Spin and parsing will get us nowhere.

[Skidmore]

A week or two ago I wrote about my son who, as a small boy, told me that he had become fast friends with another little boy because they "were the only two kids in the school who were the same color." The point of my story was to underscore Frenchiecat's point that children who are not taught bigotry quite often experience an eye opening loss of innocence when they meet up with those who have in the world out side their homes. I also related how this little friend's parents and I went to the school to address the presence of bigotry on the playground in a school which had diversity education in place.

Today, I learned that the father of my son's friend died very suddenly. He had chronic preexisting conditions which prevented him from being eligible for health and life insurance coverage. He was my age--mid-fifties. His wife now has a huge hospital bill and a funeral to pay for and a fledgling business to try to hold together. She is crushed in her grief for the loss of this spouse of 35 years. Nearly broke, she is concerned she will have to sell their home--a heritage farm built by her great-great grandfather in the 1800s. I spent a couple of hours on the phone with her today.

And then I came to this board. I found people still focused on sowing discord and splitting hairs. I simply don't understand what is to be gained by this. What are the goals of this party? Do we know? Are we moving to support a platform or a vision for the future of this nation? What do we want for our sons and daughters, our mothers and fathers, ourselves? Has the pursuit of power become the end and not the means to achieve the end?

I implore you all to step back and look not just your lives but the lives of all in your community and the nation. We need badly to build something constructive. Where is your allegiance?

[joshcryer]

1. This discussion board never focuses on policy issues or the like.

And you gotta be silly to think that there can be anything more than spin and bullshit.

[Skidmore]

2. Silly, I think not.

Disgusted, yes. Sick and tired and disgusted.

[gateley]

3. That's heartbreaking.

And a bit late, but kudos to you and the other parents spoke to the school regarding this issue.

My thoughts go out to your friend. :(

[JeffR]

4. Great post, Skidmore

This forum is clogged with evidence that people have too much time on their hands and too much venom for their brothers and sisters to think about what's really at stake now.

If it weren't for the DUzy Awards - which prove I have too much time on my hands, I guess - I wouldn't bother with GDP at all.

[NC_Nurse]

5. That is really sad. I hope that they can save their home. Usually hospitals

will take really small payments, as long as she pays something. Has she tried getting the
financial people there to work something out? Any chance on a benefit for the family? Sometimes
local organizations will take on a benefit for a family that has such a huge loss like that...

My heart goes out to her and to your sons. I hope they are treated better at school now.

I too am disappointed by the bullshit being thrown around on the board today. But it isn't this way all the time.
Try GD for a while, it's usually less inflammatory.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

6. Good Post although sorry to hear your bad news...

It is going to take alot of us working together to forge this GDP forum back to working toward a common purpose which should be discussing issues. If we are going to be negative lets be negative together against McCain.

[Skidmore]

7. Yes, unfortunately. There are too many people right now just

willing to lob grenades and ignore the greater picture.

[cleveramerican]

8. You are wise

I completely agree.
Always sorry to hear such a tragic story.
My allegiance is to my children and by extension the future.
I try very hard not to get sucked into the sick web politics at its worst can become.
But there are very few alternatives.


I work for the Democrats out of hope and faith.
I try to bring simple common sense with me,
I look hard at politics with that in mind.
I have no idea how it will all turn out.
I'm just one person doing the best I can.

[Skidmore]

9. There are many of us working for the future.

A better America and a better world. We will do our best together.