The tide is turning

[Horse with no Name]

This weekend I had to go and spend time with my family.
I have hated this and actually haven't seen my fundie brother since Christmas 2003.
However, I drove to his house.
My how things change. My brother was youth minister and elder of his church, his wife was a Sunday school teacher.
They had Bush stickers on their SUV.
He never got enough opportunities to talk about their church or "their" president.
So, anyway, first thing noticed were the Bush stickers off the SUV--they still have that (but my brother's job pays their gas so he isn't feeling that squeeze).
Anyway, last night I asked them what time they were going to church so we could plan our departure...and his wife said they didn't attend church anymore and haven't in many months.
All she would really say about it was that it wasn't what it used to be.
AND I saw my brother drink a beer and his wife drink a glass of wine for the first time in years!
Not once did Bush's name come up...which was wonderful.
I didn't press them on anything, but kind of felt like I got my real brother back.
Was a great weekend!

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

1. Glad to hear it...

... I guess I am lucky that neither of my brothers (or cousins for that matter) go overboard on politics as you stated. But I DO know what acrimony can do to a family. Congratualtions.

[Ysolde]

2. What a positive step for you!

Congrats! I wish I could know how it must feel. My fundie brother is still in the grip (I don't go there, he doesn't come here) and my fundie sister-in-law is, too. I don't hold out hope for either of them. I miss who they could be, but at this point, I can't forgive them for who they are (and how it's screwing my kids).

[Warpy]

3. One of my buddies at work got sucked into one of those megachurches

when she was newly clean and sober. It was one of those places that seats about 1200, and it was usually packed, with rock bands and a preacher dressed in a suit of lights and all the trimmings. She was a total Koolaid drinker because of that place.

A few months ago, she mentioned that she'd gone back to the mainstream church she grew up in and that it felt like she'd gone home.

I don't have a lot of contact with her since I've been unemployed, but she no longer sends me right wing bullshit email. I'm hoping the madness has worn off along with whatever caused her to need to go into recovery in the first place.

I think these bastards probably cruise AA and NA meetings, looking for vulnerable people who are struggling with how they're going to deal with a world that doesn't make any sense to them without their chemical of choice. If my friend is any indication, though, it's only temporary, and will eventually be discarded as recovery progresses.

Healthy, well adjusted people will NOT be found in those places.

[still_one]

4. that is good and everything, but they should have thought about

that in 2004. Remember it wasn't just the excutive branch they won, but Congress also

Frankly, to use a tradgedy as 9/11 to justify going into Iraq, and KILLING over 1700 Americans, wounding over 12000 Americans, and KILLIING over 100000 civillians, is not only unexcusable, it is unethical, and immoral.

Because of what happened in 2004, I see very little chance that we will get out of Iraq soon. This is worse than Viet Nam

The next thing you will hear is that it doesn't matter what mistakes we made in the past, we are there now, and if we leave it will make the area even more unstable, and more people will die at the hands of the bad guys. Let me say one thing to that:

THE KILLING DIDN'T STOP IN VIET NAM UNTIL WE LEFT

[Horse with no Name]

7. Well we didn't thoroughly discuss any of this but

our little brother has served two tours in Iraq and his wife has served one.
Now, my youngest brother is in N.C. and is non-deployable for four years. However, the military has stationed his wife in San Diego and the ONLY way they can be together is if he gives up his non-deployable status and returns to San Diego--they won't transfer her to be with him because he is enlisted and she is commissioned.
I don't know what changed his attitude, but I would like to think that there are MANY conservatives just like him that are feeling a little betrayed by their party and just can't quite bring themselves to voice it.
WE can only hope.

[still_one]

8. don't get me wrong, I think it is very positive what happened

In addition, the republican from N.C. who coined the replacement of "freedom fries" for french fries, is now changing his position also

N.C. has taken a terrible hit in the number of casulaties from this unecessary war, based on a lie

I think this administration would love to bring back the draft, but won't do it until after the 2006 election

I wish the best for you and your family

By the way, "true conservatives", i.e. barry goldwater, would be rolling over in his grave if he knew what was happening

[deadparrot]

5. Good to hear...

I hope you're right about things changing. We need it. Desperately.

[fooj]

6. That's wonderful! I'm happy you were able to reconnect w/your bro!

The "silence" speaks VOLUMES, doesn't it? I'm dealing with much of the same with my own relatives. "The truth shall set you free." Whole new meaning, right?

peace.


BTW- I BET things aren't "the same" at church! Those zealots can really stir the sh*t!:scared:

[annabanana]

9. How wonderful that must have been for you.

That which was lost has been found! Back in the pre-politicised days, I knew people who had been "born again". At first they were insufferable to be around, kind of like when a bozo friend has really fallen in love for the first time. After awhile they started to breathe again and weren't such burdensome company.

Had they been late converts to the fundy life, or were they born there?

Either way, I'm glad you have your brother back. Perhaps in time you may find out what happened to change their minds.

[Horse with no Name]

11. I remember that

the "Born Again" phase that is.
We grew up in a non-denominational household and rarely went to church.
When he got married, he joined a Lutheran church to go with her family.
They were involved in that church for a lengthy time. When they moved, they started going to their present church and have gone there for a long time now. As I said--he was an elder and youth minister and she was a Sunday School teacher (she is by profession a school teacher).
Their church was EVERYTHING...to the point that if they had a refrigerator to give to someone--and a member of the family needed one or someone in the church needed one--they would give it to their church member.
I know that politics got heavy at church because they were espousing the Bushitler mantra last time I saw them--complete with stickers, etc.
Was shocked to see the stickers gone but that doesn't come near to my shock of them completing quitting church and not joining another one right away.:shrug:

[AgadorSparticus]

10. what a lovely story. i hope it's a trend that is spreading like wildfire.

& I hope it spreads to Houston. My conservative friend needs to get the same clue. She is also a strong churchgoer. And I only mention that because I had to hear all about how awful Clinton was for his evil blowjob. She has definitely drank the RW-morality-propaganda kool aid.

[Cleita]

12. Wine and beer are much tastier than kool-aid.

I wonder how many others are getting disenchanted with their corporate sponsored churches?

[Horse with no Name]

15. You got that right

I remember my brother, sis in law and myself drinking beer and wine when we were in high school (we grew up together).
Was shocked when they deemed that not appropriate and not in their house.
Sis-in-law asked me if I wanted a glass of wine and I almost fell out of the chair,lol.

[Imagevision]

13. Do you get the feeling that countless millions feel similar??

[Horse with no Name]

14. I sure hope so

I have posted here before about how entrenched my brother was in his church and politics.
He had that attitude that many had after the election..you know the one..."HaHa we won....get over it"..remember that one?
I haven't seen it in a lot of places lately.
Most are choosing not to say much (except for the zealots of course).
It will be very interesting to see what he has to say when he is ready.
He is very conservative but not neoconservative.

[Oversea Visitor]

16. Me Think

They woke up to reality. They are building walls now and thats is really the time when they need most help.
Time help your brother to pick the pieces. To find your belief and trust completely shatter is a very traumatic experience and they will need help.

[high density]

17. I've noticed the W04 ovals coming down as well

There are a few vehicles I've noticed at work that have lost their badges of fascism in the last couple of months.

[Ladyhawk]

18. I admit I'm jealous, but I'm happy for you, too. :) n/t