Good comes out of bad. While simulatenously a booing student experiences a sudden shift of emotion and feels remorseful for denigrating that sick man and vows to never do so again. Good comes out of bad. Everyone's where their at on their own path. I know it takes all types, and you can fight the battle whatever way you see fit, but I'll continue on the path of peace and compassion.

[JailForBush]

7. No Dice

"From your story it would seem as though the assistant Principal has done wrong in the past, for which he must be forgiven..."

He "must" be forgiven? I MIGHT forgive him if he apologize to all the people he hurt. But he hasn't, so screw him.

[fromthegroundup]

9. since birth...

I've been told that you aren't to stand in judgement of another. You know that whole let he who doesn't sin cast the first stone thing?

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[newyawker99]

29. Hi fromthegroundup!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Elidor]

8. Taking your justifiable anger at scholastic politics

And painting liberals in general with the same broad brush comes across as being borne of a deep level of frustration. I sympathize, but you're not making it easy for me.

I could go on at great length about all the shit that's wrong with the local board of ed and the teachers in our schools, but I don't apply their faults to the population at large, nor do I confuse the issue by introducing politics into it.

"I spent sixteen years in public education, and I have the scars to prove it."

It looks like those scars are getting the better of you today. Peace.

[JailForBush]

10. This is easy!

"Taking your justifiable anger at scholastic politics and painting liberals in general with the same broad brush comes across as being borne of a deep level of frustration."

BROAD BRUSH???

1. Public education is hardly a trivial institution. The last I heard, most American children - and therefore most Americans - are subjected to it.

2. What I say about public education can be applied to just about any other institution.

"I could go on at great length about all the shit that's wrong with the local board of ed and the teachers in our schools, but I don't apply their faults to the population at large..."

Well, if the "population at large" isn't responsible for NOT LIFTING A FINGER TO FIX ANYTHING, then who is? Like I said, education isn't some exclusive club that meets in a rural pocket in the Dakotas.

"nor do I confuse the issue by introducing politics into it."

HUH??? You've got that exactly backwards. The people who are most confused are the ones who aren't even aware that politics plays a role in what used to be "public" education. For crying out loud, open your eyes.

ME: "I spent sixteen years in public education, and I have the scars to prove it."

YOU: "It looks like those scars are getting the better of you today. Peace."

It looks like you surrendered to apathy long ago. War.

[Elidor]

15. As easy as setting up straw men, yes

Points 1 & 2 are non-sequiturs and have nothing to do with what I said. This, along with your apparent inability to distinguish between 'politics' and 'Politics' suggests a reading comprehension problem.

"you surrendered to apathy long ago." Wow. You can infer that from reading one post of mine? I haven't been this impressed since I called the Psychic Friends Network!

I concluded my post with the word 'peace,' not out of some zen-like calm, but because I thought it sounded nicer than "Fuck you, asshole."

[JailForBush]

22. LOL

"Points 1 & 2 are non-sequiturs and have nothing to do with what I said. This, along with your apparent inability to distinguish between 'politics' and 'Politics' suggests a reading comprehension problem."

Sorry, I outgrew such amateurish propaganda long ago.

"I concluded my post with the word 'peace,' not out of some zen-like calm, but because I thought it sounded nicer than "Fuck you, asshole."

Actually, an honest "Fuck you" is often preferable to phony sentiments.

[donco6]

35. Don't bother too much with David

He pops in with a rant about public ed, usually mixed with a little "Bill Gates is the Devil" for good measure. Sounds like he's had a rough life, and that's unfortunate.

[loudsue]

27. I love this line!....

"It looks like you surrendered to apathy long ago. War."

That's how I'm feeling these days, JailForBush! It's everybody that has previously decided to "go along to get along" that have allowed us all to be sold down the river!

"WAR" is right!!!

A Democracy is the responsibility of its citizens. That's like, well, it sort of makes this country our "child", as we are completely responsible for it.

And what mother wouldn't die or kill to protect her child? What father wouldn't kill or die to protect his family? And right now, every ASPECT of the country we're responsible for is needing our protection!

Hell yes it's war!!

:kick:

[Zinfandel]

12. Man JailForBush your way too fucking easy on the corporations.

The corporations should absolutely be stripped of their status as equal to people...it should be completely illegal for corporations to donate to political campaigns or political parties...the right-wing (who ARE the corporations) would go nuts, saying it's against freedom of speech, etc...not fucking true, corporations are not people and should not have the same rights as we do.

But that's the republicans lie about their version of freedom of speech...we allow corporations the same rights as people and with their massive amount of money...they distort, they donate to polictiians for tax shelters & tax cuts and laws in their favor, making it almost, near impossible for the people to demand unions to look after them and make sure they receive fair wages and medical benefits. because the corporations see much more to their liking---the Wal Mart way---extremely low wages, no extra overtime pay, force the workers to work harder and longer and without medical benefits.

Until the laws are change and putting peoples rights above the corporations and stopping corporations from having the same status as people, we are going to continued to get fucked over more and more...corporate greed knows no bounds, (they want to see higher profits every quarter, and the easiest way is to pay no taxes, and to cut workers wages and benefits, make the workers produce more for less pay) only the bountries we must put on them, will stop them from reaching their goal of a corporate robot slave world, where they reap all the profits and power forever.

[JailForBush]

13. You've got my vote!

If there was a revolution, and I wound up installed as dictator, I guarantee, thousands of corporate whores across America would be sweating blood. As far as I'm concerned, they're guilty of the worst kind of TREASON, and they would pay a terrible price for it.

[loudsue]

28. BRAVO, Zinfandel!!

That may be the very first thing we have to change when we have "the revolution" and take back the government. The fact that corporations are considered "people", and have the rights of "people" is ....well, for the benefit of all those Christian fundies out there...I don't think "God" created corporations. No matter how you paint it, they just aren't "natural" people.

The only thing they have in common with "man", is they are fully capable of RAPE!

:kick::kick::kick:

[scottcsmith]

14. The school districts do not have the kid's best interests

Me and my wife have for years fought schools over getting our child a proper Individual Education Plan (IEP). He's had a number of issues between the ages of nine and 14, one of them a form of high-functioning autism called Asperger's Syndrome. Kids with Asperger's seem normal but there are a number of problems related to social development.

And although federal and state law have specific guidelines when it comes to IEPs, the school district did everything in its power to provide us with the bare minimum that our child needed. Needless to say our child did not succeed during those years. His scholastic performance was the same each year he was on an IEP. It should have improved.

Things have turned around now. I'm not sure why exactly but he's succeeding in high school. However, all of those years fighting with the schools, arguing with them, and attending pointless IEP meetings were so stressful that we wanted to give up. I've no doubt that the schools were doing what they could to discourage us from pursuing the IEP.

[Deb-Ter]

32. I know just what you mean...

I had to fight our school district to pay for schooling for my handicapped son. They weren't required by law to start paying for the schooling until he was 5 and in Kindergarten. Talk about a battle!!!!
Then we had to fight the city to have a sign placed in our area even tho the Lions Club was going to pay for it.... I really didn't understand that one.

I also can understand your frustration with the Asperger's Syndrome, my daughter has been dealing with that. Most people don't even know what it is, let alone how to spot it. She has also made some great strides this year and we're not sure why. She is also in high school now. I am very glad to hear that there has been a turnaround for your child also.

I have dealt with IEP's for 15 years, once again it was a great idea but the buracracy has ruined it.

[kaitykaity]

16. Talk about shattering my little mind.

(Hell, I don't have kids and have zero contact with any school system, so I'm probably blowing smoke out of my *ss, but . . . here goes.)

Some things bother me about education--the money wasted on administrators being tops, the irrational focus on 'political correctness' being next. (By PC, I'm talking about the distractions the RW radio hate mongers latch onto and cry about so they can keep people from thinking about the daily Bush outrage.) But I don't think that trying to shatter one of the few unions people have left is going to make it into a progressive platform. Reform the union leadership, figure out the source of possible corruption, maybe. Point out the problems, get the parents involved.

Sorry for your troubles though. :shrug:

[JailForBush]

17. WHAT Union?

The National Education Association's dirty little empire is no union. It should be reformed or destroyed (and replaced with a REAL union), and teachers seem to have little interest in reforming it.

[kaitykaity]

19. NEA? Isn't that the national one?

City of Portland teachers have a powerful union, and there is a state-wide organization as well.

[Ladyhawk]

18. So, how then should I respond to my right-wing family?

By hating them? I've done enough of that and it has drained me. Yes, they are hypocrites. Yes, they have evil "ideals." But what can I do about it? Nothing. They won't listen to me because:

1) I suffer from Depression
2) I'm an atheist

I can't do or say anything that would change their minds. Feeling anger and hatred toward them doesn't hurt anyone but me. I still find myself feeling such feelings, but it doesn't do anyone any good.

[JailForBush]

23. Good Rule of Thumb

Except for really exceptional circumstances, don't hate your family.

[bullimiami]

25. I just told my right wing brother

he was a stupid ass.

sorry...it was true...

[shance]

20. Im finding that any and all labels seem to divide and set apart otherwise

good people. Labels literally seem to bring out the worst in all of us.

Democrat, Republican, Independent, White, Black, Hispanic, Asian - everyone of those words right there initiates an immediate judgement in everyones mind because we have been conditioned to categorize and stereotype by our media and even our education system.

I believe if we were to eliminate labeling, we would have a much healthier and more "compassionate" planet.

[DennisReveni]

21. Dude ther are liberals and then

Phil Ochs had this to say
http://www.inlyrics.com/display/Ochs_Phil_Lyrics/Love_Me,_I'm_A_Liberal_Lyrics/34161.htm
Phil Ochs
I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
Tears ran down my spine
And I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
As though I'd lost a father of mine
But Malcolm X got what was coming
He got what he asked for this time
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I go to the civil rights rallies
And I put down the old D.A.R.
I love Harry and Sidney and Sammy
I hope every colored boy becomes a star
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
My faith in the system restored
And I'm glad that the commies were thrown out
From the A.F.L. C.I.O. board
And I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
As long as they don't move next door
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
Ah, the people of old Mississippi
Should all hang their heads in shame
Now I can't understand how their minds work
What's the matter don't they watch Les Crain?
But if you ask me to bus my children
I hope the cops take down your name
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
Yes, I read New Republic and Nation
I've learned to take every view
You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
I feel like I'm almost a Jew
But when it comes to times like Korea
There's no one more red, white and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I vote for the democratic party
They want the U.N. to be strong
I attend all the Pete Seeger concerts
He sure gets me singing those songs
And I'll send all the money you ask for
But don't ask me to come on along
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
Sure, once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to socialist meetings
Learned all the old union hymns
Ah, but I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

Jello Biafra updated it with
Phil Ochs/Jello Biafra/The Toadliquors)

I cried when they shot John Lennon
Tears ran down my spine
And I cried when I saw "JFK"
As though I'd lost a father of mine
But Malcolm X and Ice-T had it coming
They got what they asked for this time

CHORUS
So love me, love me, love me
I'm a liberal

I go to pro-choice rallies
Recycle my cans and jars
I'll honk if you love the Dead
Hope those funny grunge bands become stars
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far

CHORUS

I cheered when Clinton was chosen
My faith in the system reborn
I'll do anything to save our schools
If my taxes ain't too much more
And I love blacks and gays and Latinos
As long as they don't move next door

CHORUS


Rush Limbaugh and the L.A.P.D.
Should all hang their heads in shame
I can't understand where they're at
Arsenio should set them straight
But if Neigborhood Watch doesn't know you
I hope the cops take your name

CHORUS

Yeh, I read the New Republic(an)
Rolling Stone and Mother Jones too
If I vote it's a Democrat
With a sensible economy view
But when it comes to terrorist Arabs
There's no one more red, white and blue

CHORUS

Once I was young and had an attitude
Stickers covered the car I drove in
Even went on some direct actions
When there weren't rent-a-cops to be seen
Ah, but now I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in

CHORUS

Lots of those kind of Liberals hiding out at Eschaton for example.
Or even worse Knee jerk Liberals.

[bullimiami]

24. Its the corruption

I had so much hope with Dean. An honest compassionate guy without his hand in the cookie jar.

Im disillusioned with the corporated dems, hate the repugs like poison,
voted dean in the primary, ABB in the election and Im changing from dem to green party.

Bush has to go. Period.
Then we keep on working to take the damn country back.

[Ksec]

26. You seem angry and rightfully so

I hate whats happening in schools today. You need to purge that anger and turn it into something positive or they win.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kodi]

31. indeed there is: its conservative morality

aka expedience.

[RandomKoolzip]

33. Yes: a third party vote in the 2004 GE.

To answer your subject line question....

[revree]

34. This is not liberal compassion.

For a real look at liberal compassion, read about Paul Wellstone, or Paul Newman for that matter. Don't group all compassionate liberals into one corner, please.